TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Just a couple of random thoughts that struck me through the weekend:

1) The number of bands who mentioned who pleased they were to be playing Cropredy, and thanked Fairport. I remember one year, a few years ago, when almost no one did, and it seemed like it was becoming just another festival on the circuit.  (I guess everyone wants 'their' festival to be a bit special.  This year it felt a bit more like it really is again!)

2) Before covid, there used to be a lot of groups, especially further up the field, who hardly seemed to interact with the music, especially earlier on during the day.  They'd just sit there - sometimes with their backs to the stage - drinking, reading their newspapers and talking.  I noticed a lot less of that this year (and last), even though I was sitting further back than I normally do, owing to being with friends with a dog who doesn't like very loud noises.

I thought that it was the most enjoyable overall lineup that I can remember; there wasn’t a single band or performance to prompt me to ‘go for a wander’. The younger acts were really impressive, especially Joshua Burnell and Morganway, who I will definitely go and see live when I can.

Before this year my 2 favourite Cropredy sets ever were Little Feat and FC92 (Saturday). This year 3 leapt straight into my top 5 - Merry Hell (somewhat obviously), Morganway and The Young Uns.

Agree with the points above.

Would add that I think Anthony John Clarke should be given a rest from compering. To me, he just sounds fed up of the whole thing. I also find the endless instructions to applaud people for having got married/had a baby/come to Cropredy lots of times/come to Cropredy for the first time/etc rather tiresome.

Well done to the organisers of the bar for learning from last year and ensuring good staffing levels throughout. Never had to queue for long.

There also seemed to be plenty of space this year. Would be interested to know if attendance numbers were down, but it did make for a comfortable experience.

I thought we got far less of AJ this year that normal. Wondered if he was OK? Hope he is...




Thats interesting - because we thouyght it was WAY busier ...  either cos its not well past post-lockdown and covid concerns (not intending to start a lockdown/covid debate there!) or its not blisteringly hot keeping people off the field. It just felt rammed to the gunnels. Getting back to the sides and up the field after Fisherman's friends was really difficult and at the back there seemed no space until very very late ie last act.  The queues for many of the food outlets were long all the time (again, until maybe the last act).

Juist interesting how we can all have different perceptions :)

I thought it was one of the best for a few years, was looking forward to Peat & Diesel and they didn't disappoint. One down side for me was the number of dogs, I can see that people of my generation, their children have gone and they've bought a dog. I will say that most of the dogs were very well behaved, but it's a problem when it gets dark and loads of people are walking around, it becomes very easy to trip over a dog or it's lead. It is a recent thing, 20 years ago there were hardly any dogs but now you see people with 2 or 3 each, just my opinion.

If I remember rightly, Smon Nicol mentioned 11000 people in the field during his RO interview, which made me think sales may have been down.

The real issue wasnt the dogs so much, but the owners who put down a blanket/chair right on the edge of the mosh pit (!) area (clearly the in fornt of the sound stage thing is well gone ) and then huddled protectively aropuidn their frightenmed dog as people exited/entered/danced/jumped etc.

This is not an anti dog post, nor a whinge at chairs-in-front-of-the-sound0stage .  more of a "why put your dog in such a silly place" post!  :)

I love dogs but dislike the owners as much as I dislike cyclists who come up behind you on a bike without a bell and moan because you dont get out of the way.

Plus it can't be much fun for the dog, given the sound levels down at the front.

Though of course there is no legal requirement for a bell on a a cycle. (though there is to SELL a new cycle with one!)

The legal requirement is for an audible device.

Though the lack of using a voice in your scenario is of course, spot on for your point :-)

caveat: unless the law has changed since 2011 when I last delivered Bikeability anyway!

*LIKE* button.

Spot on Nick.  Also why do grown men insist on riding on the pavement even when the roads are quiet?

As one of those with two dogs with them I can't disagree with your comments.  We generally keep up the back (conveniently near the ice cream and the loos...) and the dogs get a bit more space and a bit less noise.  Plus this year we had a new one with us and only had them down part time giving them the evening off.  Seemed to work for them and us.


On point I thoroughly enjoyed this year.  There was a really chilled atmosphere, people seemed to be happy rather than just released and relieved like last year.  Took my usual Saturday wander round the village which seemed quiet but that might have been the rain, didn't go in the pub - think the Lion was full at the time.

