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Post by Chrissy and Martin on Mar 5, 2007 13:44:01 GMT
As new owners (almost) of a Romahome, one of the things we are particularly looking forward to is renewing our acquaintances with some of the UK's music festivals. After many years of putting up a tent at various festivals, it will be great to have a bit of comfort. Despite being "Rock Grandparents" the attraction of camping alongside all the teenage party animals has lost some of its attraction of late!
In our welcome thread Viv and Terry mentioned they were thinking of attending the Cambridge folk Festival. We are once again considering the Cropredy festival (always a good one to start with if you want to test the water. Cropredy is very well managed and is suitable for the more mature festival goer!)
Last year we went to the Latitude Festival near Southwold in Suffolk. This is a more "European Arts type festival" with Euro style toilet facilities that would make your eyes water! I'm tempted by the Cornbury festival for this year (near Oxford). We have done Cambridge in the past but found it to be a bit too crowded and the camp sight was a bus ride away from the music site. (Courtesy buses run frequently.)
Does anyone have any experiences of the festival scene from the comfort of a Romahome? What are the good ones and (more importantly) what are the ones to be avoided?
Martin and Chrissy
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Post by viv on Mar 5, 2007 23:36:56 GMT
Hi Martin and Chrissy I will watch the replies here with interested grandparently ears!!! I have never been to a music festival in my life but we are just approaching beginning our second youth!
I want to enjoy as many weekends doing different things and music fests are high on the list of priorities.
Viv and Terry
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Post by Pauline on Mar 6, 2007 8:25:20 GMT
Oh dear Viv, I was hoping you were going to be the one giving the advice!
Afraid I haven't a clue never, having been to a music festival.
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Post by Chrissy and Martin on Mar 6, 2007 11:27:16 GMT
Hi Viv
The rock grandma is becoming quite a force in musical circles!
There must be hundreds of festivals in the uk over the space of a year. It might well be worth finding a local one to try it out. Most these days have a seperate field for what they term as "RV's". I guess it depends upon what your musical taste is before commiting to one. What sort of stuff would you be interested in seeing / hearing? I'm often looking out for events so I could point you in the right direction if something comes up.
Martin
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Post by viv on Mar 8, 2007 20:14:45 GMT
Hi Martin,
I could not manage heavy Metal or Eminem yet. Would prefer country and Western or folk music festivals.
I am not sure also whether I could manage to do more than one day and night and from what I see most expect you to book the whole 2/3 days if you are camping.
I know there is a good jazz festival at Upton on Severn and may look into that one.
Any ideas gratefully received.
Viv
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Post by Chrissy and Martin on Mar 9, 2007 10:08:18 GMT
Hi Viv I suspect that the Cropredy Festival would be a good bet for you. Its run by the Folk Band Fairport Convention and this year is their 40th anniversary. I know that you can turn up and camp for just one night for that event. (Its the only one I've ever spotted that has that arrangement) We've been for the past two years but I don't think we will make it this year. There's info and booking details at www.fairportconvention.com. Its a nice atmosphere and there's plenty going on to have a great day. Martin |
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Post by yamaha on Mar 9, 2007 12:31:16 GMT
Hi Viv "I suspect that the Cropredy Festival would be a good bet for you."  I reckon that Chiropody Festival would be great for Terry and me - sounds like not too much walking - we could sit and tap our feet!!  Mike |
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clarina
15+ posts.... a Uni wheeler!
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Post by clarina on Mar 9, 2007 17:30:34 GMT
Hi Viv We regularly attend folk festivals and they have a great atmosphere, I see you mention Upton upon Severn, there is also a folk festival there over the early May bank holiday weekend. Plenty of music in the pubs, outside and along the waters edge, also dancing to watch, really great atmosphere. If you did not want to go for the weekend there are camp sites quite nearby where you could go for just a night or so www.uptonfolk.orgAlso Chippenham folk festival late may bank holiday again plenty to see and listen to displays in Monkton Park and arround the town. Chippenham is only about 20mins drive from the Devizes C &CC camp site so if you are going to the meet in March you could see how far it is! www.chippfolk.co.ukI would add we are of the grandad/granny variety!! but really enjoy the atmosphere of these festivals as all ages can enjoy themselves there Hope this is of help Gill |
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Post by viv on Mar 9, 2007 21:32:38 GMT
Hi again Gill
I will look into these and may well go along as I have to fill my time up now that I am retired. I do love Upton and the area. thanks. You may be a bit busy yourself for the next few weeks with a new arrival due any day.!!!!
