TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Like it says, general chatter goes in this topic.

OMG only 28 days to go!  

I've struggled to get excited about Cropredy this year. I don't find the line-up that inspiring and I've had lots going on personally that I've not really had the chance to start thinking about it.

So I'll start writing my list this weekend  :D

Blimey... only 28 days??

Who knows where the time goes??

See you all there!

Oi Gareth, any chance of putting it back a couple of weeks? Work schedules and all that.  [;-)

First time back since 2011, them old geezers still play on the Saturday night?  ;D

Hi Addie. Would have loved to meet up with you mate, sadly I am playing 2 other festivals that weekend.
Bump in to you somewhere down the road!
Last year it was very odd being on a stage in a field ,realising that Fairport's were just starting their set at a fest 40 miles away, that I went to for well over 20years. I had a nostalgic moment. Never thought there would be a time I stopped going but hey ho.....
I will be interested as to how you find the fest after a few years 'off.'
Off to play at a Beerfest this weekend. Someone has to do it!

Yeah, we need a bloody good catch up mate, been too long. I'll keep an eye on the Whale page, see if can make a gig some time.

I really hope they get the flags taken down in the lower part of the field.  Last year I was really looking forward to  seeing an artist but my view of the monitor was covered by a flag!  (White horse on a light blue background - You know who you are!)....  :'(

Does The Fairport Cropredy set get broadcast on Radio Oxford? Just wondering where/when I can to hear some of it.

For the last few years Radio Oxford have covered the Saturday night Fairport set I think, plus they have live sets from various artists appearing at the festival. That's what they did last year, I know that because I did one of the Radio Oxford sessions  :)

Thanks, I will check out the schedule then and have a listen online. That will go a little way towards easing the situation of missing my 21st  Cropredy!  :)

AS far as I know, BBC Oxford don't release a session schedule (I'm not sure they even advertise a full day schedule on the field), but happy to be corrected. So not much to check out unfortunately

I'm sure I've seen somewhere (tho it may have been in Fairporters on Facebook) someone's definitive list of what TO bring to Croppers. ;D

We're in the middle of buying and selling and I can't get my head around anything,  :-[  so could anyone point me in the right direction, please?

This is now built...
https://www.scottsofthrapston.co.uk/news/cricket-pavilion-for-cropredycc/

Where metal road ends ,
Kevin

So has the second pitch eaten into the backpackers area?

Wow! I wonder if they'll let us use the facilities....

For a fee, no doubt - just like the showers in the original

It is the backpackers area.
The new pavilion is built but not  fully fitted out.
Cropredy now have three cricket teams.

There is a path been built alongside the tennis courts to the pavilion in the corner.

Kevin

It will be, this year, a couple of years since I was last at Cropredy.....18 continuous years then a year gap in 2013 and 15.
Last played the Fringe with Red Shoes in 2016.
As I have said , this year my new ( 18 months old ) band had fest gigs booked so I knew a long time ago that Cropredy was out. I had intended to get to New Forest Fest to see people but life intervened.
So there are people I haven't seen for a couple of years who I usually only see at Cropredy and very occasionally other fests and gigs, who I miss.
So to all of you, have a really great fest. At the toast remember my best male mate Gareth, whose ashes are in the field ( since 2012) . Enjoy each other's company, have a great time, listen to all the bands for a bit before you decide not to listen. Difficult choices this year , some cracking stuff on the fringe.
Vikki Clayton on Wednesday night at the Brase!!!!!!!
.....and IOTA and Red Shoes ending the fringe on the Sunday. An ending not to be missed I think.
Have a good one chums. ;D

I'm not in UK for Crops ... but don't miss the Barnsley's finest Barstewards, have a good one.

I can never remember what time the field opens on Thursday- can someone remind me?

Music starts at 4 so just before then

Excellent - plenty of time to see Clarion at the Brasenose! Many thanks

twas just before 3 last year....

I have just made tentative arrangements to travel up for the Fringe Festival at the Brasenose on Thursday. I have even been offered a berth in a friend's tent for the night which makes me wish there were Thursday only tickets so I could go and see Oysterband on the main stage, really the only act on the official bill all weekend that would particularly excite me this year (Sorry Brian).

Anybody know a good spot outside the arena where the sound might be good enough to listen to the Oysters?

The Edge* has been good for sound in the past. Good beer, good food but some people don’t like it being run for profit rather than the village.

* top of main field turn towards village.

It is great for sound but you can't see much as there's I think trees in the way. The beer and cider is excellent and the sausages are to die for  :P And they're very nice people.

Are you telling me that you've had 'meat on The Edge'?

 ;D

Jules

Lol  ;D he wasn't happy!

That's ok. I'm not expecting see anything. I haven't paid after all but if I'm going to be in the vicinity for the night, I'd quite like to hear the Oysters.

Jules, you are indeed, as I said before......hang on, don’t want you getting too big for yer boots  ;D

If you check on Facebook a different version is given, run for charity with no personal profit for landowner.

Were you about to call me the Incredible Hulk?

(Incredible Sulk, more like.)

Jules

Think I've  seen  that gates open at 2.00.
Watch out for the Cropredy stampede!!! ;D

Too many of those sausages = the Incredible Bulk!  ::)

I'm looking forward to a flying visit next Thursday; in no particular order (after the first ;)): meeting friends, having a burger and Hook Norton bitter (NOT Old Hooky!) at the cricket club, perusing the Talking Elephant stall, Merry Hell at the Brasenose (bus times permitting).

MH are on at 4pm. Last bus back to the station (until late) is 6.45pm. I checked this myself in case I decide not to stay over. Works out perfectly.

2pm on Thursday according to the FC website

So does anyone know where the backpackers and bikers area will be? I'm camping from Thursday and my daughter will be joining me on Saturday, I've been telling her how easy it will be to find the bikers field!!

Same place as usuial, I understand - it'll just be outfield of a cricket pitch now, rather than longish grass

Thanks Al, I'm just hoping the timings are accurate; a few years back, I went over to the Brase to see Kangaroo Moon, and about 90 mins later (at least 30 mins after they'd supposed to have started), had to leave as I'd have missed the next turn I wanted to see in the field...

Just realised its August!
We can talk about the weather!! ;)
I've seen very differing reports from hot  ??? to pretty chilly with rain :(
So sun tops and wet wellies I suppose!
Same most years really  :D

Your usual Babycham Dredd?