Vince

My big disappointment was not getting to see the Sandy Denny exhibition, or to hear the Sandy Denny project, or the new Songbird album launch. Any comments on those from those who did go?  I went into the village, but only in the morning, when it wasn't yet open, and the concerts clashed with ones I wanted to hear on the main stage. Choices, choices...

not just men either!  LOL.

As a cyclist myself, who has instructed Bikeability in the past, its the trait that hacks me off most - pavement cycling.
And dont start me on shared paths ...  whoever thought that putting 80+kg adults on inherently unstable machines in the immediate proximity of the frail and young needs some specialist care!

Friends of ours walked to Banbury and caught the bus back, as we have done in the past. Their bus passes were not accepted and they were Charged £5 each one way!! They also said that the canal towpath was in a terrible state.

Can we just have a "Broken Britain" thread and be done with it.... ;) ;D (It's not funny really)

Two great acts who I would loved to have seen on the Cropredy stage.

I suggest you ask AJ how he feels, rather than speculating. He's very communicative and honest on FB.

Apologies, I wasn't meaning to speculate about his health or anything.  I just meant I'd rather hear someone else.

My only dog complaint (my most recent Cropredy was 2017) was that owners were not picking up after their pups. The field became a minefield after sunset.

Not good for dogs,but even worse if kids get toxiocariosis due to careless poo management. Also, not good for people like myself who are nervous around dogs.

AJ always says how much he loves compèring Cropredy…  no idea why he ‘should be given a rest’!

Generally….

Music was great, though Beans on Toast upset my lad due to profanity- he’s 11 and hates swearing- not the parents fault I’m a potty mouth. Just not in front of him. He probably learnt 3 new words.

Loved the Young Uns, Toyah & Robert and Fishermen’s Friends didn’t disappoint. FP gave us a cracking set (thank you for Matty).

Solstice made me feel uncomfortable - the whole cultish vibe.

Last year I came away Lily White but this year managed to sun burn my bottom lip?!

Food - everything we chose we loved and we didn’t have to queue much at all. We did early lunch and dinner and snacks in the evening - Samosa heaven, Oggie awesomeness, Goan gorgeousness and Hello halloumi fries!!!

The only negatives were the man who decided to sit right behind my son and tell him off when his umbrella (a tiny handbag one) raised by 4 inches as he took it down - YOU CHOSE TO SIT THAT CLOSE TO US!

The poor wee spaniel in front of us who seemed to shiver in fear all day - they shouldn’t be subjected to that.

I would glamp again just for the toilets and showers- very comfy sleep and nice staff.

General points off the top of my head in no particular order

I loved the whole vibe (always do. ,but it felt really good thisyear - wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.
Whinges:

The canal towpath was a disgrace and anyone trying to be their politest best by standing in off the path to let others pass either got whacked in the face by branchs or stung  by nettles for their good deed. It wouldnt have taken much for the Council to have run a hedge trimmer along it before the start...

And FLAGS, BLOODY FLAGS. i genuinely think the people who leave them up in the front half are the same people who leave their s**t behind them, commandeer acres of unused space with blankets, and park in disabled bays. Or maybe they are just truly thick and need a  Father Ted style lesson in far away and near
 Surely it wouldnt take much for the marsalls to approach them and ask/tell them to take them down. Or, even easier, a very prominent message frequently flashed up (like the carbon monoxide one) saying "if you're flying a flag in front of midfield, take it down now; and if you're sat next to someone with a flag up, ask them to take it down , and keep standing in front of them or accidentally poking them with your umbrella if they don't."

DOGS- yes, I'm a dog lover, and it's quite obvious a lot of them are in uncomfortable situations and maybe shouldn't be there...


Ok, I'm getting carried away now, but Ive got some things off my chest...Just to reiterate, I do love Cropredy...

I very much doubt the council have any responsibility for the condition of the tow path.  Canals and River Trust probably....?

We had an absolutely amazing weekend but I do have one gripe. During the quieter moments in Fairport’s set we could hear quite a lot of sound coming from Cream of the Crop. As this doesn’t form part of the main festival, it may be difficult to control but it might be possible to rearrange their set up so the sound goes in the other direction?

yup.  Bang on.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/maintaining-our-waterways/vegetation-management/vegetation-faqs

I can see its a difficult square to circle...  as they also take into conderation the overall ecology of fauna other than humans at the same time.
The stretch of tow path on the K&A east of Devizes gets difficult to traverse this time of year as the vegetation just burgeons.

i suspect that may depend on wind direction?  At the Coal Wharf for Sally barker, the music form the Brasenose was very evident - albeit it is only about 150m away of course :)

The wind normally comes from that direction so it won’t be the last time if that was the reason.

fair enough !  Then i guess there is little they can do about the wind carry - huge 200 foot screens ?  (I really wouldnt know)

Agree with pretty much everything Pam said above.  Including the glamping - first time for us, not cheap but proximity to the concert field and home comforts made it worth it, so unlikely we'll be going back to the delights of Field 7 next year!