Viv
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Post by Chrissy and Martin on Apr 27, 2007 15:16:38 GMT
This festival looks like a nice small and managable event. Its in ELY which is a nice place anyway! We hope to be going along for the weekend. www.elyfolk.co.uk/ |
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Post by lunnie on Apr 28, 2007 9:16:05 GMT
There is a 60's music festival at Lincoln in the next couple of weeks another camping forum I attend is the 365 club and they have arranged a rally there, but there is general placing as well. I heard that it is very good.
Joan
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Post by lunnie on Apr 28, 2007 9:18:36 GMT
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rvdmikej
30+ posts.... a 2 wheeler!
Posts: 36
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Post by rvdmikej on Apr 30, 2007 19:21:38 GMT
My wife and I went to the Didmarton Bluegrass Festival last year at Kemble airfield near Cirencester. There were several other Romas there as well. It was our first outing in the Romahome and a great weekend. We plan to be there this year and also at the North Wales Bluegrass fest in Conwy in July. I well recommend going to fests in a small van.
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lizziehill
50+ posts.... 3 wheels on my wagon!
First-time Romer!
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Post by lizziehill on May 10, 2007 12:21:52 GMT
Not sure if they'r the sort of thing you would be looking for, but the main reason for buying our van was for festivals - this summer, we're off to Rock Ness (on the banks of Loch Ness), Glade (near Reading) and Connect (on the banks fo Loch Fyne).
Will let you know how we get on!
One thing that has surprised me is the cost of taking a van to a festival - each of these is costing us an extra £45 for a campervan ticket on top of the cost of our festival tickets!
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Post by Sotontraveller on Jul 26, 2007 19:18:32 GMT
 I went to the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam this month. The Dutch are civilised - their festival is inside ;D About 65,000 attended over the three days. Music is high quality international (the US artists then go on to tour Europe etc afterwards / before come to that !). I attended about 20 odd concerts, leaving some early if I didn't like the genre, others staying much longer than I intended. I listened to the finalists of a Young People's European competition: UK, NL, German, Italian and Swedes. Guess who won ? Yes, brilliant - the Brits won. "Empircal" is the group name and their first albumn was out last week (same name). Excellent stuff. Food and drink was brilliant: masses of fresh fruit and veggies, with creative stir fries etc. Deep fried stuff was there if you wanted it plus lobster ! The choice of booze was yours, including freshly made smoothies by the 100's. As for the cakes - to die for. Freda was parked the otherside of Rotterdam. The Dutch put on additional metro services well into the early hours (I left around 2:30 one night) and when a group of campers couldn't find a bus to take us the last leg of the trip, the transport people put on another bus. The bus was with us in 5 minutes and took us directly to the camp site (rather than the bus stop). What wonderful service. How do visitors to the UK usually fair ?? (rhetorical, I suspect)  So, if you like jazz, or would like to get a good taste, take a look at the web site and maybe pop along next year: www.northseajazz.nl/index.en.asp
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sunshine
30+ posts.... a 2 wheeler!
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Post by sunshine on Jul 28, 2007 16:53:58 GMT
Hello all you festival goers. I'm not so young as I was and still enjoy folk festivals. My daughter is current Cheshire & East Lancs clog daning champion OOOOOw. Whitby, North Yorkshire (August) is a good traditional festival but you do have a 10/15 minute walk from camp site - loads of camper vans. Fleetwood early September is pretty good but camp site ery basic only portaloo. Both these camp sites are marshalled and security at night. Do a internet search for more festivals.
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sunshine
30+ posts.... a 2 wheeler!
