Birmingham Alive Review 2008
By simon gray July 28, 2008
Belper Rugby ClubI went to Glastonbury once, in 1990. I actually played at it, but since the reality of that experience is much less impressive than how it might sound, I’ll just leave that comment as is. But my basic point is, I had the ‘Glastonbury Experience’ once, and once was all I needed – and especially in later years the price is far too expensive (though undeniably still representing excellent value), and there’s just plain far too many people there. Moving on many years later, it was during a chance visit to Matlock Bath that I picked up a flyer for the first Belper Music Festival. ‘That looks like it could be fun’, we thought, ‘especially for £30 for a weekend ticket’. And, unlike Glasto – which it always seems to coincide with – we’ve gone back again and again, with this, in its fourth year delivering the same high quality we’ve all got used to since it started.
Belper Rugby ClubI went to Glastonbury once, in 1990. I actually played at it, but since the reality of that experience is much less impressive than how it might sound, I’ll just leave that comment as is. But my basic point is, I had the ‘Glastonbury Experience’ once, and once was all I needed – and especially in later years the price is far too expensive (though undeniably still representing excellent value), and there’s just plain far too many people there. Moving on many years later, it was during a chance visit to Matlock Bath that I picked up a flyer for the first Belper Music Festival. ‘That looks like it could be fun’, we thought, ‘especially for £30 for a weekend ticket’. And, unlike Glasto – which it always seems to coincide with – we’ve gone back again and again, with this, in its fourth year delivering the same high quality we’ve all got used to since it started.
Broadly, the festival programming is seated within the genre of Folk – though attracting acts from further afield such as Leeds, Wales, and Cambridge, it showcases mostly bands local to the Derbyshire area. And from that, you can conclude that just as Manchester is the home of Indy, Bristol is the home of TripHop, then clearly Derbyshire is the home of Folk. I’d be lying if I were to say every single band who played were totally to my taste, but it’s certainly an undeniable fact that every band was absolutely top notch – both in terms of accomplishment on their instruments, and musical sensitivity.
Highlights of the festival for me had to be, in order of performance, Ylem, playing music from the broader European folk tradition, Wholesome Fish, described in the programme as ‘Acid Folk-Punk Anarcho-Funsters’ but to me more of a Cajun-influenced folk rock band, Hedgepig, playing more overtly traditional Scots / Irish folk rock, and the mighty R. Cajun and The Zydeco Brothers. And a separate mention surely must go to one of my all time favourite bands, Loscoe State Opera – firmly rooted in the folk traditions of the British Isles but quite definitely doing ‘folk with rock’ rather than merely folk rock, they are everything the Levellers could have been but weren’t. Yes, that’s what I’m saying, a band way ahead of the festival favourites of the 90s.
A nice touch in programming was Sunday afternoon, ending the festival in relaxed frame of mind with an acoustic concert, including an unaccompanied mixed voices choir and traditional folk session bands; the hardest decision being at what point to miss an act in order to pack the tent away!
The challenges ahead for the organisers though have to be how to develop the festival further for the future – on the one hand preserving what is special about it (one of those things being keeping the numbers to a level manageable enough to make it feel intimate), whilst on the other hand allowing it to grow and stay fresh and ahead of the game. At one point the compere Ben Daglish emphasised the principle the it’s the Belper Music Festival, but I wonder if more workshop activities, allowing participants to learn a bit about the music they’re hearing, or other participation such as having one band run a full-on ceilidh session would be beneficial in helping the festival grow from strength to strength?
Either way, Belper is only an hour away from Birmingham on the train – so Belper Music Festival is unarguably too close to miss!
A nice touch in programming was Sunday afternoon, ending the festival in relaxed frame of mind with an acoustic concert, including an unaccompanied mixed voices choir and traditional folk session bands; the hardest decision being at what point to miss an act in order to pack the tent away!
