the future of GuilFest under threat?

[eFestivals]

The future of GuilFest could be under threat, from a new festival that wants to be held on the same Stoke Park site.

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/080924d.shtml

[Paul ™]

Blimey

Such a shame if AEG do push out Guilfest

What is your thoughts on this Neil?

[5co77ie]

A new festival run by the corporates. I wonder how many other successful independent festivals could find themselves also 'under offer' in the coming year or two.

[Paul ™]

A new festival run by the corporates. I wonder how many other successful independent festivals could find themselves also 'under offer' in the coming year or two.

[5co77ie]

It's not just AEG

WOMAD now has Festival Republic staging a direct competitor

Live Nation are bound to also want to get involved in more festivals.

and Vince Power is also back on the scene although at least he's doing his own thing.

[chownsy]

No doubt what the penny pinching council will decide and then choose

RIP Guilfest

[timespeedsup]

No doubt what the penny pinching council will decide and then choose

RIP Guilfest

[ig1234]

Some kind of petition stating we won't go near any new corporate peice of **** festival?

Councils have to preserve decent arts, so they may have this in their favour...

Only been to Guilfest once, in 2004, for the day, but it was a good day, and seems to have remained good.

[barrychuckle]

Guilfest needs to be saved, it is one of the few events left that recognises that it is far more than just the music - it is about getting the community involved -

Good luck Tony!!!

[TalkShow Bob]

It's not just AEG

WOMAD now has Festival Republic staging a direct competitor

Live Nation are bound to also want to get involved in more festivals.

and Vince Power is also back on the scene although at least he's doing his own thing.

[port]

Its a kick in the teeth for the organisers that they are even considering it, but the locals could boycott the new festival or make life very difficult in regard to co-operation. I have never been to this festival but surely not all ground being used is council owned? parking ground, access etc', its wether principles are more important to some people over greed.

[Paul ™]

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

[Little Chief]

This would be such a shame and as part of an independent festival, I have to hope that this larger sized festival can keep the flag flying for true independence.

Good luck Tony

Little Chief

Blissfields Festival

[Mackem]

Terrible news, but like the rest of you I fear the council will make the obvious choice. There's very little sentiment in local politics.

If the worst does happen, maybe Tony can find another venue in the area.

[eFestivals]

Only other thought is that could there be a long-term plan to get rid of Guilford having any festival?

i'd doubt that - i believe that central govt have been pushing the idea on councils in the last few years that each should be having a festival in their area. And as far as I'm aware, there's not any significant opposition to a festival happening in Guildford, it appears to have been running pretty smoothly from that angle.

[eFestivals]

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

I'd guess that one of the reasons for FR's involvement is their ownership of some of the land it'll use - if they can get a cut of the profits thru them allowing their land to be used when it wouldn't otherwise be used it's a good bit of business for them.

[eFestivals]

Its a kick in the teeth for the organisers that they are even considering it, but the locals could boycott the new festival or make life very difficult in regard to co-operation. I have never been to this festival but surely not all ground being used is council owned? parking ground, access etc', its wether principles are more important to some people over greed.

while a boycott might be a good idea, in general people just don't care enough about what to them are side issues - all any potential audience will care about is what any festival is offering them. If it has bands they want to see, they'll go.

And all of the land used is council owned - it's held in a council owned park, with everything within that park (the arena, camping, & car parking), and access directly off a public road.

[5co77ie]

Terrible news, but like the rest of you I fear the council will make the obvious choice. There's very little sentiment in local politics.

If the worst does happen, maybe Tony can find another venue in the area.

[5co77ie]

And all of the land used is council owned - it's held in a council owned park, with everything within that park (the arena, camping, & car parking), and access directly off a public road.

[5co77ie]

Are you talking about Hevenly*? From what I have heard its RBC and the ex WOMAD guy who are mainly incharge, I dont know how much Mr Benn and FR will have to do with it.

*I think thats its name, the new proposed fest for Reading.

[William of Walworth]

The point was it's clearly been set up to compete with WOMAD.

[Mackem]

Has Tony Scott attempted to publicise this in the local paper .,...erm, is it the Surrey Advertiser etc.? The long established festival boss being pushed out by the corporate big boys in dodgy cahoots with the council could be a big and scandalous and headlineworthy local story if pitched right.

[TalkShow Bob]

The point was it's clearly been set up to compete with WOMAD.

[RichardH]

Oh yeah it has, but RBC allways had a lot to do with WOMAD when it was in Reading. FR will probably only be involved, if as much, in a simmilar roll they are at Glastonbury. I dont see this as a big buisness attack on WOMAD, and WOMAD arnt exactly small frys anyway.

Edited September 25, 2008 by RichardH

[barrychuckle]

Is this one where the Association of Independent Festivals Organisers or whatever they are called, can show their strength?