Stokes Bay Festival 2009

[Medina]

Unashamed 'plug' for the Stokes Bay Festival in Hampshire - now a five-day Festival running from Wednesday 29 July to Sunday 2 August.

Line-up includes The Zutons, The Proclaimers, The Saw Doctors, Seth Lakeman, Oysterband, Edward II, Adrian Edmondson, The Hamsters, Lunasa, Le Vent Du Nord (Quebec), Spooky Mens Chorale (Australia), Baskery (Scandinavia) and loads more.

Just off the seafront with its stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight it's a great location for a holiday by the sea and at just £100 for a 5-day weekend it's decent value as well - under-16s are half-price and under-10s are free.

See http://www.stokesbayfestival.co.uk for full details.

End of commercial!

Edited May 5, 2009 by Medina

[Medina]

P.S. Should have added that the licence hearing for our main site is today (Wednesday 6th May).

The usual objections from Alan B'Scard (a.k.a. Olgrumpyfy) and the local Conservative Party.

Wish us luck!

[oxsandra]

P.S. Should have added that the licence hearing for our main site is today (Wednesday 6th May).

The usual objections from Alan B'Scard (a.k.a. Olgrumpyfy) and the local Conservative Party.

Wish us luck!

[edthefish]

Looking forward to this.

[Medina]

Great news. We had a great time last year and hope to be back this year.

Is it in the same location?

Good luck and don't let the B'Scards get you down

[marooned]

Alan B'Scard will never get me down!

[Medina]

Come on Pete - we all know you're sh#t scared of him - I saw you on telly the other night and

you've grown a BEARD, to try and hide your identity!!!!!!!!

[Medina]

Excellent news! The Council has just announced that we've got our Premises Licence.

Last week's Licensing meeting was adjourned until today (Monday) for all the paperwork to be typed-up.

It's now been announced that the Premises Licence has been approved with an 11pm main stage finish and 12 midnight site curfew (much better than the 10pm main stage finish imposed last year).

As with any outdoor Festival there are licence conditions to protect the interests of nearby residents but nothing that we can't work within to the best interests of everyone.

Now it's all systems go. We've got a lovely safe and secure site. Some excellent artists. Our usual friendly family audience buying tickets at a very healthy rate. And the sun's shining. Long may it continue!

[sadwitch]

My Gran lives in Gosport and I'm pretty sure she didn't notice the festival happen last year

[Medina]

My Gran lives in Gosport and I'm pretty sure she didn't notice the festival happen last year

Edited May 12, 2009 by Medina

[marooned]

Am I right in thinking that you've moved further along towards the Lee-on-Solent end of Stokes Bay.

Hopefully, still within striking distance of the cafe that was adjacent last year - the 'upmarket' one at the other end, with the fort behind it, was a bit of a rip-off!

Edited May 12, 2009 by marooned

[Medina]

Am I right in thinking that you've moved further along towards the Lee-on-Solent end of Stokes Bay.

Hopefully, still within striking distance of the cafe that was adjacent last year - the 'upmarket' one at the other end, with the fort behind it, was a bit of a rip-off!

[sadwitch]

Further proof that we didn't upset local Grandmothers last year!

But maybe you should pay your Gran a visit while the Festival is on Sadwitch - I'm happy to offer you backstage VIP Passes if you'd like to treat her to a cup of tea and sticky bun backstage!

[old folker]

Medina - have been to the last two festivals for the Sunday only but planning to camp this year for the whole time with my son. Thoroughly enjoyed both previous times and line up looks great already. I know its only May but still a lot of 'tbas' - can you tantalise us with any clues as to the rest of the line up? Any more big names (or less big names will do) we can look forward to? Or when you expect to finalise the line up? Looking forward to it already... :angry:

[Medina]

Most of the 'big names' are already listed on the website Stokes Bay Festival but there's a few names to be added on the 'Who's On When' page as follows:

The Zutons on Wednesday 29 July will be supported by The Strange Death of Liberal England + 1 act t.b.c.

The SAS Band (Spike's All-Stars) on Thursday 30 July will include Paul Young, Tom Robinson, Fish and Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earthband) among other guest vocalists - The SAS Band are also playing for Nelson Mandela the week before (!)