The challenges ahead for the organisers though have to be how to develop the festival further for the future – on the one hand preserving what is special about it (one of those things being keeping the numbers to a level manageable enough to make it feel intimate), whilst on the other hand allowing it to grow and stay fresh and ahead of the game. At one point the compere Ben Daglish emphasised the principle the it’s the Belper Music Festival, but I wonder if more workshop activities, allowing participants to learn a bit about the music they’re hearing, or other participation such as having one band run a full-on ceilidh session would be beneficial in helping the festival grow from strength to strength?
Either way, Belper is only an hour away from Birmingham on the train – so Belper Music Festival is unarguably too close to miss!
Telegraph - Music Festivals in June 2008
Belper Music Festival Belper, Derbyshire, 27th-29th
www.belpermusicfestival.org.uk
£30 (+ £5 camping)
Headliners: The Incontinentals, Hoover the Dog, Loscoe State Opera
What’s it like?
Glastonbury too expensive? Belper isn’t.
www.belpermusicfestival.org.uk
£30 (+ £5 camping)
Headliners: The Incontinentals, Hoover the Dog, Loscoe State Opera
What’s it like?
Glastonbury too expensive? Belper isn’t.
Belper News 2010
Belper Music Festival a resounding success yet again
Published Date: 29 June 2010
Belper Music Festival continued its five-year run of success with another great show at the weekend.
Glorious sunshine helped the event go swimmingly and provided a great setting for the 1,000-plus people who attended.
Belper Rugby Club played host to more than a dozen acts over the weekend, causing a stir for music fans who had travelled from far and wide.
Organiser Andy Martin said: "It was brilliant. The whole weekend was magic. The weather was brilliant. The people were nice. We all had a really good time."
Tickets for the three-day event were almost sold out every day, which has become the norm for this popular event.
The festival prides itself on the variety and mix of musical styles showcased during the event, and this year was no exception.
Headlining the three days were The Baghdaddies – a Balkan gypsy band with Middle Eastern influences, The Bell Hagg Orkestar – an 11-piece gypsy ska band, and guitarist and singer Derrin Nauendorf.
Other acts covered, folk, acoustic, jazz and rock, among other styles.
Andy said: "It was just great. The festival's strength lies in its eclectic approach to the music we put on. We're trying to make it a bit more international. We've already had a Ugandan dance troupe asking about next year."
The festival offers camping and uses the facilities of the rugby club, off Derby Road.
Andy added: "The rugby club has been absolutely brilliant with support for the festival."
Work has already started to prepare for next year's festival, although no dates have yet been set.
The organising committee is now on the hunt for anyone who would be able to volunteer to help either by stewarding over the weekend, or by providing accomodation for acts travelling long distances to play at the festival.
Anyone who helps with stewarding will be given a free weekend ticket for the event.
Call Andy on 01773 748996 for more information.
Published Date: 29 June 2010
Belper Music Festival continued its five-year run of success with another great show at the weekend.
Glorious sunshine helped the event go swimmingly and provided a great setting for the 1,000-plus people who attended.
Belper Rugby Club played host to more than a dozen acts over the weekend, causing a stir for music fans who had travelled from far and wide.
Organiser Andy Martin said: "It was brilliant. The whole weekend was magic. The weather was brilliant. The people were nice. We all had a really good time."
Tickets for the three-day event were almost sold out every day, which has become the norm for this popular event.
The festival prides itself on the variety and mix of musical styles showcased during the event, and this year was no exception.
Headlining the three days were The Baghdaddies – a Balkan gypsy band with Middle Eastern influences, The Bell Hagg Orkestar – an 11-piece gypsy ska band, and guitarist and singer Derrin Nauendorf.
Other acts covered, folk, acoustic, jazz and rock, among other styles.
Andy said: "It was just great. The festival's strength lies in its eclectic approach to the music we put on. We're trying to make it a bit more international. We've already had a Ugandan dance troupe asking about next year."
The festival offers camping and uses the facilities of the rugby club, off Derby Road.
Andy added: "The rugby club has been absolutely brilliant with support for the festival."
Work has already started to prepare for next year's festival, although no dates have yet been set.
The organising committee is now on the hunt for anyone who would be able to volunteer to help either by stewarding over the weekend, or by providing accomodation for acts travelling long distances to play at the festival.
