New UK Festival - Time for Something different.

[RiskyBiscuit]

Evening.

I'm looking into organising a new festival, most likely based in the UK.

My vision is not a festival with big names, big stages or big ticket prices. Not aiming to be the biggest, not aiming to encourage non-sense behaviour and not looking to appeal to those whose mind is more difficult to open than a clam.

The focus of this festival will be intimacy and exploration. I have organised smaller gatherings but am looking to raise the profile of this idea, I'm looking to gauge feedback as to whether or not it is something you would enjoy. So, the main idea elements for this event would be as follows:

• Rurally based - Countryside fields - not city based.

• Bands / Artists spanning a wide range of musical genres, particularly Jazz, Acoustic and EDM, even some 70's, 80's thrown out live into the night. Live jazz bands, sax players and guitarists. Despite this, we'll have talented EDM DJ's and Producers playing across the festival.

• NO big names. Every artist will be independent or up and coming, unless we manage to score the odd big'ish name secretly. ...

• No one artist plays for hours, short, snappy and diverse sets.

• The camping area will BECOME the stage. Bands and artists will just start setting up and playing in specially designated areas within the camping area.

• Large bonfires / marshmallows / BBQ's and tribal fire dancing.

• Themed tents with a very alternative theme. Magicians in some, poets in others, dancers in others, nutters with something to say in others. It will be an arts festival and the art will be your mind and the way in which it interprets everything. Anyone with anything to say or show can do it here. Within reason.

• The focus will be on attention to detail, subtly, maturity but a hell of a lot of fun and reflection, not pretentious big name chart toppers.

• I want to bring the music TO the people not make the people go to the music; hence my belief that the mini stages should be littered across the camp-site. This is logistically possible.

• I have a great health and safety background and am very confident that we can get it right where others, not mentioning any names(!), have failed.

• Home-cooked food and beverages across the site. Not rip-off burgers for a tenner. Bring your own food / booze. Licenses will be acquired where necessary.

• Ticket price will be moderate, certainly not at the top end, not at the bottom end either.

• The focus will be on exploring NEW ARTISTS, and moving outside of your musical and artistic comfort zone.

• No big profits, any profit will be given back to the independent artists playing at the event!

I want to get rid of this 'hands up in the air' attitude and introduce some real fun! The focus will be on a tribal feel. Almost like a tribal gathering and a celebration of being alive. I have a great creative team who is ready to make this happen. However, before we push ahead, i'd really like to hear your thoughts with regards to the following questions:

• What would you like to see at a new UK festival?

• What do you not like about our new festival idea?

• Which festivals have you been to?

• What makes a stunning festival experience for you?

• What kind of art do you like apart from music? (Can be anything at all..)

I'll throw a 10% ticket discount in for all replies (especially those who don't wish to come)!. ... and will then subsequently add 10% to the final ticket price. Just kidding!

We're looking forward to getting all of the feedback on this so that we can set something up provisionally for either '13 or '14.

Regards,

Jordan

[grumpyhack]

I suspect that at present, if you read the forums, festival running is a passport to losing a lot of money.

Make sure you've got some backers with deep pockets prepared to stand a loss for a couple of years, cut your teeth promoting a few run up gigs and make friends with your local council licensing department.

Good luck.

[RiskyBiscuit]

You're certainly not wrong there. We'll be spending a great deal of time making sure our costings are right. A large element many organisers forget is to account for extenuating and exceptional circumstances beyond their reasonable control. We'll be working hard to make sure we don't make that kind of mistake.

Edited July 16, 2012 by RiskyBiscuit

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

• What would you like to see at a new UK festival

• An air of tranquility ie no undercurrent of violence, thieving, smashing things, setting tents alight etc

• What do you not like about our new festival idea?

• Can't see anythings I dislike really - apart from the marshmallow bit (don't like them)

• Which festivals have you been to?

• Glasto, Bestival, Womad

• What makes a stunning festival experience for you?

• Being able to meet up with friends from near and far in a comfortable, safe environment where there is a good variety of different arts to see / hear.

• What kind of art do you like apart from music? (Can be anything at all..)

• Modernt art (paintings, sculpture)

[kaosmark2]

• What would you like to see at a new UK festival?

A lack of sponsorship by some shitty lager brand that dominates the festival. Games of ultimate frisbee or other variable-number team sports. And ultimately, efforts made so that the festival feels like it's for the customers and bands, rather than all the shitty issues that come with the big corporate fests.

• What do you not like about our new festival idea?

Not like is pushing it, but I'm concerned about the idea of camping where the bands play. Both in terms of how it'd work logistically, and what you do when you don't like the band playing. Would there still be multiple stages? How would that work?

• Which festivals have you been to?

Reading, Download, Sonisphere, Bestival, Latitude, ATPs, Rock Werchter, as well as several 1-day fests like Hard Rock Calling, LED, Transmissions from Jodrell Bank and a few small local/alternative ones around Oxford, Bristol and Leeds. This year I'm doing Truck.

• What makes a stunning festival experience for you?

