'Back Chippenham's folk festival or lose it'
CHIPPENHAM Folk Festival organiser Bob Berry has urged Wiltshire people to back the event or risk losing it.
Mr Berry says season ticket sales this year have been slow and with just over a week until the festival starts there are still scores left unsold.
He said: "It's worrying that we have this many tickets left when we only sell just over 1,000 in total anyway.
"I think it is the weather and the economic crisis we are suffering that has meant that we are left with tickets."
He still needs to sell about 120 at £68 a time before the event begins next Friday.
The festival costs £120,000 to stage and relies on season ticket sales to boost its coffers. Chippenham plastics firm Wavin is once again its main sponsor but Mr Berry thinks more companies need to become involved.
Thousands of people always turn out for the popular free High Street parades of Morris dancing but the festival needs to sell tickets for its many dance and music acts that are staged at venues throughout the town.
"The festival brings so much to the town and area. We have so many different things going on.
"There are around 275 different activities going on over the weekend, which is a lot more than many other festivals manage.
"We also bring in thousands of pounds to the town each year. People will spend about £40 each day of the weekend they come to the festival."
The festival is in its 37th year and among the acts to be featured over the Bank Holiday weekend are Solas, an Irish band, who will perform for the first time in the UK. Other debut performances include George Papavgeris and Albatross Pie. Mr Berry said: "There is something here for all of the family, with youth concerts and activities for children.
"I just hope that people will come forward and help us even if it is just offering us a service for a discounted price.
"By buying tickets people will be helping us a great deal and funding all the activities that will take place both indoors and out.
"Alternatively, if each person coming to the event donates a pound we could fund next year's event just on the donations raised."
There is plenty of opportunity throughout the weekend for people to donate money with the pop-in-a- pound scheme; there will be donation boxes at venues throughout the town.
Ticket prices range from £15 for evening tickets to £68 for a full season ticket. For more information about the Chippenham Folk Festival or how to buy tickets log on to www.chippfolk.co.uk or call (01249) 657190.
5:48pm Friday 16th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: TC, Chippenham on 12:30am Sat 17 May 08
Good advertising - good luck.
Good advertising - good luck.
Posted by: Tax Payer, Chippenham on 8:12pm Sat 17 May 08
Oh good more morris dancers, beards and tankards. Think I will not be going into town then
Oh good more morris dancers, beards and tankards. Think I will not be going into town then
Posted by: blaiz, chippenham on 9:30am Mon 19 May 08
Lose it is the best option. An event like this should be held out of the town centre so that us normal people can enjoy shopping without the jangling of bells and weirdos!
Lose it is the best option. An event like this should be held out of the town centre so that us normal people can enjoy shopping without the jangling of bells and weirdos!
Posted by: clarence81, Chippenham on 12:04pm Mon 19 May 08
Chippenham cant lose the Folk Festival, its brilliant to have live music & some life in the town.
Chippenham cant lose the Folk Festival, its brilliant to have live music & some life in the town.
Posted by: ahudspith, Chippenham on 1:44pm Mon 19 May 08
It's fair entertainment.
However the prices quoted for a ticket are crazy. Who in their right mind would be prepared to pay £68 to watch a load of weirdo's prance around in rags to offbeat folk music?
No me ...
It's fair entertainment.
However the prices quoted for a ticket are crazy. Who in their right mind would be prepared to pay £68 to watch a load of weirdo's prance around in rags to offbeat folk music?
No me ...
Posted by: rosco, Chippenham on 5:31pm Mon 19 May 08
[quote][bold]blaiz[/bold] wrote:
Lose it is the best option. An event like this should be held out of the town centre so that us normal people can enjoy shopping without the jangling of bells and weirdos! [/quote] Shopping?! There is surely more to life than just a shopping experience, not all of us want to burn money to fuel consumerism!
blaiz wrote:
Lose it is the best option. An event like this should be held out of the town centre so that us normal people can enjoy shopping without the jangling of bells and weirdos!
Shopping?! There is surely more to life than just a shopping experience, not all of us want to burn money to fuel consumerism!