One thing - apart from FC on Saturday evening (where the sound, as always, was perfectly modulated, crystal clear and just at the right level), did anyone else feel that levels were unusually high for a lot of acts, even to the point of distortion?    Maybe it's my ears, but even from our usual spot to the bar side of the McB encampment, some of it sounded distinctly screechy.  Especially during "The Cult"'s set!

Solstice from way up the field (aligned with the greek/hotdog stands on the bar side) were horrendously screechy, and loud.  Though 10CC & GO'S seemed very quiet.

Most of the stage lighting was absolutely spot on, but whether due to lack of rehearsal or ...? 10CC's otherwise excellent but marred because the stage lighting was awful. The pit photographers told me they just about gave up because the featured singer or instrument were in shadow whilst random parts of the stage were empty spaces lit really well.

General thoughts are that 2023 was a good year. I really liked many of the bands. Beans On Toast's swearing was not to my taste, also his "take your s**t home" diatribe was wasted as most everyone does, at Cropredy. Field 5 was pristine when we left.

We had real concerns for Morganway's singer's voice. SJ Mortimer was obviously really belting out her tunes and the long term prospects for that kinds of singing are not good. I hope it doesn't sound condescending to suggest she gets some voice training to prolong her career.

Peat & Diesel were an unexpected delight. Fisherman's Friends were superb. The Young 'Uns were on top form. Merry Hell were in reasonable form, Wilson/Wakeman played their usual set.

Fripp & Wilcox were great, if only she'd just shut up and get on with singing, they could have gotten in another song or two. Incidentally if I was picking a Billy Idol song to cover it would be "White Wedding" rather than "Rebel Yell".

Nile Rodgers & Chic were superb, augmented by some backing tapes but who cares?

Josh Burnell's set was enjoyable. He's tiny as Toyah,for a random fact.

Kiki Dee's partnership with Carmelo Luggeri was, frankly, boring. Her last number. "I've got the music in me", accompanied by DM and a guitarist whose name I didn't catch, was great.

Easy Star All Stars were at their brilliant best.

Richie Owens, his cousins and their partners, were mostly hilariously...ok.

Strawbs were ok. It's obvious that Dave's voice is just about gone, but it always sounded shite anyhow. Incidentally the last time I saw DC and Blue Weaver on the same stage was about 1971 at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. DC's farewell was emotional and I'm sure everybody wishes him well.

Missed Mr Digance.

Solstice were over-amplified, self-indulgent and strangely unlikeable.

Missed Mr O'Sullivan.

Fairport & friends' set was enjoyable, but surely Banjo Matty has tottered on long enough?

An 8/10 year for music.

Just a quick word on food: the Tibetan stuff was rubbery and cold when we had it. The crêperie had great crêpes and even better hot chocolate. My Oggie was passable but somehow not as tasty as in previous years, it seemed. The burrito stand portions (of nachos and burritos that we had) were tasty, but also a bit smaller than before.

The bar was well staffed and they were very efficient. Lessons had definitely been learnt from last year.

I didn't begrudge £20 for the Festival t-shirt and was happy to get a 3XL Roger Dean t-shirt for £30.

It was noticeable that the Brasenose's fringe program very closely resembled the official festival programme and some were bought in error.

TRADarrr did a good set on Wednesday at the Brasenose with a half-hour of Rolling Stones numbers at the end. Excellent.

I only got shouted at once, this year, which is a record.

See you in 2024!

I dont always agree with Andy's posts, but he is _always_ worth a read and often makes me think.  And usually include something pithy or amusing to make me smile - so thanks Andy :-)



And £20 for a tee shirt is pretty much standard these days i find, indeed.



Now there's a thing...  hmmm...

I really enjoyed this year, but I was in a family group of lovely people who also thoroughly enjoyed it and that helps. First year in our VW camper & it was very comfortable   ^-^

Fisherman’s Friends, Chic, 10CC, Mr & Mrs Fripp, Morganway & The Young ‘Uns were my stand outs. I enjoyed everything else, no real bad acts, just some I’m not bothered if I never see them again!