Good bands, a good atmosphere, REAL ALE, stuff to do other than watch bands and drink, good company, the ability to get half-decent food.

• What kind of art do you like apart from music? (Can be anything at all..)

Any art that changes as you're observing it. Music isn't one note you constantly listen to, you read different words as you're reading a book, you see different images when watching a film. Paintings, sculpture and the like do nothing for me as they remain constant while being observed/"appreciated".

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I think stages within the camping area is a bit of a shit idea. I personnally would not bother to camp, but also the logistics behind tent security and crowd management is not one that I could be arsed with, but as a punter I would be concerned about.

I would like to see more festivals going down the route of camping alongside your car (like in the "old" days). I don't drive btw, but have seen the benefit at festivals that manage it. However I don't know why a countryside setting would be seen as the ideal. There are some more urbanised areas that would be perfect, and are, and have the benefit of easy access by public transport. Throwing someform of free travel in would be awesome.

While I applaud the idea of lesser known/independant bands there is a risk that they will all be shit, and no one wanting to come. I go to a lot of unsigned things and apart from some kids parents and a tumbleweed the venue is often empty. I would still want to see someone that I know I would like. Not a big name as such but a festival stalwart like Dreadzone or 3 Daft Monkeys.

I am no expert but given the financial climate I would set up a small event of 500 or less, with lesser licensing restrictions as a dry run. Also I would be careful where to set up. Many of the smaller/medium festivals have built up a loyal base from the local areas over the years, and setting up near one may mean that you won't have an audience.

Something with a petting zoo would be nice. I like them and not in a beastiality type of way. Not with sheep or pigs either. I want to see llamas and ostriches, and maybe the odd feral bird of prey. I petted an owl once and it sicked up a mouse while I did it. Anywhooo I digress.

[thetime]

The festivals you need to look at are the ones that have grown steadily like green man, Kendall etc etc.

[Purple Monkey]

A festival that promises to not be utterly ruined by mud - strong contingencies and preparations for abysmal weather.

[eFestivals]

A festival that promises to not be utterly ruined by mud - strong contingencies and preparations for abysmal weather.

apart from with truckloads of tarmac or building a roof, it's just not possible.

People in general have completely unrealistic expectations of what a festival can do to deal with mud, especially if the amount of rain has been huge as it has this year.

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

RE The themed tents, and short sets.

Themed tents mean you're going to have to book a lot of similar acts. Are there going to be that many around? Also, you're going to have to have quite a few tents. Is it financially/spacially possible?

With regards to the second bit, I'd imagine you're going to rely on people being drawn in by their favourite acts playing to start off with, are they really going to commit to going if the thing they're going for is only on for half an hour or something similar?

[LondonTom]

apart from with truckloads of tarmac or building a roof, it's just not possible.

People in general have completely unrealistic expectations of what a festival can do to deal with mud, especially if the amount of rain has been huge as it has this year.

[russycarps]

I dont think I would buy a ticket for a festival like this.

[eFestivals]

Wood chip, lots and lots and lots of wood chip Seems to be the general response anyway

it's a response.

It's not a response which will cure the mud issue for anything more than a few hours, when the same issue happens all over again.

How many forests do people think should be destroyed just so they don't have to put on wellies?

Some people just shouldn't ever venture out of cities I guess.

[pothead pixie]

I agree with thetime look at festivals like Green Man, also worth checking out is the Wickerman festival in scotland which kicks off this weekend coming.

Always remember one of the keys to a festivals success is that if your going to have EDM stages dotted around the place a special emphasis should be placed on a chill out area also, a reggae tent or downbeat tent perhaps. Was at Rockness in 2010 and although a well run festival they seriously lacked a chill out area which would have made it a more perfect experience which Wickerman does have. You need an area where you can relax after jumping around to all that bpm. I would also like to show you some examples of fairly successful small festivals in Ireland that have similar feels to the Wickerman festival. The Body & Soul festival which has been running now for three years has all these similar attributes and has sold out each time too, it is also part of the bigger Electric Picnic festival. B&S doesnt really go for big headliners but up and coming bands that are just under the radar. You will have to do your research on music that might pull a crowd in. B&S this year had the Herbaliser, Django Django, M83, Little Dragon, St Vincent. Bands that are popular enough that wont break the bank. Heres my review of Body & Soul 2012 http://niallmcquaid....7/bodysoul2012/

Life Festival which occurs at the end of May is another example of a festival that has had moderate success, both in installations that they use and the eclectic choices of electronic dance music genres. Life being more modelled on the psi trance idea of Boom and Glade festivals, but with live groups too of various influences. Here is my review of the 2012 and 2011 festivals to give you an idea. http://niallmcquaid....-festival-2011/

http://niallmcquaid....5th-27th-may-2/

I hope you enjoy my suggestions and good luck with your venture.

Edited July 17, 2012 by pothead pixie

[RiskyBiscuit]

Thanks for your input so far ladies and gents.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I agree with thetime look at festivals like Green Man, also worth checking out is the Wickerman festival in scotland which kicks off this weekend coming.

