Enchilada
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Half hours sets!
Aug 19, 2008, 17:09
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What on earth are the organisers thinking of with those 30 minute sets and no encores! It really spoiled what was a really great festival with a good crowd.
I'm sure the organisers are patting themselves on the back that they manged to stick so rigidly to their timetable but are they aware how detrimental such inflexibility is to the creativity of the artists and the enjoyment of the festivalgoers. Many of the acts I saw seemed quite perturbed that they were being pulled off when they had warmed up a very appreciative crowd who clearly wanted more. It the first event I've been to where you are given a start AND end time in the programme!
There were some very mediocre acts on the line-up. Couldn't a few of them have been dropped for the sake of longer sets by the more class acts. Some of the breaks between acts were very long.
I was left cold and frustrated by this policy, one which seemed to expose a lack of appreciation of the dynamism of live music and the way that artists interact with their audiences.
I'll definitely think twice next year when I see the line-up knowing that my preferred bands will only be on for 30 mins or 45 at most.
Come on guys lets set this event free!
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sureshot
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 20, 2008, 16:29
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Totally agree. Practically every band I saw seemed fired up to do an encore and on cue a Mr Jobsworth would appear doing that slitty throat action. Seemed a bit out of kilter with the spirit of a festival when moments of musical magic can happen when you don't timetable them!
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Enchilada
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 21, 2008, 10:37
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I agree sureshot. The reputation that reached me of this festival was one of free-spirited approach that set it apart from other similar events. The jobsworths must have been acting on instructions from those higher up but it definitely did take some of the 'magic' out of the weekend for me too.
O Death broke the mould by taking to the stage for a vocals-only encore because their instruments had been turned off. Good on ya boys!
Apparently, no doubt in response to this, End of the Road Festival pride themselves on allowing bands to play longer than most fests do.
Anybody been to EOTR and can offer any more on that?
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Hashman
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 21, 2008, 11:34
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i was really anticipating a SFA encore but it never happened. did anyone else wait aswell thinking they'd be back?
i waited and was then tricked by a techy coming on with his torch (i thought it might be the band).
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Enchilada
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 21, 2008, 12:07
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Yes why do they do that when its clear the band will be not allowed on again?
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Orangeman
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 21, 2008, 20:44
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Enchilada, Yes we went to the EOTR festival last year they do play longer sets. James Yorkston was fantastic [if a little hung over] as a result.
I'm torn on the time keeping issue though. There is something sort of quaint about the Greenman insisting on good time keeping. But having said that I was at the Caribou do and an encore was clearly required. I think the answer is to set 40min set times and if things go a little over... well take a chill pill.
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Enchilada
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 22, 2008, 08:42
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Nice idea Orangeman. This is a real old fashioned idea that was the norm in the folky days of Newport in the 1950's.
I'm for having a maximum, of course, but let the people decide for the most part. Allow an hour, if the crowd want more after say 40 mins then run on up to the hour. nobody's going to mind if they cannot set their watch by the programme (are they?).
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pettypretty
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 28, 2008, 13:53
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i agree,
45 mins between each band is too long. you would think 30 mins would be long enough, then maybe bands could do longer sets?
at baskerville hall (2005? i think) james yorkston must have played for about two and a half
hours and it was fantastic.
but then the whole thing was better then imho
still the best small festival in the uk, along with end of the road !
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tealady
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Re: Half hours sets!
Aug 28, 2008, 14:35
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I agree some of the sets do need to be longer.
Went to End of the Road last year but wasn't impressed. I like going to the Larmer Tree Festival and to go back to the same place twice is a bit boring.
Thought it was going to be like green man but it didn't make it. They were trying very hard though.
It was a bit like getting a replica tea-shirt that falls apart at the seems in one wash.
Went to Truck this year instead as my second festival and loved it.
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ciderslurper
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Re: Half hours sets!
Sep 01, 2008, 00:09
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... I think the organisers just wanted to fit as many performances by different artists in for us as possible and to get them all in, needed to be strict on time. Maybe less artists is the answer? I went to end of the road last year and it did not compare, i won't be returning.
Here's to a couple of encores next year though ! x
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