The lighting wasn’t good, often the spot was on the wrong person. Same with the camera. Also sound issues which you don’t expect. But these were all minor.

I didn’t buy a t-shirt as I don’t wear them & they just take up space. Far too many jewellery stalls, & stalls selling similar clothes, plus a lot of plastic tat. I did enjoy Roger Dean’s exhibition & would have loved to buy one of the big ones!

I’m on a strict diet so only bought 1 main meal a day. Enjoyed the pizza, goan curry & ostrich burger I had.

Far too many dogs & I don’t get people who sit with them by the sound towers. I love dogs but I’d be happy to see them banned. We had one running loose around field 1 the whole time we were there, running off with stuff & pooing wherever he happened to be at the time  ???

The showers & loos on field 1 were immaculate, & the coffee from the stall was excellent.

Lots to see in the village. If they want someone to go & cut back the towpath a few days before the festival next year I’d be happy to do this as long as you let me camp from the Tuesday  :D :D

Everyone seemed happy to be there. It was all rather special & I’ll cherish the memory until next year!

Did anyone meet Percy Plant?

No, but I did spot Gordon Giltrap

A couple of comments from me that I haven't seen elsewhere:

- Why did the bar refuse to fill tankards, instead filling plastic glasses which we could then pour into our tankards and immediately throw the plastic away? I don't remember ever having that happen before in previous years (and the bar at Cream Of The Crop were willing to fill tankards). Even more galling, the first time that it happened was straight after Merry Hell's tribute to Greta!

- The big screens were often well out of date (e.g. showing the performance times of acts who had already played, but not those who were scheduled next). I can't imagine that it would be a major job to keep them up to date.

- Bucking the trend, I thought that Toyah's set was absolutely dreadful. I've seen a million covers bands who can do the job much better, and without the over-the-top theatrics. By far the low point of the festival (yes, even worse than Solstice).

The tankards thing is general at most festivals and the reason is pretty obvious.
The plastics are a standard pint, tankards may not be.

HMRC Weights & Measures legislation, for one, I believe.

Also, if they've already been used, post-COVID, it's not considered ok to refill a pint glass / plastic container.

Barmy, perhaps, but  a detailed discussion with Hook Norton Brewery may enlighten you (us) fully and, you never know, effect some changes. So please do contact them and let us know how you get on.

It seemed to be perfectly acceptable to refill tankards at Cropredy last year, so what has changed in the meantime?

Cream Of The Crop, Wimborne Folk Festival  (and many other festivals) are still willing to refill tankards.

I fail to see there being any COVID-related rationale for not refilling a tankard that the person who last drank from it is going to reuse - and even if there were such a case, surely pouring the beer from a plastic glass into the tankard negates that.

There might be a very strict interpretation of Weights and Measures legislation, but it has never stopped festivals before, and any sensible bar worker knows whether a tankard is a pint one or nor.

Whatever the reasons, the provision of single-use plastic glasses (let alone forcing people to use them!) at a festival in 2023 is utterly unacceptable.

Here's a common sense solution (I was a pub manager in one of my former lives so not entirely without a clue  ;) ) : how about the bar person use either a lined measuring jug (lined to pint or 1/2 pint) under each tap, pour the beer from the pump into said measuring device before dispensing into a tankard ? Or even measure the beer dispensed by using a "single use" glass many times over (a different glass under each type of beer, obviously). No arguments about over or under-pouring as both server and customer can see what they're getting.

wrt the bar thing...

Ive seen it discussed in FB groups...

Obvs I cant comment on previous expereinces etc but the gist of the suggestions is

* its a weights annd emasures thing : just because your tankard has a line on it doesnt mean its a legal/official/whatever line, so the dispense should be in a known legal container 9from which it can be poured)
* environmental health - multiple hands/mouths  touching the tankard then onto the bar staff to then handle other people's "glasses"   9not that the staff should be touching anywhere near the top oif the vessel anyway!)
* env health part 2: if the staff only ever use fresh receptacles to poutr into then the bar cannot ever be accused of introducing anything that causes subsequent illness that has originated form outside the bar

which of these , if any or maybe all, are relevant in 2023 I dont know of course.  youd have to ask the bar orgainsers directly and i doubt any of us really know (unless we are part of that team/business)

There are much much better "plastics" 9including non-plastic "plastics" that are far better wrt decomposing etc - though they come at a higher cost. And it cannot be beyond the wit of man to somehow get around the H&S/EH aspects by having some form of interim vessel in which to pour a known legal quantity to then decant. but Im back to the above point again then...

didds

Or at least trust that Fairport's own branded tankards are accepted (which could boost sales of the tankards as well).