Only if it's got a little umbrella in it. Whoops!!

Unusual to have typhoons, tsunami and sink holes in Oxfordshire at this time of year. Enjoy.

Yep, looks as though the heatwave is finally going to break over the Cropredy weekend unfortunately. Slightly below average temperatures throughout. Possibly showery on Friday & Saturday. Not catastrophic by any means, just not what we have got used to this summer.

As I may now be travelling up towards Cropredy on Wednesday,  :)  does anyone know if there are any tickets available for any gigs in the area that may be interesting?   ;D

I was surprised to find last week when i went go buy one that there were several tickets  (maybe 40 then) left for TraArrr in Banbury trades club. As gigs go it doesn't get better. Worth a look (just Google it).

If last weekend showed anything, it is that weather forecasters are clueless*. They make economic forecasters seem competent.

*I will, of course, spend much of the next few days reading as many weather forecasts as I can and trying to find the best one.  :)

I can seriously recommend the TraddArr gig on Wednesday. I’ve been to the last 2 (or was it 3?) Wednesday gigs before Cropredy at the labour club and it’s a brilliant night.

Lots of TAW folk will be there. Please say hello. I know Andy/Darren/Pugs/Amy/Gill/keith/Tim/etc/etc will say hi and I’m sure all of them will buy you a drink.  ;)

I’m in field 8 this year so will be in the brasenose on Wednesday evening for a change. Otherwise I would be at the Front of the bar asking for your order.  :) 8)  8) [;-)

Karen

Vikki Clayton back from NZ on tour in UK plays The Brasenose Wednesday night. I love Tradarr but may not get to see Vikki again.

So that's where I will be.

Hats off to Peter Richards , that's one hell of a bill at the Brasenose this year.

Must say I’m enjoying Roxy the Cropredy newshound’s account of the preps on the Fairport site.

Mild, dry and overcast will do nicely for me.
Hopefully it will mean no industrial sized umbrellas / parasols will erected two feet in front of my face!

I popped in here to say the very same!

"Lots of TAW folk will be there. Please say hello. I know Andy/Darren/Pugs/Amy/Gill/keith/Tim/etc/etc will say hi and I’m sure all of them will buy you a drink.  Wink"

Re the Trad Arrr gig and TAWers - I'll be there wearing my Swarb In His Underpants T-shirt, and don't know many there, so feel free to say hello to me (the drink is optional   ;)

Thanks all for your suggestions.  :)
I've booked for TRADarr in Banbury as I'm not in Field 8 and it would be TOO tempting to have a beer or so there! ;)

All being well, I have been offered a place in the town centre so I hope the drinks will be coming my way too! :D

Due to my usual state of chaos, the last minute effect and the fact I'm moving next week I don't really know what I'll be wearing but it might just be my  "Folk on the Pier" T!!

I'm not there this year, so just saying to everyone have a lovely lovely festival (as if  you wouldn't) and I will raise a glass during the toast. :)

Neither am I, don't miss the Barstewards.

Enjoy yourselves, everyone. Happy time [;-) {:-)

I shall raise a glass on Saturday at 8pm UK time with a civilised Schnapps from my neighbour's distillery, not something that has been strained through Pugs' pillow, or whatever article of clothing it was in that photo! ;D

Hahahaha... you just don’t want to know...... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Work done. 11:17 from Preston tomorrow morning. A quiet couple in the Reindeer tomorrow  afternoon  and Trad  Arrr in the evening. Sounds like a good start to the festivities to be followed by the main event from Thursday.  [;-)

Sitting in the Brass with a pint of Hooky

 Did you come across my brother again?

  Nearly spilt my beer there .

Thinking of you all preparing/ arriving. Have an absolutely fantastic time and I cannot wait to read your reports, reviews and tales on here! Xx  :)

Sorry sorry, am really laughing out loud!

Just plundered the pub jukebox and found Will Varleys Self Checkout Shuffle.  Now getting more excited...

For those aiming to arrive early and get onto Fields 1 and 2 there is an announcement on the website you might want to read: http://www.fairportconvention.com/

Just stopped at the closest services a few miles north of Banbury 😃

As I won't be there this year I hope you all have a wonderful time.

Oh come on, Andy - I'm sure they'd have a wonderful time even if you were there.

 ;D

Jules

Settled in on Field 8

As one who isn't coming till tomorrow, I'm finding everyone's 'packed up and on the way' messages here and on FB are giving me feelings of anxiety that I haven't even started packing yet!

Is there anywhere suitable to fall over?

Set up on 6 listening to the sound checking lovely to be
Home again.

Out of office on......

There must be a medical tent somewhere you could try and fall over by!!!! ;)

Packed and ready. Just killing time 'till setting off in the early hours. Just a quick name check for our dog Charlie, a seasoned Cropredy-goer, who sadly passed away in June. Cropredy won't be quite the same this year.

Mission accomplished!

Just a quick message to all who are at Cropredy this year...Have a great time and keep the reports coming. Can't be there this year so have a 6X for me and I'll be thinking of you all when the you raiae your shot glasses to absent friends on Saturday night.

Ditto Mickf... I'm here for the afternoon. 3 pints down, listening to Clarion, Merry Hell later. To those TAWers I've seen, and everyone else... Have a great weekend! I'll be raising my glass on Saturday as well.

Nice to see you after Merry Hell.They really nailed it. Main stage 2019 please.

Straight after Digance?  Balance in all things...  ;) :)

Indeed, Clarion, for a band that had not played together for 20 years were terrific. And Merry Hell were Merry Hell! ☺️

Kudos to the Brasenose for the excellent sound mix.

Lovely day with beers and buffalo burgers. On train home now.

Bumped into Pastie Boy and others at the end but was rushing off. Sorry about that.

As i write this Brian Wilson's set will almost be coming to an end, I hope it's been a great day and all of you there have a great weekend.  

Looking forward to TAW's comments on Brian Wilson's set.  FB comments have been less than kind  :(

Not there Jim?

OK, I’ll start....Bloody Marvellous!

Glad to hear it  ;D

No Dave,decided to give it a miss this year.

Blimey!
How are the withdrawal symptoms ?
 I missed my first in 2014 , after 20straight years and went to just the fringe. I have now missed 2017 and 2018 and sadly, don't miss it. Miss some of the people, like yourself , who I usually see but am more excited by the 2 smaller fests I am at this weekend. Sad innit.