Always remember one of the keys to a festivals success is that if your going to have EDM stages dotted around the place a special emphasis should be placed on a chill out area also, a reggae tent or downbeat tent perhaps. Was at Rockness in 2010 and although a well run festival they seriously lacked a chill out area which would have made it a more perfect experience which Wickerman does have. You need an area where you can relax after jumping around to all that bpm. I would also like to show you some examples of fairly successful small festivals in Ireland that have similar feels to the Wickerman festival. The Body & Soul festival which has been running now for three years has all these similar attributes and has sold out each time too, it is also part of the bigger Electric Picnic festival. B&S doesnt really go for big headliners but up and coming bands that are just under the radar. You will have to do your research on music that might pull a crowd in. B&S this year had the Herbaliser, Django Django, M83, Little Dragon, St Vincent. Bands that are popular enough that wont break the bank. Heres my review of Body & Soul 2012 http://niallmcquaid....7/bodysoul2012/

Life Festival which occurs at the end of May is another example of a festival that has had moderate success, both in installations that they use and the eclectic choices of electronic dance music genres. Life being more modelled on the psi trance idea of Boom and Glade festivals, but with live groups too of various influences. Here is my review of the 2012 and 2011 festivals to give you an idea. http://niallmcquaid....-festival-2011/

http://niallmcquaid....5th-27th-may-2/

I hope you enjoy my suggestions and good luck with your venture.

[Purple Monkey]

Maybe the mud is because of the constant trudging and walking everyone has to do? Why not design the layout so that there are simply more paths so there's less bottlenecking? Stockpiles of wood-chip could be left at key locations.

Not saying a cure is necessary but the design and layout of camp-sites leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe if people could actually drive to their campsite as has been suggested, that would also preserve the footpaths in general? Maybe that'd be worse? It's the load they take that churns them to mush, so getting people off those paths might be a good idea.

Maybe let the festival breath with a smaller capacity rather than shoving as many people into the confines of the site as possible would help? A lot of festivals I've been to had camp-sites that were frankly just too small. If you can't turn a decent profit without cramming the place full of people, I dunno, maybe let something else give or just give up.

And for the love of God ditch the crap overpriced carnie rides.

Edited July 17, 2012 by Purple Monkey

[pothead pixie]

I hardly ever drink in the arenas anyway, I have cans in my tent, I tend to just drink water when bouncing about the arena. Your dead right though Rufus, Heneiken seems to have a stronghold on the festivals in Ireland, nearly every festival in Ireland has Heneiken as their sponsors, which is crap. At the Electric Picnic 2008 Duffy was playing on the main stage and she said over the micophone how come at Irelands second biggest music festival can you not get a pint of Guinness, instead of that Heneiken pish.

Edited July 17, 2012 by pothead pixie

[benc]

some sort of festival without a currency would be fun. you bring what you need and can earn stuff by playing, helping out and working etc...

it would completely bugger up the business model though

[thetime]

some sort of festival without a currency would be fun. you bring what you need and can earn stuff by playing, helping out and working etc...

it would completely bugger up the business model though

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Not from a drinking point of view, as I prefer to drink around a camp fire, but the beer situation is a big issue for me. We are seeing a lot of small and medium sized festivals, like the Wickerman, resorting to searching people so as not to take beer into the arena and then you are stuck with beer tokens for overpriced pap. One event even stopped me leaving the arena with a pint that I had bought at the bar ffs. That for me is a deal breaker now. There are so many other events that allow "open" access, except checking wristbands, and have a beer tent that sells good quality ales/scrumpy at reasonable prices (£2.50 - £3.50). At these festivals they still run out of beer by the last night, and one would presume that the provider is making a profit. However I would say that you will find that situation more at a festival run as a community or charity event rather than one purely for profit.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

some sort of festival without a currency would be fun. you bring what you need and can earn stuff by playing, helping out and working etc...

it would completely bugger up the business model though

[Benj]

Sounds horrific if Im being honest, I love Reading festival and the atmosphere there though, so I suspect its not aimed at my kind of thing

The Bands in the camp site thing is a complete non starter on the logistics and H&S end of things, simply can not happen on any scale big enough for it to be slightly commercially successful

I don't see the appeal myself anyway, I like the campsite/ venue split of festivals, can't think of anything worse than some horrific Acid Jazz outfit turning up next to my pitch and producing some vomit inducing funkathon

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Not from a drinking point of view, as I prefer to drink around a camp fire, but the beer situation is a big issue for me. We are seeing a lot of small and medium sized festivals, like the Wickerman, resorting to searching people so as not to take beer into the arena and then you are stuck with beer tokens for overpriced pap. One event even stopped me leaving the arena with a pint that I had bought at the bar ffs. That for me is a deal breaker now. There are so many other events that allow "open" access, except checking wristbands, and have a beer tent that sells good quality ales/scrumpy at reasonable prices (£2.50 - £3.50).

[THEBOILERMAN]

The type of festival you are describing aint far from a cross between "Alchemy" and "Farmer Phils Festival"

Edited July 17, 2012 by THEBOILERMAN