Bearded Theory 2023

[jimmillen]

OK, it’s a long way off yet but really interested in Bearded Theory next year as the first proper festival with the family. 🙂

Got a couple of questions - hoping some regular visitors might know more as I can’t find info on their website!

Firstly tickets - I see last year they went on sale early September. Do they normally do any sort of deposit or instalment scheme, or early bird prices? Or is it full face value up front? 

Then second thing was about the festival school. Does registration for this open up same time as tickets or later on? Keen to get my eldest booked in if possible. 

Thanks for any info!

[incident]

In previous years, they have done early bird tickets at like 10/15 quid cheaper - but they're limited numbers and have sold out instantly. They have offered an instalment scheme in past years.

I think registration for the School opens a bit later - early in the new year - but again fills up very quickly.

Worth mentioning that all of the above is subject to change - with a lot of the 2022 tickets having been sold in 2019, most of the school places allocated in 2020, and new owners on board it's quite possible that they do something different for next year.

[spudthemariner]

With the school, I know (from friends) that the places go 'very' quickly. (As in as soon as they get announced).

If I remember rightly, they put out the places (for the school) after the tickets went on sale, so that folks had a better chance of getting in.

It'd worth signing up to the Bearded Theory Emails via the main website I would say (especially as 'incident' says, the change in management/ownership may well change things).

[jimmillen]

Thanks @incident @spudthemariner - need to be on it with tickets then clearly! Already signed up to the mailing list & following them on Insta so will be ready come September.

It can’t possibly be as bad as Glastonbury tickets anyway 😂

Didn't realise it had changed ownership/management - is that good, bad, too soon to tell…?

[Nobody Interesting]

22 minutes ago, jimmillen said:

Didn't realise it had changed ownership/management - is that good, bad, too soon to tell…?

Too soon to tell.

[spudthemariner]

1 hour ago, jimmillen said:

Didn't realise it had changed ownership/management - is that good, bad, too soon to tell…?

Obviously there will be change, fair play.

For me however, three elements are crucial to the vibe that BT provides.

1. The Tea Tent and Convoy Cabaret - These both provide that link to the grass-root DIY festivals of old (and how BT started)

2. The alcohol policy - I.e, provide good quality bars, with a good selection of drinks at pub prices, whilst still allowing folks to bring in there own supplies (stand fast glass for obvious reasons.).

3. The family friendly element (The School being a great example) - We don't have kids, but chose to go to festivals that specifically welcome families. Why? Because the dick head count is significantly reduced at these kind of events.

The loss of any of these things will give me cause for concern, that its moving away from the festival I've loved (been going since the second year - the one with the 'mighty wind' )

As to the overall question however... At this stage, as above, too soon to tell...

[jimmillen]

22 hours ago, spudthemariner said:

Obviously there will be change, fair play.

For me however, three elements are crucial to the vibe that BT provides.

1. The Tea Tent and Convoy Cabaret - These both provide that link to the grass-root DIY festivals of old (and how BT started)

2. The alcohol policy - I.e, provide good quality bars, with a good selection of drinks at pub prices, whilst still allowing folks to bring in there own supplies (stand fast glass for obvious reasons.).

3. The family friendly element (The School being a great example) - We don't have kids, but chose to go to festivals that specifically welcome families. Why? Because the dick head count is significantly reduced at these kind of events.

The loss of any of these things will give me cause for concern, that its moving away from the festival I've loved (been going since the second year - the one with the 'mighty wind' )

As to the overall question however... At this stage, as above, too soon to tell...

All of those are major factors in why I’m keen to go! Let’s hope it keeps the good parts. 🙂

[incident]

On 7/16/2022 at 11:39 AM, jimmillen said:

Thanks @incident @spudthemariner - need to be on it with tickets then clearly! Already signed up to the mailing list & following them on Insta so will be ready come September.

It can’t possibly be as bad as Glastonbury tickets anyway 😂

In previous years, the early Bird (discounted) tickets have been even more difficult to get than Glastonbury. The regular priced tickets (which go on sale at the same time) are extremely unlikely to sell out in the first month-ish - so assuming nothing changes there's only a need to be "on it" if you're intent on saving 10 quid a head.

School places I'm less certain about but I do think you need to apply as soon as it opens.

Edited July 17, 2022 by incident

[idb]

After visiting for the first time this year I'm very keen to go again, however it clashes with the last weekend of the football season and I'll currently be in at a match in London. This may all change dependent on how the season pans out though!

[Rumblestripe]

Went this year for the first time and loved it so much will definitely return next year. The festival has a lovely relaxed vibe (the only warning I would give to first time attendees is that it will get quite cold overnight if you are under canvas). Other than that the weather was perfect this year, only rain I encountered was stepping out of a dance tent early on Sunday morning

You have to hope that the new owners know what they have bought and the goodwill and clientele that make the festival what it is and don't attempt to turn it into a cash cow.