I did every year from 1991 to 2012 except 2002 which I was unable to attend due to circumstances beyond my control and I missed it terribly. I have not had the urge to go since 2012 however because of the way the festival has changed. Yesterday I went back to Cropredy for the first time in 6 years. I had a lovely afternoon at the Brasenose, wandered around the village and visited the pubs and it was great. I did wonder though whether having gone that far I would have pangs to be at the full festival. Not a bit of it (other than missing Oysterband). I just enjoyed my day and was happy to be on my train home (and protected from the rain) at the end of it.

I think the development of the fringe had been hugely positive, I have been to the festival regularly since '86 and like many have had some of huge best times of my life there. Now if the line up suits me I will put up the cash for the weekend, if not it simply. becomes a very expensive camping weekend. The Fringe allows me to support the village, meet friends and drink beer without any expectation.

I am going tomorrow so thanks to the Brase, Lion etc etc.

DW

Morning Al.
Yes , I enjoyed a couple of years of just doing the fringe , meeting friends etc , in fact I was in the village in our van from the Tues til Monday.
Glad you had a good time.

No withdrawal symptoms at all, the only things I miss are trad arrr on weds night and all my pals.

Yep, it's the chums......

Aww Jim. That was a bit like having one of your late night ’crits’, seeing you posting this.

Hope so,too. I am just raising a glass of chocolate Baileys to you all, whilst reading all this in bed in my digs! Skye is just stunning. But in a parallel universe, Cropredy is actually going on. Totes amazeballs.

What in heavens name was that?

Levellers new album should have been a clue. :o ;D ;D ???

So so dissapointed it wasn't the Levellers! Bloody imposters!

Same set they played at Winchester Cathedral a couple of weeks ago. Worked well there, but too low key for a chilly field, I fear....

One of my favourite bands and I love the new album. Seen them more times than I can count. I’m so disappointed.  Had it been billed as acoustic or not been a headliner fair enough but it was too low key.  Maybe Mark’s recent illness had a bearing.  Anyone know where Jeremy was ?

In the words of a friend on f book , who loved the Levellers set, ' why do people expect to go to a fest to hear the album they bought 20 years ago?'
Discuss :o :o 8)

Well - in this particular we’re only talking about 3 new songs, the others are alternative treatments of older stuff. I get the point, if a band trots out the same stuff it ultimately gets boring for all concerned. I just wish it had been billed as acoustic - then I’d have been prepared, but I was ready to get a right sweat on and finish the night elated rather than appreciative.

All Levelling aside they, and many other bands, have made a pretty good living touring the “Twenty/Thirty/Forty Years Since...” circuit so I suggest that if you’re playing after teatime at a festival, you put away the new album and play to your strengths. I don’t know if sickness and diseases were a factor in the low-key approach or not, in which case maybe we should be commending them for their trouper status instead?

Mark Chadwick was ill, and they had to cancel a few gigs recently. According to my chatty Security man at the top of the field, it was touch and go whether they would play.

When is next year’s Cropredy?

It is always the second weekend in August so 8-10th next year. Assuming there is one.

Surely there will be? Cripes I have been going twenty years and never actually clocked the second week in August thing. Call me dim!

People really shouldn't be allowed to choose their own nicknames.

 ;D

"Greek God"

 ;D

Wherever you are, safe journey home...

Err sorry all you lot posting about the Levellers here but could you post under the Levellers topic? It’s just that I’m easily confused and need things in a nice order or my diminishing brain gets turned to mush  :)

Big black mark to the numbskulls who tried to turn our festival into a political rally. Don't want it whatever the party or cause. Probably did them more harm than good anyway. Very sad to see Peggy wearing one of their stickers on stage.

Can You elaborate?

There were a lot to "remainers" handing out stickers, flags etc etc.

DW

Totally agree. Cropredy is a place to escape politics and the outside world for a few days.  I didn’t see them but saw a few people with stickers.

Never saw them but agree. The old adage of ‘never talk about politics or religion’ should be adhered to at Cropredy

Peggy's always been amenable to the odd badge or sticker. It's no secret the band are pretty much left of centre and it's fruitless arguing against politics at Cropredy when half the acts have obvious political agendas / songs.

Wait - you went to a FOLK music festival and you were surprised that there were political comments there?! I mean, I can see how you might have expected some political content at a Northern Soul weekend, or a Heavy Metal gig, or even at a Taylor Swift concert, but certainly not at a Folk music event.

First time back for us for a few years and we had a great weekend, really nice to catch up with old friends from here and elsewhere. Hopefully we'll back next year.

Thank you to everybody who has posted reviews.
So a snapshot, it was very wet some of the time.
Brian Wilson had to be helped  on to stage was really just a name on the poster
2 of the Levellers were ill and they played an acoustic set....
Fairport's weren't very good til the last hour and Maart. ( no words can be said about Maart, it is just so bloody sad.)
Sound was bad for Bar Steward Sons....
Vent Du Nord stormed it
So did Afro Celts and Kate.
I f I had been free to go it would have Been Vent Du Nord and Afro Celts that attracted me.
I will keep reading!

I was happy to see "Bolloc.ks to Brexit" stickers. If you want to have a sticker with the opposite point of view, fine.

Politics has always spawned folk songs .

"Big black mark to the numbskulls who tried to turn our festival into a political rally. Don't want it whatever the party or cause. Probably did them more harm than good anyway."

I agree 100%, even though I agree with the sentiment 1000%. I come to  Crops to get away from politics and all that (I just realisex tonight i hadn't seen or heard any news for 4 days...)

What I seriously disliked was seeing a proud parent (presumably) parading her 7-year-old kid with one of said stickers. Seeing children used for political ends makes me puke.

I don’t want to see ANY stickers. People can hold whatever political views they want but Cropredy is not about that. There are plenty of festivals with political messages to push. Let’s keep Cropredy apolitical and non-religious. Life is a lot sweeter without both of those tinderboxes!! IMHO of course.

Quit agree

All life is political. Get over it.  :)

Maybe so but we don’t want it shoved down our throats at Cropredy

Who is this "we" that you speak of?

I don;t have an issue with a few stickers on clothing.  Its not more and no less the same as anybody wearing items that indicate a faith, or a favourite football team, or a band or whatever.  Personally speaking of course - then again I wouldn't arrogantly deem to speak in behalf of 20,000+ people.

didds

50% of folk songs are about young ladies losing their Aylesbury on the way to Maidenhead. The rest are political.