Posted by: blaiz, chippenham on 6:58pm Mon 19 May 08
Chippenham town centre is not adequate enough to support the festival. The council have taken away the toilets at the bus station leaving only the grotty, drug infested loo's in Borough Parade and Bath Road car park. The only toilets available are at Emery Gate, which as I understand, is a privately run shopping centre and now with the closure of Somerfield where is everyone going to buy there daily food supplies?
Chippenham town centre is not adequate enough to support the festival. The council have taken away the toilets at the bus station leaving only the grotty, drug infested loo's in Borough Parade and Bath Road car park. The only toilets available are at Emery Gate, which as I understand, is a privately run shopping centre and now with the closure of Somerfield where is everyone going to buy there daily food supplies?
Posted by: Paul Tucker, Chippenham on 7:09pm Mon 19 May 08
There's precious little going on in Chippenham other than binge-drinking so I think the Folk Festival is a good thing and something to celebrate.
Unfortunately, there is very little publicity where the general public can see it. Also, a PRINTABLE online programme would help. If a load of these were printed and put into all the local shops there'd be a chance of getting some advance sales.
There's precious little going on in Chippenham other than binge-drinking so I think the Folk Festival is a good thing and something to celebrate.
Unfortunately, there is very little publicity where the general public can see it. Also, a PRINTABLE online programme would help. If a load of these were printed and put into all the local shops there'd be a chance of getting some advance sales.
Posted by: Travelling man, chippenham on 9:13pm Mon 19 May 08
A festival like this brings business and prestige to the town and should be financially supported by the town council, i.e. the ratepayer. Business ratepayers get paid back by the extra trade and resident ratepayers get excellent entertainment. I feel sorry for those who'd rather not have their shopping interrupted by bearded weirdos.
A festival like this brings business and prestige to the town and should be financially supported by the town council, i.e. the ratepayer. Business ratepayers get paid back by the extra trade and resident ratepayers get excellent entertainment. I feel sorry for those who'd rather not have their shopping interrupted by bearded weirdos.
Posted by: moonraker1, chippenham on 10:45pm Mon 19 May 08
Folk festival is one of the only events that wakes the town up. I say good luck to the lot of them and have a great festival.
Folk festival is one of the only events that wakes the town up. I say good luck to the lot of them and have a great festival.
Posted by: Don, Devizes on 9:46am Tue 20 May 08
[quote][bold]blaiz[/bold] wrote:
Lose it is the best option. An event like this should be held out of the town centre so that us normal people can enjoy shopping without the jangling of bells and weirdos! [/quote] Absolutely. Your Wilkinson's experience must not be tainted by tradition. Culture must not intefere with your trip to Superdrug. And people having fun should not override your right to go to the Officers Club.
blaiz wrote:
Lose it is the best option. An event like this should be held out of the town centre so that us normal people can enjoy shopping without the jangling of bells and weirdos!
Absolutely. Your Wilkinson's experience must not be tainted by tradition. Culture must not intefere with your trip to Superdrug. And people having fun should not override your right to go to the Officers Club.
Posted by: daisyBgood, chippenham on 9:00am Thu 22 May 08
We should be welcoming people to our town who want to celebrate our history and spend their money in our shops and bars - it brings fun, colour and enjoyment to the town. Why can't our townsfolk be more openminded and enjoy even a little of what the festival has to offer? I agree that the program should be printable - I can't afford a season ticket but it won't stop me going to the town centre and enjoying the free entertainment and I will happily put a couple of pounds into a collecting box. I think also that more local businesses who benefit should support the next festival. Come on Chippenham - not all festival goers are bearded weirdos!!
We should be welcoming people to our town who want to celebrate our history and spend their money in our shops and bars - it brings fun, colour and enjoyment to the town. Why can't our townsfolk be more openminded and enjoy even a little of what the festival has to offer? I agree that the program should be printable - I can't afford a season ticket but it won't stop me going to the town centre and enjoying the free entertainment and I will happily put a couple of pounds into a collecting box. I think also that more local businesses who benefit should support the next festival. Come on Chippenham - not all festival goers are bearded weirdos!!
Posted by: Paul Tucker, Paul Tucker on 2:30pm Thu 22 May 08
http://www.ensode.ne
t/ensode/pdf-crack.j
sf
will allow you to create a printable programme
http://www.ensode.ne
t/ensode/pdf-crack.j
sf
will allow you to create a printable programme
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