[generationgav]

I couldn't go this year due to a family wedding. Planning on going next year though. Sounds like Rich and Stephen will be staying on, which is great news - the obvious worry is that with the new "partnership" they become more commercialised but hopefully not as that's what almost everybody loves about Bearded Theory.

[Gnomicide]

The new people involved shared this message, sounds promising but we shall see.

 

Bearded Theory Chat is a very strange place by the way. Seems to be 8 stages of posting starting late June.

Stage 1: Start making requests for acts, many of whom are either way too big, inappropriate or played this year 

Stage 2: Complain you missed out on early bird tickets

Stage 3: Complain you missed out on campervan tickets

Stage 4: Complain you missed out on school tickets

Stage 5: Post stuff that's not funny with lots of 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 after it

Stage 6: Finally start to get excited for the festival.

Stage 7: Attend the festival 

Stage 8: Complain about the festival 

And repeat.

[Nobody Interesting]

57 minutes ago, Gnomicide said:

The new people involved shared this message, sounds promising but we shall see.

 

Bearded Theory Chat is a very strange place by the way. Seems to be 8 stages of posting starting late June.

Stage 1: Start making requests for acts, many of whom are either way too big, inappropriate or played this year 

Stage 2: Complain you missed out on early bird tickets

Stage 3: Complain you missed out on campervan tickets

Stage 4: Complain you missed out on school tickets

Stage 5: Post stuff that's not funny with lots of 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 after it

Stage 6: Finally start to get excited for the festival.

Stage 7: Attend the festival 

Stage 8: Complain about the festival 

And repeat.

It's a group on Faceache - of course it is strange

[kingbadger]

First timer this year with a ragtag group so looking forward to seeing the initial lineup drop as if it's similar to this year then we might get a fair chunk of our Glastonbury group on board. 

[Gnomicide]

The first lineup release was 4th September in 2021, has anyone heard any news on when we can expect something for next year?

[Nobody Interesting]

On 8/30/2022 at 3:27 PM, Gnomicide said:

The first lineup release was 4th September in 2021, has anyone heard any news on when we can expect something for next year?

No news on that but I understand that the folks who ran it before are now no longer involved at all and all names of Directors on Companies house are just from DHP.

No word from DHP since June 22nd - I hope for the best but fear the worse.

[Gnomicide]

1 hour ago, Nobody Interesting said:

No news on that but I understand that the folks who ran it before are now no longer involved at all and all names of Directors on Companies house are just from DHP.

No word from DHP since June 22nd - I hope for the best but fear the worse.

Ah, I thought they still had some involvement. We'll see I guess but I can't see them buying into it then doing nothing. 

[incident]

I believe that Rich and Stephen have been kept on as consultants - but no idea what that actually means on a practical basis.

[Neil]

13 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

Ah, I thought they still had some involvement. We'll see I guess but I can't see them buying into it then doing nothing. 

from a message i saw (was it here?) from the new owners, it appears that they don't know why they bought it.

[Nobody Interesting]

13 hours ago, Gnomicide said:

Ah, I thought they still had some involvement. We'll see I guess but I can't see them buying into it then doing nothing. 

Originally they had and were listed as directors but that all changed in the summer. 

I know several who are now not involved at all and get the impression that there have been some disagreements. I have also seen, from crew, comments about bad feelings and problems at some of the stages.

I am sure  a festival will happen but quite what it will be who knows - would a group who run bars allow you to bring your own drinks into the arena for example?

[Nobody Interesting]

From one of the old team posted today on FB

"There should be some news later today"

[justanotheronethen]

5 hours ago, Neil said:

from a message i saw (was it here?) from the new owners, it appears that they don't know why they bought it.

We've all been here, surely?

Tough week at work, sink a few gins, idly scroll through Marketplace on your phone, buy a festival

Then wake up hungover the next day and the dread sets in

[Nobody Interesting]

Just posted on their FB page.

[dotdash79]

Going to look at the ticket prices for this before making a decision it was great last year but, the line up wasn’t exactly my taste so going to look before committing. 

[Nobody Interesting]

13 hours ago, dotdash79 said:

Going to look at the ticket prices for this before making a decision it was great last year but, the line up wasn’t exactly my taste so going to look before committing. 

Things I am looking at:
What stages are still there
Are you still able to take in your own alcohol to the arena
What will the bars be selling
Any responses to the capacity problems in the woodland
and of course, ticket prices.

Not really bothered by the lineup as we will always find something though last years for us was amazing.