I thought the stickers were more a sign of frustration, rather than political. Anyway they were a comment against both major parties.

Nobody going to comment about Maart's jacket?

I’m not speaking on behalf of 20000+ people...I’m speaking on behalf of me & my friends. The fact that the person with the stickers thrust the things at me was not welcome and felt intrusive. It is not the same as someone going along wearing religious items or football shirts. They are not trying to influence me directly so I can ignore them if I want to. It’s harder to ignore a political activist who is getting in your face when you just want to chill and listen to some good music

It's why I stopped going on the field for Digance. Didn't need his political ramblings.

Ah.  Gotcha a bit more now.

I find the liberal application of Anglo Saxon tends to frighten such people away.

Not that I experienced anyone in my face when sat in the field, or even walking through the village come to that. It took me a day to see where the tickers were even coming from.

didds

From my experience no one was shoving anything down anyone's throats. the group giving out the stickers were outside the shop in the village (so nothing to do with the festival) and if you didn't want a sticker or to sign up then you walked on by. They were not forcing them on anyone.

I happily wore mine, but then again I would as my wife and I have both just been made redundant from our jobs as a direct result of this farce!  I was also asked by at least 6 people in the festival where they could get one from.

In a lot of cases people told to do one thing will do exactly the opposite. ;D

Regarding the "politicising with stickers" thread, I thought Simon Nicol's closing paragraphs in the programme were very sound.
He was ruing the intolerance and polarisation in today's politics.

Re politics.
We always seemed fairly comfortable with ' this guitar kills fascists!'

I think this is more about: "And the liberal, with a small L cries in front of the TV" Billy Bragg

Or indeed:

"We are the Folk Song Army.
Everyone of us cares.
We all hate poverty, war, and injustice,
Unlike the rest of you squares."
                            Tom Lehrer

Then I would avoid listening to Home Service, The Oysterband, Levellers, Merry Hell or the late Ewan Maccoll.

As my conservative father ( large and small c's) always said to me when he was disparaging my political beliefs , ' I may disagree with what you say but I will always defend your right to say it!'

I do!

Interesting to read the post Simon Nicol put up on f book this morning exploring the effects Brexit will have on travel delays at Airports and ports.

I've been going to Cropredy on and off for three decades, though this is my first one for 8 years. It's still Britain's friendliest festival. But only just. And there are some matters that really should be sorted. I came with my 9 year old daughter, who just danced the festival through despite the rain. However, despite the fact that she is very wee, she was still moaned at by people in their deckchairs for dancing, and was also cursed and sweared at. Cropredy really needs to send out some clear etiquette here - there were a few words with the tickets this time, which was a good start. The other matter, which has become ridiculous, is the marking out of territory. A couple near us, to the front of the tower, marked out enough space for 8 people (but for just the two of them) and wouldn't even allow people to tiptoe over their voluminous tarpaulins. If the festival had sold out, attitudes like this would have been seriously problematic. We skipped a certain troubadour this year, after comments that included my east european family in previous years created upset and really should have no place in a friendly festival. But we loved everything else. Levellers were majestic, Afro Celts and Oysterband brilliant, and most attendees thoroughly lovely. Field 8 is a real gem, and there were quite a few there who didn't leave the field for the whole festival! We'll be back again. I'll leave it there (respecting the 'anonymous' guidelines - but I do love reading all your reviews) except to say that if you don't want liberal politics at Cropredy, you'll have to start crossing off future bills at the very top, with the likes of Richard Thompson. Folk is the music of the people, and as such it will always be political, mostly of the progressive sort. Bye. I'll descend back into my Cropredy-over-blues-fug now.

The clampdown on plastic didn't exactly achieve a 100% coverage. For one thing you still can't get the milk jugs used for beer refilled. Also, plastic pint glasses were all over the field and the reusable ones often discarded at the end of the day. Drinking water from taps was available in the arena - good - but not in at least some of the camping fields - not so good. The Fairport milk-churn-type bottles were also discarded liberally, amazing that people have so much money to chuck around!

Incidentally several bands had plastic bottles of water on stage.

I remember the year they tried corn starch beer "glasses" which melted in the heat.

DW

Ok, here I go...BL**DY FLAGS.
 
My whole view of Fairport's opening video was destroyed by two large tall flags right down by the front.  Thsy ask politely every year in the programme but obviously the offenders, no doubt of the type who think they have special privilege, and probably also park inappropriately in disabled bays and cast their litter all around them wherever they go,  blatantly ignore it.

Solutions? Well, we were incessantly advised on the big screens not to fly drones or have barbecues in our tents. So could they not also have a regular message on the screens asking people near the front to take down their flags because they're obstructing the view and enjoyment of hundreds of people who've paid the same money as them? Better still, at a few strategic points in the night maybe the compere could publicly ask people to do this.

One of the problems as I see it is that unlike with someone standing up in front of you and talking loudly, where you at least have the chance of politely asking them to move or shut up cos you know where they are, the flag bearers are hundreds of feet away from you in a milling crowd, while their immediate neighbours are maybe oblivious to the annoyance the said flag is causing others (though they're probably annoyed by them sticking umbrellas in their faces and having loud conversations through beautiful quiet songs...). The suggested plea from the screens and the stage might hopefully have the desired effect. If such requests were unfruitful, maybe the crowd marshals could then track down the offending flag owners and step in and request them politely in front of all their neighbours to comply. I really don't want to see it come to that, but hey, I do want to see the full screen, and if that's what it takes...
.

I have a solution.

Snipers. One in each of the stage "Towers".



didds

A couple of flags not far from the front were blocking our view of the stage.  We asked the stewards to have a polite word with the owners and they were taken down.  The stewards can't order the owners to do this but the polite request worked.  I'm not sure that the owners were being selfish.  They just hadn't thought about basic geometry on a sloping field.

Or they could fly a drone equipped with a circular saw nine feet above the crowd at the front.
Joking apart, your photo is an excellent example of tbe problem.

@PeterW...I'm glad to hear that worked - and if you're right that they just don't appreciate the problem,  then my simple suggestion of screen and compere announcements should go a long way fo solving the problem

Enormous lawn shears would do the trick.

