2009 FEEDBACK

 

Well the Blues Bunny Review is in! Actually, there are quite a few of them. Click on the bunnies!

 

Red Gap (Isle of Man)	Van Preston (USA)	Barnbox Record Day (Lancashire)	Barnbox Record Day (Lancashire)	Butch Ross (USA)	Mark Thornley Band, Half a Day, The Convulsions (Lancaster)

Participating act, Red Gap, posted the following review:

"RedGap were selected in 2009 and the Promoter response was quick and positive throughout.We were paid for the gigs all weekend and sold loads of albums. This was a fantastic weekend, great fun, we got photo shoots done, magazine writeups without knowing they were even in the audience and the people of Lancaster and elsewhere who followed us from gig to gig were fantastic support. Ben Ruth from CME Artists - RedGap love you!x
I rated this gig FIVE stars"

And here's the Lancaster Guardian review (click on the icon) followed by general observations from punters, venues and the acts themselves

2009 Festival follow up, feedback and actions to take for 2010:

 

Many venues had their busiest week / weekend / day ever. The turnout was estimated at between 2000 to 6000 festival goers (this would include repeat visits). Most folk were from lancaster but many folks were from out of town so we greatly appreciate the influx of festival junkies!

 

The acts were very appreciative of the audience support

 

The number of acts will be increased by about 25% next year to well over 100

 

The number of participating venues should increase by at least 4 (possibly 9 - actually 15!)

 

The maritime, indie and jazz themes were particularly successful and will be expanded next year

 

It was felt there were too few acts on Sunday (unless you liked jazz and maritime). We plan to expand the existing themes not represented much or at all on Sunday into Sunday and those themes only on a Sunday to the rest of the weekend

 

There will be a classical theme of at least 3-6 groups in 3 new venues

 

There are plans to have a punk theme (there were in 2009 but it fell through)

 

There are plans to have a funk theme properly represented

 

There were three scheduling conflicts in the brochure which were picked up after going to print. This will be rectified next year by having a schedule proof read in addition to a grammatical one

 

There were three unanticipated no-shows: funk DJ and jam at Penny Bank Sunday afternoon, the folk session Sunday afternoon at Gregson and a band on Friday night at Stonewell. We sincerely apologise for any frustration or inconvenience this may have caused. In no case were the venues to blame as the acts themselves gave no notice. Assuredly this upset us too as we want everyone to enjoy our festival. We have already located alternatives for 2010

 

There was one incorrect venue telephone number on brochure and website (thanks Google!)

 

We need more food on the quay

 

Put a compass bearing on the map for disorientated reviewers from Glasgow!

 

The brochure will hopefully be expanded to include information about the acts thereby more closely resembling this website (brochure was limited by budget in 2009)

 

Our sponsors (all local) want to be included on next year's event and we thank them very much for their continued support

 

Unlke some festivals we want the acts that participated this year to share in the success they have helped ensure for next year by bringing them back, along with more acts and genres, into an expanded program of events and venues for 2010

 

We'd like to thank all the venues who took a chance and were the biggest collective sponsors of this festival, all the local sponsors (opposite), the wonderful acts who entertained us so well and lastly, the folks visiting lancaster to see what we had to offer and everyone in our city with tears in their eyes who came out of their homes for one weekend in such heartwarming numbers to share the sheer joy of our city's great and diverse music scene

 

In such appreciative numbers, you the punters, are consequently enabling us the organisers to improve and provide even more entertainment and diversity for 2010.

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

Ben Ruth, Festival Coordinator 14/10/2009

 

 

2009 Music Themes