Sights and sounds from the Folk Festival

GB said :

Looking at cause & effect for a moment; people say things like:

Special G said :

… $85 to get in is a bit rich.

and

$60 for a night ticket is also steep.

…

Sadly it appears that the great god of commercialism has taken over the folk festival.

So, what changes would you make to the festival so it would cost less to run and still be good? Or are you suggesting they just charge less, run it into the ground, then declare bankruptcy. But then we’d have no festival, which would be crap.

Agreed. If you’re going to run > 18 venues and fill it with diverse, international, national and local talent, that does not come cheap. If you can’t afford the gate price, volunteer your services and get free entry and camping, plus a closer insight to the festival’s people, talent and machinations.

$60 for a night ticket is also steep. And surly security guards on the gate make it less than folkie, as does bar coding of wrist bands.

Sadly it appears that the great god of commercialism has taken over the folk festival.

The National has suffered badly in the past with counterfeit tickets, so electronic bar-coded wrist bands mitigates that risk. (Wrist bands per se have been part of festivals since Jesus was playing electric spoons for The Lovin’ Nazareens.)

Deadmandrinking said :

Speaking of strange old bards, does anyone know the story behind the aboriginal story-teller that rocks up with a duffel bag and a bushman’s hat and starts reciting old stories on the corner of the road just inside the park? I was convinced his stories were ‘awesome’, but I suspect my brain wasn’t on planet earth when it made that decision. Soberly, I’m just intrigued about where he’s from and what his story is. I’ve seen him in civic as well doing the same thing at times around the folkies.

Campbell the Swaggie. He’s actually a Kiwi, which came as a surprise as I too assumed he was aboriginal. He ives on the road and goes from festival to festival (he has an agent!) and the standing joke is that he heads off along the road but somehow makes it to the next one ahead of everyone else. The story goes that he actually faxes himself to the next festival.

He’s a very nice bloke and a superb reciter. His memory for poem lines is commensurate with his memory for names and faces. And he might be seen having a kip here and there, but he’s also dancing away in late night concerts and one of the last out of the session bar.

http://www.abc.net.au/arts/adlib/stories/s855961.htm

Looking at cause & effect for a moment; people say things like:

Special G said :

… $85 to get in is a bit rich.

and

$60 for a night ticket is also steep.

…

Sadly it appears that the great god of commercialism has taken over the folk festival.

So, what changes would you make to the festival so it would cost less to run and still be good? Or are you suggesting they just charge less, run it into the ground, then declare bankruptcy. But then we’d have no festival, which would be crap.

{Disclaimer: I have a beard, and a ponytail}

Deadmandrinking said :

Ah pfft the fun police.

Yeah, commenting about somebody breaking the law and endangering themselves not to mention the public is the fun police…

Oh, DMD you were only joking?

I’ve never thought it badly organised previously, so yes, commercialism.

Ah.

No.

You underestimate the ever diminishing financial margin that exists between continued cultural growth and the extinction of valuable tradition. Even at a festival that appears to be ‘large’ or ‘profitable’.

My experience was shared in that one particular security guard (not all) was a gigantic pcrik.

Ah pfft the fun police.

The life of a blogmeister – one festival after the next. (Just jealousy rearing it’s ugly head there) 🙂

PsydFX said :

DJ said :

JB, not wishing ill upon you or the others but…

“A crack team of rioters cycled down to the Folk Festival yesterday and even managed to cycle back home after many pints of cider without injury.”

Darwin may visit you, or common sense… or kama… and you wont see it until too late.

Sorry, but that’s just dumb. And no, I have never done it.

I’m pretty sure it still counts as DUI. Nice way to promote it JB!

Yes it does, I should forward this to the polica ala Joel on the Z750. SHAME ON YOU!!

DJ said :

JB, not wishing ill upon you or the others but…

“A crack team of rioters cycled down to the Folk Festival yesterday and even managed to cycle back home after many pints of cider without injury.”

Darwin may visit you, or common sense… or kama… and you wont see it until too late.