Incidentally I also think it time there was a second line further up the field to keep back the shelter tents. On the line, the side opposite the bar, where we usually sit, on Saturday the first 35 metres or so was end to end shelters, from entry onto the field at 11am. When these are combined with land grabbing tarpaulins a few people have well over their notional space. Too much.

I think they probably can  ;)

I can’t really see the need for flags anymore, especially since the introduction of the walkways. A quick phonecall to companions should be able to guide lost and meandering folk back to their groups..

Not according to the ones I spoke to.

It's a British "It doesn't apply to me" phenomenon. Or, more likely, "I know it applies to me but I couldn't care less I'm going to do it anyway"

Examples:
* litter
* not picking up dog poo
* parking where it's not allowed or in disabled slots when you're not disabled
* not recycling
* speeding
* parking outside schools
* putting your rubbish out a day early
* putting down tarps when all the literature asks you not to
* putting up big flags when all the literature asks you not to
* turning up well before 7am when the gates open when all the literature asks you not to
* putting up enormous tents with a huge central gazebo when all the literature asks you not to

I could go on but I'm getting annoyed and I have to think of my blood pressure! Any ideas on how to resolve these issues gratefully received. Zero tolerance?

Common sense and courtesy at live music events are in short supply over here, as well. :)

Thinking of the gent three rows in front of me at ELO, who stood and filmed for the whole show, regardless of whether those around him were standing or sitting. (Note to all: Holding your cell phone aloft effectively makes you 6' 10" tall.)

Absolutely agree about mobile phone filming. Virtually every gig in London I go to has these ignorant people doing this...so annoying!

Those McBastards then!!!

@Brigwit,
I was holding my fire slightly in my original post- but your list says it perfectly. Some people think everyone does a few selfish things, whereas in reality most people do no selfish things, while a significant minority do multiple selfish things simply because they're selfish people and generally consider themselves exempted for all the things in your list (unless doing the good option coincidentally happens to suit them).

@John  ... imagine the next day:
"Did you enjoy the gig last night?"
"I don't know- I haven't watched the video yet."

Think this nails it I love Cropredy but increasingly spend as much time in the village as on the field. It’s been said it is still the friendliest festival but increasingly difficult to justify due to the territorial claims on the field. The overwhelming majority of people at a festival are there for the same thing - a communal coming together and a 2-4 day party. I do find more intolerance at Cropredy than other festivals we go to, but the overwhelming majority I’d have a pint with any day.

Telling a child (or adult) to stop dancing ?? Hang your head

The friendly aspect has diminished somewhat...I was walking back from the loo but didn’t see a man walking towards me at a 90 degree angle to my direction as he was on my left side. This meant I inadvertently bumped into him as I’m completely blind in my left eye. Despite my apologies I received a swift kick in the shin. Deciding not to start a brawl I just kept on walking. I thought the kick and accompanying expletive was a bit unnecessary...hey ho never mind.

 :( I observed a few similarly aggressive behaviors last year. I don't get it. I thought music was supposed to be about peace and love (especially folky music).

Actually on the whole I didn't find the experience very friendly at all this year, and found myself constantly apologising to people for no reason at all, while attempting to navigate my way through chair and tarpaulin city... :-\

My sixteenth time at Cropredy with a few gap years...The best of times but it feels quite different now...Or maybe I've just got older... :-\ ::)

I just think it is all pervading attitude that seems to be the norm these days. As earlier posts have described the flags, tarpaulins, litter etc it just seems to be what people do....excluding the good people on this forum of course  ;)

I'm sort of glad I'm not the only one that feels things have got a bit selfish and unfriendly - or maybe inconsiderate is the right word?

I was brought up to consider the comfort and well-being of others before I did anything - something I still stick to, sometimes a little too rigidly(!) - but it seems SOME people just couldn't care less. How someone can stand filming during an entire concert, knowing full well people are sat behind him, is just so far off my radar it's ridiculous.

I still found everyone sat or camped around me this year to be very friendly and everyone seemed to be conservative with space, but if someone had a large tarp in front of them and the only way I could get through was to walk on it, I would bloody walk across it!

I don't think there are any answers, but I'm sure of one thing - I'm not going to change!

Good for you! Unfortunately though the selfish g*ts also feel the same way  :-\ but I was dragged up to respect others and they will (should?) respect you and that’s what I try manfully to do at all times

I did exactly that at one point during the evening as I could find no other way out...The extra large tarpaulin was not dissimilar to a pond liner including the water...The guys blunt response was "Welcome to my swimming pool"...I'm still not sure if he was being sarcastic... :-\ ;D

I noticed that lots of the acts this year made comments thanking Fairport for inviting them - a nice change after a few years when many acts didn't seem to have any idea that it was Fairport's festival.  It made it feel like it was more the Fairport family that we used to talk about.

One of the largest tarpaulins is just in front of the walkway halfway up the field on the left side (facing the stage) and appears to belong to family & associates of Chris Leslie. It’s there every day and every year...hmm... :o

Not so sure that it is any less friendly than it used to be...I remember bottles thrown during Richard Thompson's set in 1990 or 91, and poor old Eugine Wallace getting booed off around the same time....

Same here, it is such a shame. People openly being defiant and inconsiderate.

There's been quite a bit of talk about people being rude at Cropredy. It's such a shame.

This year while we were there, I thought I would do my good deed for the day. We were sitting on our blanket near the bar when an elderly little man came walking past. He was walking back and forth and looking lost and confused. I walked up to him and asked him if he would like to come and sit with us. He agreed and came to join us. Trying to make small talk was difficult, but I tried to make the effort. Unfortunately, the water spray gun I was holding accidentally sprayed him with water 28.5 times in the groin area. I profusely apologised and admitted that it was my fault, but to no avail. The little man became very abusive and called me all sorts of rude names. I won't repeat the foul language here. He then stomped off as fast as his little legs would carry him.

So much for trying to be friendly. >:(

What a cad.

Mr Pugwash, you wouldn't believe how rude this stumpy, little old man was.
If I see him again, I'll jolly well point him out to you. He was so rude, I was almost in tears. :'(

Tell me who made you cry Frog! I'll sort the blighter out  >:(

(stumpy little man.... thinks..... )

You sprayed me too Froggie!

For the first time, in 28 attendances, I received personal abuse. I hope it's not a portent of things to come.

