Looks like that's the end of the line for the North Wales Bluegrass Festival. Disputes with the town council and falling ticket sales being the given reason. Really sad news, used to be a great festival. Big Stevie and Robin Wallace from my band have played there since the first fest just up the road, first as the Runaway String Band, and then as Longway since I joined up with them.
My first couple were with Goldrush before that band folded. It has been plagued recently by probs with the main hall being closed, and cricket pitch regulations too. I met a LOT of good people there, and the jams were once legendary !!
11 Comments |
 | alfiedog says:
1/5/2017 6:32:40 AM
So that's no Coastline, and no north Wales festivals. Sad news indeed :(
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 | Ralph Stanley legend says:
1/5/2017 8:18:28 AM
What is considered to be the best festival these days... I am out the loop somewhat since the heady days of Edale !
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| alfiedog says:
1/5/2017 9:11:58 AM
I suppose its down to personal preference. Conwy was a good festival, i only attended once about 6 years ago, it was ok, a bit expensive, and venues were dotted about the town. Coastline was a great festival really good facilitys, great bands, and really well priced. Didmarton is a good festival, but expensive, and you cant camp on the site with a dog (unless you are one of the officials, or a member of the bike club ;( I think the future of festivals is the Pick Your Own route..
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 | derekoftheold97 says:
1/5/2017 10:23:04 AM
I agree with Alfiedog. The pick your own route looks like the future. Although it is shame that we wont get to see so many US artists. I believe the cost of booking these artists has had a big impact on the 'larger' festivals. We do have some great 'home grown' talent, and there is still a few festivals to showcase them.
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 | Buzzbomb says:
1/5/2017 10:43:49 AM
Sorry to see Conwy go... Although it didn't have any washing facilities and the line-ups tended to be a bit samey, I'll miss it. I guess no holiday in Wales this year!
Re other festivals - Orwell is one I wouldn't miss. The venue and location is great, and the sound is perfect. There seems to be more in the way of picking too.
I want to check out Naseby this year too. It's the weekend after Orwell, but I suspect the music there will be more trad.
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 | Andy Anderson says:
1/6/2017 4:08:21 AM
At least we still have the Glebe Farm Bluegrass and Old Timey Stringpickers Camp to look forward to in the North West. It's held at Glebe Farm Shop, near Congleton and will be run over the weekend 10th - 13th August 2017. It's a learning and picking weekend where we all get stuck in and help each other to develop, whatever our level. So, our music lives on in the North West. Full details, costs (very affordable) etc will be announced shortly. I will post the link to the event website just as soon as I have put it together. This event was a great success last year. We have a bigger marquee and more camping space this year so there's plenty of room. See you there. Cheers , Andy
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| alfiedog says:
1/6/2017 6:42:56 AM
I can vouch for that :) A great time was had by all last year :)
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 | conic says:
1/6/2017 10:17:51 AM
I will second that, Fantastic even at Glebe Farm, you should do two of them this year if possible. there were even workshops for Banjo, guitar, fiddle and singing by some very talented people at no extra cost
I can also vouch for the fantastic Phoenix bluegrass at the Butphore Inn, not too far away. , there was even a great workshop where a banjo was stripped down to its nuts and bolts put back together and setup again at no extra cost
You even get a video documentary of these events by a pro film maker
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| Ralph Stanley legend says:
1/7/2017 10:55:33 AM
Excellent guys,
Thank you all very much. yes Glebe farm sounds good, it's really important for players of all levels to get together and help each other...
I look forward to catching up with you all and hopefully play some Stanley stuff !
Cheers
David
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| Andy Anderson says:
1/7/2017 10:57:45 AM
Amen to that David.
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 | fatbanjo says:
1/17/2017 9:05:40 AM
I went a couple of times 2001/2 long way for us but a lovely picturesque town and journey! The camping was in a what seemed like a public park and I walked over to my tent to see someone attempting to get in! put me right off! Real shame the concert venue was disjointed from the festival sight otherwise it would have been a great festival!
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