Anyone who helps with stewarding will be given a free weekend ticket for the event.
Call Andy on 01773 748996 for more information.
Belper News 2011 - The Search for a new site.
Belper News - Published on Mon Feb 14 2011
A POPULAR music festival in Belper is threatened with being cancelled this year because the organisers cannot find a venue.
The Belper Music Festival, which attracts 500 revellers every year, has been held at the town’s rugby club since its inception in 2005.
But the club cannot host this year’s event due to financial constraints. It is pencilled in for July 1, 2, and and now leaves the organisers with a frantic search on their hands to find somewhere else.
They are now appealing for anyone who can help to come forward.
Tim Cox, one of the festival’s organisers, said: “When we were told we couldn’t have it at the rugby club, we were six months into 12 months of organising.
“We start planning for the next year’s festival as soon as the current one is finished.
“This is our seventh year and hopefully we will be able to relocate it.
“From a personal point of view it would be very disappointing if we couldn’t. But a lot of other people would be let down as well.
“A lot of people have put a lot of work in. They have been booking bands and booking equipment such as marquees, toilets and fencing.
“It is in the lap of the gods really. Unless we get something organised we would have to pull the plug. We have booked bands already, and they will need paying whether they play or not.
“Basically, everything is in place except the venue!
“We want it to be in Belper, or as close to Belper as possible. It would be pointless having a Belper event in somewhere like Buxton.”
The popular festival welcomes a mixture of music. “We have folk rock, choirs, and even medieval singing,” said Tim. “It’s a complete mix and match.”
Simon Blount, the president of the rugby club, said it was concerns about the financial outlay.
He said: “It is the financial situation of the club. The weather in December meant we had to cancel all our parties and matches. There was no income whatsoever for December and historically that is our best month.
“There is no money available to be able to do certain things, and unfortunately the music festival is one of them.
“The festival is always a risk for us with the weather. We have a large outlay on it with things such as a real ale bar. The club cannot take the chance. If the weather was bad and people didn’t turn up then the club could go bankrupt.”
If you can help the festival organisers with a new venue, contact Tim on 01773 829 317. For more information on the festival, visit www.belpermusicfestival.org.uk.
A POPULAR music festival in Belper is threatened with being cancelled this year because the organisers cannot find a venue.
The Belper Music Festival, which attracts 500 revellers every year, has been held at the town’s rugby club since its inception in 2005.
But the club cannot host this year’s event due to financial constraints. It is pencilled in for July 1, 2, and and now leaves the organisers with a frantic search on their hands to find somewhere else.
They are now appealing for anyone who can help to come forward.
Tim Cox, one of the festival’s organisers, said: “When we were told we couldn’t have it at the rugby club, we were six months into 12 months of organising.
“We start planning for the next year’s festival as soon as the current one is finished.
“This is our seventh year and hopefully we will be able to relocate it.
“From a personal point of view it would be very disappointing if we couldn’t. But a lot of other people would be let down as well.
“A lot of people have put a lot of work in. They have been booking bands and booking equipment such as marquees, toilets and fencing.
“It is in the lap of the gods really. Unless we get something organised we would have to pull the plug. We have booked bands already, and they will need paying whether they play or not.
“Basically, everything is in place except the venue!
“We want it to be in Belper, or as close to Belper as possible. It would be pointless having a Belper event in somewhere like Buxton.”
The popular festival welcomes a mixture of music. “We have folk rock, choirs, and even medieval singing,” said Tim. “It’s a complete mix and match.”
Simon Blount, the president of the rugby club, said it was concerns about the financial outlay.
He said: “It is the financial situation of the club. The weather in December meant we had to cancel all our parties and matches. There was no income whatsoever for December and historically that is our best month.
“There is no money available to be able to do certain things, and unfortunately the music festival is one of them.
“The festival is always a risk for us with the weather. We have a large outlay on it with things such as a real ale bar. The club cannot take the chance. If the weather was bad and people didn’t turn up then the club could go bankrupt.”
If you can help the festival organisers with a new venue, contact Tim on 01773 829 317. For more information on the festival, visit www.belpermusicfestival.org.uk.