Having seen BoT at Beautiful Days a couple of years ago, I came away thinking he was a Digance for Crusties.

Sorry if this isn't the best place but I don’t think it warrants a whole thread...Did anyone here go glamping? I think Mick was, not sure who else. What was it like?

I was just looking out of interest and thought it looked good, but  couldn’t see much to justify the few £100s between the different packages, (apart from hire of a bistro table, bedding, blankets, cushions, a bottle of wine and fairy lights all of which are things it wouldn’t be too hard -my frugal nature tells me - to take from home.) Also the hook-up being £100 but you can’t use it for your hairdryer only to charge devices seemed a lot.

But interested to know what it is like, is it easy to use the facilities?

Hi Philip

Managing the screens / cameras / recordings / crew takes up my entire weekend with very little time free to enjoy my favorite festival to which I have now attended 25 with 15 of those being video HOD.

I set up the screen graphics just before we hit site on the Tuesday and apart from major updates and urgent messages - they stay the same. Detailing complete lineup, signing and radio performances for each day.

We have a 20 minute break between bands to swap camera crew over, give the director a rest and set stage cameras for the next band. For twelve hours a day. Plus setup times and systems checks.

So - yes - it would be a major thing for me to go through each of the 15 line up slides and 15 signing slides and 15 BBC Oxford signing time slides during each change over for three days.

I love this festival as much as the next man - I just don’t need to be editing slides all day too!!!

Thanks, Nev, for coming on here and explaining, and for all the work you do for our favourite festival!

I think the issue that may have prompted Phillip's comment was the duration of the scroll for each set of graphics. This was such that, each time it started, it scrolled through the first few acts, but then cut away to the next set of slides before it had completed. So as the day went on the information became redundant, because it all referred to what had already happened. Not sure how hard this would be to fix? Hope you don't mind the feedback, and thanks again.

Hi - yes…… that problem with the ‘missing the end of the list’ was reported to me and fixed as soon as I could. That was my bad.

It’s on the list to check next year!!!!

Grand!

As far as I recall in the seventies, you  could  not serve a pint in the same glass! Germs!! Had to be a clean glass!! Many said they needed same glass for taste. In those days we had a nozzle on the pipe which was bleached every night after service. The fact that hundreds of Strangers glasses were touching that nozzle was a health hazard ...so to me it makes sense especially with Covid. You keep the plastic glass you were given in the first place and refill your tankard... no probs !!

Really?  Not in my world.  In every pub I drank in from the early 80s to the late 90s at least, refilling used glasses was standard and accepted practice (halves in pint glasses et al).

I concur.  Very standard practise everywhere - and in my dad's village where he grew up, where there was a brickfield until after the war at least, there was a cocnept of a "brickie's half" - which was an alleged half pint pulled into a pint glass 9typically as a one for the road) which was closer to 3/4 of a pint.

The "must use a fresh glass" thing came in during Thatcher's times - sometimes in the 80s...  I recall being in a pub in West Yorkshire and when i asked for a frsh glass the barman just said "Whjat - are ye a poof or summat?" ....   different times!

Hi Nev

Very many thanks for the explanation - I hadn't realised the resourcing constraints involved, nor the logistical challenges!

Hopefully my comments can be taken in a positive way, and lead to improvements in future years. If you need a volunteer minion to update the slides in the future, I'd be happy to put my hand up (though I appreciate the implications of allowing a stranger to control the wording on the screens!)

It was very much a minor point, relative to the superb quality of the whole video output over the weekend. When you (and the rest of the festival organisers) set such high standards, then even very minor things will get noticed. You can rightly think that "If that's all they could find fault with..." then you must have done a most excellent job!

Thank you Philip - always try to make things better from the next year. All comments and suggestions welcome!

Nev.

First time for me, I really enjoyed it. The prices were pretty steep and I don't think the differences in the various levels were really justified. I may do it again next year, but perhaps just go for the 'basic' package.

At Upton Blues festival our Upton plastic pint pots cost £1 were refilled everytime. Not a new one used? Tankards too. Hobsons or punters didnt seem concerned? I did notice they were very careful to not let the tap touch the plastic though.