Driving out on the sunday, from Field 7b, we were directed down a line of traffic, along the grass, below the access road. Some teenagers took it upon themselves to walk in front of our car, obstruct us, and generally be disruptive. As we finally drew level with them, the young 'lady' of the group told us we were in the wrong line of traffic and should be elsewhere...

Explaining that we had, in fact, been directed towards our route by a marshal resulted in me being called a 'nob'.

Charmed, I was not...

I think he said his name was Bogwash - or something like that. :-\

No need to thank me. It's all part of the service. :)

Well it did cool my hot knees down a bit when the sun was shining...

On a more pleasant note, can I say a huge THANK YOU to everybody who came and chatted to/hugged Robert over the course of the weekend.  He told me that it made him feel "extra special".  

Robert is struggling to walk right now owing to really awful and rapidly-progressing osteoarthritis in both knees (plus scoliosis which renders a wheelchair totally unsuitable).  As a result, he was very upset that he couldn't get round the field very well/go into the Village on Thursday/go to the front of the field to watch the bands/frequently have little trips to the bar to see friends such as the TAW bunch.  You were all so kind and willing to come to him instead - I really appreciate that so much.  

That's lovely ... let's focus on the positive things in life.

Talking of which, and especially as I feel partly responsible for starting the downward miserable trend of this thread with my comments about flags, I've posted my annual entirely positive and feelgood "Your top three Cropredy moments" thread.

http://www.talkawhile.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?topic=45899.new#new

Feel free to contribute, because I'm pretty sure there's a hell of a lot more positive than negative stuff going on.

Colin, I trust you will be setting up the top turns vote again?

Chatting to a friend tonight, who has done many Cropredies and this one and genuinely believes that the Brase line ups will start to outdo that of the main festival.
He said Merry Hell and Clarion were excellent and the Zal Cleminson band were his band of the fest beating Afro Celts and Vent Du Nord.
He is a huge Fairport afficianado but he did feel their set list was really weak until Maart came on.

Page 4 advert in the Review Section of yesterday's Daily Telegraph for last week's festival?

With all due respect to your friend, if he spent so much time at the Brasenose, how can he make that judgement? How does he know there wasn't something better on in the field whilst he was at the pub?

He was effectively saying that the Brase has become a second stage. It is no further away than some stages at big fests,. He looked at what was on the main field and the Brase and made some choices, shuttling between stages , as people do at multi stage events.
I have always loved the one stage set up at Cropredy . His point was that there is now real competion to the main stage.
It is of course his opinion .....and he's a fiddle player.......so of course his opinions are suspect! :o :-\ ::) :D

Fair enough, although that is a bit different to saying they will outdo the main festival!

I also like the single (official) stage at Cropredy, because it often leads to nice surprises and discoveries. The temptation at multiple stage events is to seek out bands that you already know you like, so you don't get so many of those moments. It also means that judgements about the relative merits of each 'stage' get skewed.

It's a few years since I've been to the Brasenose or the Red Lion, but I never particularly rated their musical offerings because the sound quality was so bad. Overly bassy and distorted by being turned up way louder than the PA can handle. It doesn't matter how good the band is if all you can hear is a sludgy mess! I'm guessing by these positive comments that the situation has radically improved?

 I agree about the one stage . I have 'discovered' some cracking bands over the years.
His point was that Merry Hell, Clarion, Zal Cleminson.......even Vkki Clayton on Weds evening , were stronger pulls than what was on the main stage.

If Merry Hell aren't on the main stage next year then we at least need to be told why. They would love to play.

Fair enough - although Vikki Clayton had a bit of an open goal - not a lot of main stage competition on the Wednesday! I've never heard of Zal Cleminson - will check him out.

Personally there was no-one playing at any of the fringe venues that tempted me away from what was on offer in the main field.

One great song does not a great set make. Yes, "Bury Me Naked" is terrific, but their enthusiasm and likability needs to be supplemented by a set of great tunes.

I really like them, they have a step more to take. When they do, welcome to the stage...

The sound at the Brasenose was the best outdoor sound I have ever heard this year. I appreciate that it is a small arena but every instrument and voice was clear as a bell and perfectly balanced for the two bands I saw, though I understand that some of the villagers felt it was too loud. It was indeed louder than I can recall from previous visits.

Why? There must be dozens - hundreds - of bands who would love to play Cropredy, but that doesn't make their inclusion imperative. (I do like them, by the way!)

Well, in my view, they certainly have that, whatever perceived shortcomings some people may feel they have.

I first saw them at their first appearance at the GBFF in Skegness and was instantly won over precisely because so many of their songs are so catchy and instantly memorable

Drunken Serenade
Blink & You Miss It
The War Between Ourselves
Let The Music Speak
The Baker's Daughter
Rage Like Thunder
We Need Each Other Now
Stand Down

to name but a few, all had immediate sticking power for me and that is a rare thing these days when very little lodges in my memory on first listen.

It would just be nice to have a folk rock band at what used to be a folk rock inspired festival....
Gets coat.......

The main problem I think, is that no two people can agree on what 'folk-rock' is, like all genres, people's perception of what's what has changed...
I would say that for many people there have been many excellent folk rock bands at the festival, over the last many years, just not to everyone's idea of what a 'folk-rock band' actually is.. :)

IMHO, it's what TradArrr do in Banbury the night before. Time for them to be asked back, I think...

Weird notion. Does any festival organiser explain why they haven't selected any particular act? If so I would like to know why Steve Winwood hasn't been back, despite being the best thing at Cropredy since I restarted going in 2007.

Like Travelling Band? Or Oysterband? Will Varley? Al Stewart?

Or that lot that seem to be there every year...............what's their name........Fair something or other. I really don't get all this buzz about Merry Hell. I don't think they are anything special, but then I thought the same about the Pierce Brothers and look at the support they got. It's almost as if music were a matter of taste..................

I like Merry Hell, but I don't think they are any better than a lot of other bands who haven't played Cropredy either. Ten Strings And A Goatskin, Grannys Attic, The Chair, the mighty Mad Dog Mcrea, Outcast Band, Skippinish, Lankum, Ferocious Dog, to name a few. There were a couple of very good folk rock bands I saw at Beautiful Days last year, but I can't remember their names. One of them was an Aussie band. No shortage of quality out there.

I also like the Brasenose, but it isn't competing with the main festival. They have some good acts on, and I've seen a few there, but it's a pub, and FCC can hold 16,000 peeps, or something like that.