The very lively Babelfish have been added to the Friday line-up - they include various members of The Peatbog Faeries, Blazin' Fiddles and other Scottish bands in their line-up

Baskery from Scandinavia will support Seth Lakeman on the Saturday - the all-girl trio supported him on his UK tour last autumn

Black Bart will be appearing somewhere and there's a few more acts still to be confirmed.

As well as the music we're also adding several other onsite attractions - details to follow shortly.

Alongside the likes of The Proclaimers and The Saw Doctors I hope this whets your appetite.

[Dangerous Albert]

Looking at the news today in the local press -I would say that this festival is in grave danger of being cancelled. A further "review " is to take place at the beginning of July.

What the hell is going on ?

Medina-you are in the know. Please can you update us ?

[zydaco]

Looking at the news today in the local press -I would say that this festival is in grave danger of being cancelled. A further "review " is to take place at the beginning of July.

What the hell is going on ?

Medina-you are in the know. Please can you update us ?

[Dangerous Albert]

Portsmouth News Gosport section

Google "Pompey today"

[Dangerous Albert]

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/gosport/Stokes...nown.5340875.jp

[Medina]

Welcome to 'Dangerous Albert' - a new member who only appears to have posted on Stokes Bay.

Reminds me of last year when a host of new members including Olgrumpyfy, Brod Boy and Adelaide all suddenly appeared on this board to try and undermine this Festival.

All were identified as local NIMBYs opposed to the Festival. All disappeared again when they failed to stop the Festival taking place.

To return to this year...

There is absolutely no danger of this Festival being cancelled.

There's an appeal against the premises licence for one (and only one) of the fields we are using (nothing new there as longer standing members will recall from last year) but it is based on completely inaccurate and out-of-date information (it says, for example, that we are using Brune Park School for camping... we are not and never have been).

Our licensing solicitor, one of the best in the land, is 100 per cent confident the appeal will be rejected.

We are 100 per cent confident the Festival will take place as planned.

Hope that reassures you Albert.

[Dangerous Albert]

Well, thanks Medina for the reply. Hope you are right about the festival.

You are,however, 100 % wrong about my motives for asking. I will be extremely upset and angry if it does not go ahead. I have really enjoyed the last two year's festivals and as it is the only one I attend,that is the reason I only post on this thread !! ( A little paranoia creeping in there,I think!!)

As I live in Hythe I don't think I can be classed as a "NIMBY" either.

Good news hopefully and I'll try not to be too offended by the first bit!

[Medina]

Thanks for your support Albert.

Glad you're not one of the NIMBYs. Apologies for any offence caused - after having the NIMBYs crawling all over this board last year, I did wonder!

It is frustrating when we stage one of the most relaxed and safest festivals around (only one theft in six years and not a single other crime or incident of trouble in all that time) that we still suffer constant attacks from a tiny bunch of politically-motivated NIMBYs who try to stop our festival happening.

Our ticket sales are good, we've a great site very close to the unspoilt Stokes Bay seafront , first-class line-up of artists, excellent safety record... and yet we still have to see off an appeal against our Premises Licence from an individual who doesn't seem to understand what it is he's appealing against.

Nothing changes! We've been here before and ALWAYS succeeded in still staging a successful and enjoyable festival.

I'm sure this year will be just the same. Look forward to seeing you there (and if you PM me I'll arrange you a backstage VIP Pass).

[Dangerous Albert]

No offence taken,Medina.

I'm pretty sensitive about the subject also !!

[Medina]

Item now posted on the 'News' page of the Festival website Stokes Bay Festival News

01/06/09 – The Festival is ON!

A couple of local newspapers have reported that an appeal has been lodged against the Premises Licence for our Festival site. The story (and the appeal) appears to be based on out-of-date information - it suggests we are using another site for camping that we are not using at all! We are confident that the appeal will be rejected and the Festival will go ahead as planned.

One of the 'joys' of organising festivals is overcoming objections from those who don't want festivals to take place. We have to do this every year and this year is little different to any other.

[eFestivals]

Welcome to 'Dangerous Albert' - a new member who only appears to have posted on Stokes Bay.

Reminds me of last year when a host of new members including Olgrumpyfy, Brod Boy and Adelaide all suddenly appeared on this board to try and undermine this Festival.

All were identified as local NIMBYs opposed to the Festival. All disappeared again when they failed to stop the Festival taking place.

I think it's a bit closer to home this time Peter, and someone you'd be familiar with. The post has come from a certain local council's network.