Sorry, but that’s just dumb. And no, I have never done it.

I’m pretty sure it still counts as DUI. Nice way to promote it JB!

$85 – Holy sheet – people were complaining about Chic Henry and his rip off snake oil peddling corporate marketing machine.

If I remember correctly day passes to that was $48

Where are the naysayers now ?

Now don’t get me wrong, I really do enjoy folk music and their followers, preferring female acoustic bands, but $85. That’s food for a week for 2 adults in the Danman household.

That is a lot of hard earned to part with for a night of memories (Good or otherwise)
I am assuming that beverages can not be brought, and they have to be purchased on site at additional charges yeah?

JB, not wishing ill upon you or the others but…

“A crack team of rioters cycled down to the Folk Festival yesterday and even managed to cycle back home after many pints of cider without injury.”

Darwin may visit you, or common sense… or kama… and you wont see it until too late.

Sorry, but that’s just dumb. And no, I have never done it.

It’s a fine celebration of British culture, don’t knock it!

You see commercialism, others might see good organisation.

85 bucks???????
that’s just silly.

Seems that way at times, doesn’t it.

Yes, and so unlike DMD. But he/she/it does know everything so who am I to question

Wow, way to start an argument over absolutely nothing!

vg said :

and yes, YOU started it. I was being quite nice

Uh, no, I was simply saying that the Folkies was a nice place attended by not just bearded hippees. How that got into an argument is beyond understanding.

Let’s not keep this going, hey.

and yes, YOU started it. I was being quite nice

Did I cast aspertions on bearded pony-tailed men other than to say I’d never seen so many in the one place? I also commented on the pleasantry of all in attendance

Don’t try to make something out of nothing. You’ll look like a tool……..hang on, too late

Felix the Cat said :

Deadmandrinking said :

.

Is everyone with a beard and a pony-tail the same?

Are all cops the same?

God I hope not.

Deadmandrinking said :

.

Is everyone with a beard and a pony-tail the same?

Are all cops the same?

Yeah, I misread that bit at first.

But I fail to understand what’s wrong with bearded, pony-tailed types.

Is everyone with a beard and a pony-tail the same?

I think DMD, that vg did say that you’d struggle to find a more pleasant group of people – even with the bearded hippies.

vg said :

“Come on VG, my aunts and uncles all go, and they’re your stock pube middle-class types. If you appreciate culture and interesting food, you’d find it a welcoming place.”

You’re assuming I haven’t gone

Well you were assuming the place was full of bearded, pony-tailed hippees.

“Come on VG, my aunts and uncles all go, and they’re your stock pube middle-class types. If you appreciate culture and interesting food, you’d find it a welcoming place.”

You’re assuming I haven’t gone

DMD – the bloke you are talking about was there on Friday telling his stories.

On a slightly differnent note $85 to get in is a bit rich.

vg said :

I have no doubt there is and, while the beardies may be among them, a more pleasant bunch of people you would struggle to find

Yes, well apart from people being attacked in the toilets they are all wonderful!

Come on VG, my aunts and uncles all go, and they’re your stock pube middle-class types. If you appreciate culture and interesting food, you’d find it a welcoming place.

Also, if you appreciate getting mindlessly sloshed it’s a very welcoming place. I wish I was going this year, if only for the free beer at the poetry thing. It’s an…experience having old bastards rant weird sh-t at you when you’re blotto.

Speaking of strange old bards, does anyone know the story behind the aboriginal story-teller that rocks up with a duffel bag and a bushman’s hat and starts reciting old stories on the corner of the road just inside the park? I was convinced his stories were ‘awesome’, but I suspect my brain wasn’t on planet earth when it made that decision. Soberly, I’m just intrigued about where he’s from and what his story is. I’ve seen him in civic as well doing the same thing at times around the folkies.

I have no doubt there is and, while the beardies may be among them, a more pleasant bunch of people you would struggle to find

Something for everyone VG, even the beardies.

O don’t think I’ve ever seen so many men gathered in the one place with a beard, ponytail and hat. Is that the NFF uniform?