Yup, waiting for that....... Hence gets coat.
Fairport's were a folk rock band, oysters still are , levellers were probably outside that .........
As an aside check out Phantom Voices and the John Palmer Acoustic Band.
If I could get both bands on the Cropredy stage, I would.

If you've heard, heard of, or remember the Sensational Alex Harvey Band you know something about him. He was their lead guitarist

Yep. I was just giving the opinion of a mate who has attended over 30 Cropredies and was just noting the changes from his point of view. The fringe is changing behaviours in the village and nay affect villagers view of the fest as a whole.
When Banbury supermarkets are offering free taxis to Cropredy if you buy a certain amount of booze........

The festival paid for a new church bell, TWO Cricket pavilions now, keeps the pubs open when they'd both have closed long ago in a normal village (although the Red Lion does close regularly, it has to be said) keeps many local craft centres and campsites in business and the Bridge store gets 6 months income in 1 week. Also, locals get free tickets. Many also make money by renting bedrooms out that week.

Yes, I should think that affects the villagers view of the festival.

Amazing how people who don't go to Cropredy keep coming on here to rubbish it.

Amazing how people who don't go to the Brasenose come on here to criticize the Acts playing there.

For me the most enjoyable Acts of Cropredy 2018 were Brian Wilson(for Al Jardine, if he can perform like that at his age there's hope for us all)Merry Hell (absolutely brilliant at the Brase)The Afro Celts , The Doonicans,Zal Cleminson and Kaprekar's Constant. Honorable mention for Eric Sedge who I really enjoyed.

 

Not amazing, just TalkAWhile.

The village tickets are given free, but...
We elect to control them and sell them to ourselves at a reduced rate.
The monies raised go into a pot for village concerns, the school been the largest benefactor.

Fairport convention has been brilliant for the village, and they and Yourselves are held in the highest esteem.

I was not amused to see Ball..ks to Brexit people handing out stickers, they should have been moved away.
I tore off the first word and stood in front of them with just that word stuck on Me.
no place for such when even children were moved on from selling home made candles etc.

Kevin

Pfft. It is still (just about) a free country.  :)

There's a time and a place for all things.
A music festival is not where political **** needs to be aired, I for one go to such to have a break from the ball..ks of it all.
Who was paying them to be there.?
Who payed for the stickers?

No one else is allowed to trade or such in the village public areas, otherwise the place will be out of control.
If gareths security can't do this, then the police presence will need to be lifted higher again, and paid for via the ticket pricing.

When you live here , You notice things visitors may not, such as gypsies selling motor homes parked on grass verges, and heir vans parked in the village.


The last thing needed is problems and tensions created by such as those ball..ks stickers people , there are strong feelings involved that can be played out the rest of the year by those who maybe interested in such ball..ks.


Kevin

It's been said in a another thread that Folk music IS political (and of course some of it is) and that you should expect this at a primarily folk festival, but I agree there's no place for it at Cropredy. I like to think that we leave all that on the M40 and that, at Cropredy, we're one people with the common aim of enjoying ourselves. If people have political conversations or even heated discussions that's entirely up to them, but I don't want to be part of it and I don't want to see it, or have it encouraged.

What Brigwit said. Cropredy to me is a haven, a few  blissful days away from the real world.
And especially with  the Brexit ssue, it's by it's very nature divisive -a referendum has proven that. it's not like there's a useful discussion happening- some people are just stating that they find the views of half the people there a load of b...x.. So how can that be anything but divisive?

And don't get me started on using young children in the name of the cause - that's just sick IMO.

Digance, Oysterband, Levellers, Kate, Fairport's, not political??
I know you are talking about people giving out badges but the folk clubs of the folk revival, which spawned Fairport's , were hot beds of communism, socialism, labour/ left wing politics.
You can't seperate folk music and politics.

I was thinking about villager complaints about the noise around the Brase this year.

I accept your thesis about folk music and politics of course, Hendo. But this is just one tribe of people stating loudly (via the fluorescent colour) "My tribe is right and if you're in the other tribe (maybe half the people at Cropredy) your opinion is b*****ks. That's not politics, it's polarisation and tribalism.

I feel that people are going way over the top about these stickers.  I'm not sure if people were offended by the message or the language used. They were no different from some of the political slogans I saw on t-shirts and badges that some people were wearing.  We seem to be happy to listen to bands whose messages are often overtly political e.g. Home Service, Levellers, Oysterband, Merry Hell, Show of Hands and many others whose songs have political content (Unless, of course, during their spots you go and hide with your ears blocked) but we now want Cropredy to be an apolitical oasis.  The fact that people chose to wear the stickers does suggest that politics aren't far below the surface, although I agree that sticking them on children is inappropriate, but unless you are offended by the language it does fall into the category of freedom of expression.  It wasn't hate speech, it was a fairly banal statement.  How others who disagree react to that is up to them.  They could just be ignored.  Who will be the arbiter of what constitutes a political statement if worn by a member of the audience and will performers be asked to remove all political content? If the language used was the problem then bear in mind (see photo) that these badges were being made and openly sold on one of the fields and promoted via the Fairporters Facebook page.  We need to avoid double standards. Yes, I appreciate that the word itself was not used but the suggestive, and rather weak, wordplay was quite overt.  As far as I was aware these stickers were distributed freely not sold so no trading took place and, while we may disagree that they should have been allowed to be distributed at all, no law was broken and people took them willingly.  The fact that so many did does suggest that the non-political Cropredy group may be something of a minority or the wearers just enjoyed the novelty value.  I agree with the sentiments but chose not to wear one as I think that there are more eloquent arguments against.

Stephen , Talkawhile is not a place for a political chat but I do think that Polarisation and Tribalism sums up Politics , pretty well.!!! ::) ;D ;D

yup.  If the UK in 2018's political backdrop and bedrock isn't " Polarisation and Tribalism" I don;t know what it is...  it certainly isn't well reasoned and debated.  

Pick a stance, defend it to the hilt in the face of evidence its wrong, and demonise any opposition views.  Sound familiar?

didds

If you are going to get offended by a few stickers then it was good job Billy Bragg wasn’t on the bill, ;)

One of the things about Cropredy is that it is a broad church and most of us are in festival uniform (especially in the rain) so it is hard to make assumptions about backgrounds and roles in civvy street so to speak. I suspect that this bringing together folk from all areas of the UK means that what upsets one person might completely pass someone else by. For a member of the “metropolitan elite” those stickers were hardly noticeable. My own feeling is that there is no harm in a bit of politics or social comment from time to time - one of my favourite right on moments in recent years came rather unexpectedly from Hayseed Dixie back in 2016. As has been mentioned, without this sort of subject matter some of the artists would have not had much to sing about.