On the point of crowd numbers. I too felt the festival was very packed this year. people arriving later on the field were sitting virtually in the toilets! I dont remember that in previous years? Also there seemed to be more food outlets and less other stalls? is this too my memory playing tricks? Hobgoblin seemed to have shrunk as well?

I thought this too! There were a few new smaller stalls selling crafty-things tucked inbetween the bigger stalls but the food seemed to far outweigh the clothing/crafts etc.

He's just played at Beautiful Days. Caught a few moments as we crossed the field. Didn't stay as we had the Tiny Treat Tent to attend to. He seemed to be going down very well, but I concur; BDs Digance!

I cannot imagine the sound level was any less than the typical fireworks we have to endure for a month on either side of 5 November, when our greyhound shakes with terror.

Heavily hearing-impaired as I am, I wear earplugs if I am down the front at gigs to avoid more damage.

I was astonished to see people standing directly in front of speaker stacks at Croppers with no protection and even more surprised to see young children at the front with one or both parents and no hearing protection whatsoever. (This was by no means the norm, but sufficient that I noticed them.)

I mentioned this in TDT on the Saturday. One family, clearly having a lovely time, had a baby, a toddler & 2 dogs directly in front of the speakers. I’d turned the prompt on my watch off as it kept telling me to move away from the source of the sound, and we were s good 50ft away from them. Surely they must have realised?

Strange that Bridget....I noticed lots of toddlers zonked out in carts, coming from front of stage. No ear defenders...was pretty loud at the front! And...one very tiny dog on an extended lead, maybe 30 foot, no ,lights...almost got trodden  on?? What is wrong with these people? Is it me? Or is it them?

It's definitely them.

With regard to the weights and measures, I filled my reusable(?) plastic glass with a 500ml bottle of Tribute… slightly under a pint going in from the bar

I concur  :(

Canal and River Trust. And their grant has been absolutely decimated (in the new meaning, not the original latin meaning) this year. They really cannot afford to keep the system running. Despit increasing our licence by considerably more than inflation.

Paul

But they also refused to fill my clearly marked Lee San Crick Boat Show plastic tankard.

I was told my the Brasenose staff on Sunday that it is a health problem. They must not allow the tankard to touch the tap. They either do it carefully, like the Brasenose staff, or can't be arsed, and pour it in from a throw away one.

Paul

Just been at Krankenhaus for much of the weekend.  You buy a plastic mug for a quid.  They repeatedly fill it with whatever you want...no questions asked.

That’s exactly what they do at New Forest and Wickham.

I've seen the tankard moments before. As long as I have been here, we've not been allowed to refill tankards. The grass is on farmland and the risk of cross contamination with one or more of the many e-coli etc is considered by Environmental Health, too great. Nothing would please me more than flogging refillable Fairport tankards - but there'd be no point.

Incidentally, the 'plastic' glasses at the bar have been non-plastic compostable for the last 8 years or so. The only plastic used at the bar as far as I am aware is the 4 pint milk jugs - because we can't find a non-plastic alternative.

I'm intrigued by this.  The festival I was at last weekend (Krankenhaus) was literally in a working cattle farmyard (emptied for the week).  Are Envenironmental Health rules interpreted differently in every location then?

It would appear so -
"The justification we would use for this stance is that the bars in Fairport would be considered a food business and as such should be looking to reasonably eliminate any potential risk (irrespective of how small)."
Perhaps other areas see this differently - or more than likely, it hasn't been noticed. As I say, nothing would give me greater pleasure than flogging refillable FC tankards.
And then there is this - the water stations we have where the scouts refill water bottles is not considered a food business and therefore represents the same risk as someone refilling their bottle at one of the many taps.
A water bottle dropped would surely represent the same contamination risk as a tankard - but I don't make the rules.

Thank you so much for your time, Gareth, that’s really helpful.

Interesting stuff.  Cheers, Gareth - appreciated.

You'll be delighted to read that SJ is, indeed, doing some work with a vocal coach.

Not been for a couple of years but looking at various vids it looks as if the "pit" is absolutely massive now compared with when I last went - massive space for TV cameras on tracks, then the main photography / safety area so the "barrier" seems a long way from the stage. Is this the case and does it impact on those who want to be right at the front?

DW

The cameras take up about 5 foot in front of the stage, as does the pit. As the musicians don't teeter on the edge of the stage, the barrier is about 15 foot from the musicians at front of stage, therefore.

Fairport's Saturday night set is now up on their youtube channel....