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Post by sunshine on Jul 28, 2007 16:54:44 GMT
Hello all you festival goers. I'm not so young as I was and still enjoy folk festivals. My daughter is current Cheshire & East Lancs clog daning champion OOOOOw. Whitby, North Yorkshire (August) is a good traditional festival but you do have a 10/15 minute walk from camp site - loads of camper vans. Fleetwood early September is pretty good but camp site ery basic only portaloo. Both these camp sites are marshalled and security at night. Do a internet search for more festivals.
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Post by lovetravel on Aug 7, 2007 13:41:27 GMT
Hi all, am off to the isle of wight Bestival in September with a friend and our two boys both aged 5 in a Romahome Dimension. Going to park in the family zone and enjoy the sights and sounds for the weekend. Daddy will be staying at home with little brother aged 2. Will keep you posted on how it all goes! Never been to a festival in a Romahome before. Tee Hee!
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Post by Graham on Aug 7, 2007 18:11:35 GMT
Hi all, am off to the isle of wight Bestival in September with a friend and our two boys both aged 5 in a Romahome Dimension. Going to park in the family zone and enjoy the sights and sounds for the weekend. Daddy will be staying at home with little brother aged 2. Will keep you posted on how it all goes! Never been to a festival in a Romahome before. Tee Hee! Sounds great, hope the weather stays fine for you, bet the boys will really love it camping in the Dimension. I feel sorry for poor old Dad and little brother, but I am sure they have got some fun lined up too. Have fun. Graham |
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lizziehill
50+ posts.... 3 wheels on my wagon!
First-time Romer!
Posts: 65
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Post by lizziehill on Aug 10, 2007 13:19:18 GMT
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Post by Chrissy and Martin on Aug 10, 2007 14:26:43 GMT
We will be off to Cropredy early tomorrow morning. I gather it has now completely sold out. There will however be at least one romahome in the camping field on Saturday night! Fairport Convention are the headline act and they are celebrating their 40th year together.
If anyone is interested in Irish traditional music, I could expand upon our recent trip to Ireland in the trusty outlook where we went in search of "The real thing". We found some great venues and heard some great music (and some not so good!).
The Romahome was the ideal way to seek out some great music. We covered a lot of miles but it was worth it.
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rose
New Member
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Post by rose on Aug 12, 2007 22:26:37 GMT
Brampton Live in Cumbria held in July is excellent and camping is well catered for. Steeleye Span had their first "SpanFest" at a Tudor mansion Kentwell House in Suffolk just a few weeks ago - brilliant so look up on Google for next year
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Post by jayjay on Sept 30, 2007 19:24:19 GMT
I will be doing a few next year too!
The Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival is nearest to home, I've always gone there, except for this year - just couldn't get. No need to pay a fortune for tickets to the big Marquee either, there's plenty of free Folk on the Fringe stuff in all the pubs. It used to be better years ago, before it became a limited and therefore commercialised fest.
Hoping to check out some more small local ones next year. ;D
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Post by jayjay on Oct 1, 2007 9:22:20 GMT
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Post by lunnie on Oct 1, 2007 12:23:41 GMT
Well we now know who is going to provide our evening's entertainment!!!!! I am sure we will all join in, maybe not in tune, but certainly it will be enjoyable.
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Post by jayjay on Oct 1, 2007 17:56:28 GMT
Well we now know who is going to provide our evening's entertainment!!!!! I am sure we will all join in, maybe not in tune, but certainly it will be enjoyable. LOL!!! Better get practicing then! ;D ;D ;D Am in demand for outdoor do's and fireside evenings all summer! Been a washout this year tho, so I'm out of practice! By the way, that's me on the left, the other long haired dumb blonde is a bloke! ;D |
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Post by lunnie on Oct 1, 2007 18:31:54 GMT
Sorry I thought that was you ( only joking)
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Post by jayjay on Oct 2, 2007 9:46:12 GMT
;D ;D ;D Lunnie!
Am going to check out some of the suggestions for Fests on here for next year, for definate!
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