However, it might be worth having a read, or re-read, of Simon’s piece in the programme.

Can I just say that the language is not my issue, I regularly use language of a colourful nature!!

I also have no issue with any band getting up and singing about political issues as we know that, for some, it is their raison d'être.  If you don't like it, don't listen - go and see the stalls, wander off the field etc.

My main issue is that it starts a creep. Stickers this year, handing out leaflets next year and so on. I simply don't want politics and the nastiness that seems to accompany it these days in my face at Cropredy. I go to escape all that.

I want:
Good music
Decent food
Excellent beer
Dry weather
A comfortable dry place to sleep
Great company to laugh and maybe even cry with

That's all!

Absolutely spot on

What Bridg said (again).

Perfectly put sis  ;)

Care to elaborate, Tim?  :)

Trev, I haven't rubbished anything. I have put points raised by friends of mine who have loved Cropedy for well over 30 years.
It used to be that the Brase and Lion had a few bands on and people would go before the fest started or occasionally pop down to the village.
Now the fringe, particularly the Brase, is pulling it's own non festival going audience , which , particularly this year because of the strength of the Brase lineup , is changing the dynamic, seems to be their argument.
I don't have an opinion. I wasn't there......but I can ask people who were, through this site, their perspective.

I wasn't there cos I was playing somewhere else Thurs, Fri, Sat.

This is the bit I was referring to, David. Hope the photos are legible and in the right order!

LEST WE SHOULD FORGET.

With apologies to Mr mactell.

There are hundreds buried where they fell in those fields We all adore.

(with reference to what the first word of those stickers was, and that I open cans of beans and tomatoes in the village hall for folky types breakfasts)

Europes colours are blue and gold.
Englands colours are white and red.
brown are the beans when I open the tins.
Red and white is the flag above the bells.

Through Cropredy in Oxfordshire the Cherwell takes it's course.
and the willows weep into it's waters clear.
it did not occur to me that little cropredy .
Could be witness the meeting of both sides.

In August 2018 the sticker people did dwell
Causing division by the canal aside the stream
my bean can slipped and hit me hard in the most sensitive of areas.
Upon the earth the brown beans scattered.


now it did distress me so to see the beans flow
and quickly create a slippery slope
in white and red My colours swam and sweat broke on my brow
And faint i knew I must lie down.
At first i thought that the stickers were just inside My head
So I raised my brow above the sticky mess.
As i watched as in a dream the brexiteers fought downstream.
The battle of in or out at cropredy.

How Simon remembers all the lines to this is beyond Me, but this little ditty ends when I realised ..

it was just My own dear BALLOCKS.

kEVIN

I totally agree with this, which is why I prefer to keep Cropredy free of politics, so we can return to those days when we just accepted that other people hold a different political view point, without calling them names.
Love Thy Neighbour!  :-*

I think there's a little bit of re-writing history going on. Simon Nicol saying we all used to get on and respect others opinions. I was around in the 80s. You picked a side and you stuck to it. No way would I have had Tory friends, no way, and they wouldn't have wanted me anyhow. They were the enemy.  >:(

I'm a bit more tolerant now, but that's getting older I suppose. The problem with Brexit is it splits the left and splits the right, it isn't the usual political divide.

I like bands that are political and have something to say, as long as they more or less match my views of course.  :)  I won't be buying the Skrewdriver back catalogue yet awhile.

Whatever one may think of the Masons, they have a very strict rule at their meetings - No discussion of religion or politics. The exclusion of those topics means that there should be no grounds for falling-out with a colleague.

There is also a very pertinent rhyme, which I think is Scottish:

"Convince a man against his will,
 He's of the same opinion still".

Strewth, those stickers really upset you, didn't they? Equating them to witnessing a battle, with all its bloodshed and loss of human life? Er...okay.

Just think yourself lucky they didn't stick them on the side of a bus and drive it round the country!

For me leavers and remainers at Cropredy should have united and driven them down the lane, over the Bridge, and out of town.

They were not invited and not welcome.

Whatever our views we are at Cropredy to share a good time. Three days free of division...is it too much to ask?

No but it may be naïve. Politics is everywhere and everything is political. We just choose not to always see things in those terms.

For what it is worth, I think the sticker people have been targeting festivals across the summer. They were certainly at Wickham the previous weekend where they were roundly ignored by some and embraced by others. I am more concerned about the terminology on the stickers which dumbs down the level of discourse to the currently favoured level of infantile sloganeering. Nobody who reduces the argument on either side to three words, and cannot even do so without resorting to expletives, is unlikely to be prepared to listen to an opposing view or enter into a structured debate.

Spot on.


Kevin

They didn' treally upset me, as offend Me, they had no place been there.

There will be no difference whether We are in or out.
our so called politicians should be told clearly to ….


GET ON WITH IT.

And stop all this division.

I stood in front of them and answered in the way all should have done.
I tore off the first word and stuck that on me and said nothing verbally to them.
I think they understood how offended I was at their presence.

Kevin

 

Sorry, that should have been "likely".

Double negative apart, you've hit the nail on the head I think (unless you just did a  Trumpesque fake news U-turn  :o  ;)

You’re going to explode Kevin. You’ve made your point over and over again. Let it go.
Deep breaths now.............

Here, here  [;-)

I thought it was hear, hear?

Was there anything interesting food wise in the arena field this year or the usual suspects?

Over the years the following have loomed large on my culinary memories of Cropredy:

Fresh dougnuts
Goan Fish Curry
Potato Wedges loaded with toppings
Oggies
Fresh lemonade

DW

Yes it is hear, hear. I just checked. Ought to have known  :-[

Sorry  :-[

It's 'Here, hair here'

as any fool who's ever gone on holiday by mistake will know  :)

No need to be sorry that could have saved me major embarrassment somewhere else!!

Happy to have been of service then!  :D

Apropos of very little ( and I am not making a point here) just an observation, that Shrewsbury Fest had a Bollox to Brexit Session......
Glorious noise!
It's on my f book page , unable to share it here.