Bideford Folk Festival - CANCELLED '11

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Bideford Folk Festival has been cancelled.

A statement for the festival says:

Bideford Folk Festival directors have made the hard decision to cancel this year’s Bideford Folk Festival. With only eight weeks to go to the festival the number of advance Season Ticket sales have not reached the level where the organisers have confidence that the festival will be financially viable.

The decision to cancel was reluctantly made after much discussion and took into account the huge amount of work that has already been done to organise and promote the festival by a hard-working team.

Loss of the festival will be a blow to the whole Torridge area, which has benefited financially in the past from increased revenues in restaurants, holiday lets and local retail outlets. Many local people and performers have expressed their support for the festival but the vital ingredient to make a successful festival are the visitors attracted to the town as season ticket holders.

Director Jerry Bix said that, "in common with many other established festivals this year Bideford Folk Festival has found that the economic climate and in particular the price of petrol have made people think twice about travelling long distances. Many of our regulars at the festival have been reluctant to commit and buy tickets, as they are concerned about the cost of fuel. In past years we have had visitors from Scotland, and other far flung corners of the UK."

It is a disappointment that we are losing the opportunity to bring some talented artistes to Bideford and also there are many talented local performers who will not have the opportunity to perform at this popular, national event.

Everyone who bought a season ticket has been contacted and they have had their money refunded. All the artistes have been contacted.

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This week-long, friendly festival is held in and around the historic port of Bideford, situated in beautiful North Devon. Taking place from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th August 2011 at many venues in and around the centre of Bideford and at Edgehill College, there are concerts, sessions, dances, and workshops with plenty of opportunity for musicians and singers to join in.

As well as music events, there's dance sessions, and workshops plus a bar at most venues.

Line-up

Spinndrift, Barron Brady, Tom & Barbara Brown, Carole Etherton & Andrew McKay, Colum Sands, Jaywalkers, James Findlay, Roger Bryant, Bloatertown Band, Trim Rig & A Doxy, Barry & Ingrid Temple, Thornbridge, Nicola Clark, Hilary Ward, Beer from the Wood, Lucy & Kevin Burrow, Bloatertown Band with John Blackburn calling, and more to be confirmed.

Tickets

Full Season ticket offering entry to all events is priced at £36 for adults, and £20 for the under 16s, and with four nights camping they're priced at £50, or £20 for under 16s. A Rugby Club ticket offering entry to sessions / workshops only – no concerts is priced at £12 (£8 for under 16s), and £26 with four nights camping, no addition cost for under 16s to camp. Camping / caravans per person per night(only with a season ticket. No unaccompanied U16s is priced at £5 for adults. .

Venues

The main stage will be at St Mary's School and small concerts at the Arts Centre just a walk through the lovely Victoria Park with other sessions and events at The Joiners Arms – home of Bideford Folk Club. Plus of course the Festival Ceilidh at a venue to be confirmed.

Camping

The Festival camp site will be at the local Rugby Club featuring; showers, toilets, breakfasts and a song and music session room for singers and players to get down from the moment they get up to the moment they go to bed, with fine ales on tap. Camper vans parked within 1 minutes walk of the rugby club.

More information will be here when available.