ProgSFest 2005, October in the UK
 

Just got this info from the organizer, Shaun:

progSfest 2005 will take place at The Olympiad Leisure Centre, Chippenham
on Friday 14th to Sunday 16th October, 2005.

__________________ The Line up:
____________________________________ Friday......... ARENA
__________________________________________________ _____ £10 adv.

____________________________________ Saturday..... Also Eden. Galahad. Pineapple Thief. Magenta
__________________________________________________ _____ £18 adv

____________________________________ Sunday........Tr3nity. Strangefish. Gordon Giltrap. Mostly Autumn
__________________________________________________ _____ £18 adv
_______________
Fri/Sat or Fri/Sun £25
Sat/Sun £32
Full weekend £40

When the website is up and running for ordering tix, I'll post the url. We had a really good time here last October. The venue is a leisure centre/ town recreation centre. The room for the gig was downstairs, small, with stage and attached watering hole. The weekend is organized by one very dedicated person, and it would be nice to see him break even and maybe even make some pennies for his pocket this year.

I like this lineup!
 

gets me thinking...

Beat me to it mossy.....
 

It's 99% certain I'll be there for the weekend.

There is a very nice Curry House in Chippenham.........isn't there mossy? :D

Hmmmm this poses a problem for the danish contingent

I have to be in England the weekend after as my niece is finally getting married - the big question is can I get 10 days off or do I come and go twice? I will be in Chippenham all right.

where is Chippenham? if you tell me which shire, I can find it from there...

The Chips are down..........
 

Chippenham is in wiltshire. A little off the M4 motorway (which is where Heathrow airport is).....:D

Are you thinking of visiting Jim? Let's discuss...................

Re: The Chips are down..........
 

me too. I have never travelled, but think this is a perfect opportuinity.

Re: Re: The Chips are down..........
 

Great news Rick................we'll make plans and see how they go. It would be a highlight of the year if you could get here.

Re: The Chips are down..........
 

Well, my Germany trip doesn't seem to be developing, so I'm seriously considering the "trip to chip"

looks like a good lineup - Gordon Giltrap caught my eye...

Rick, you'd have a great time. Make it happen.

Excellent curry house, k. Second to naan. :D

Am not ruling out coming. Depends on a few things...

ouch! OK, maybe I won't go if jokes like that abound...

no, I'll probably be there.

Follow your own advice mossy love..............Make it Happen

No Argie Bhaji :rolleyes:

Re: Re: Re: The Chips are down..........
 

Please......it might be in the top 100.....:p

I'm definitely going!!!!!!
 

If I get the job at Clarence House I won't be there for the Arena gig as that will be the last day of my contract but I will be there for the Saturday and Sunday.

I think it's time to start making plans.

Let me know if you are thinking of going and when I have an idea of possible numbers I'll check out hotels and see if I can negotiate a deal for Moonies. I'll also arrange the tickets with Shaun the promoter. There shouldn't be any problem with those.

It would be GREAT to make this a real Moonies outing and I promise to be on my best behaviour......................NOT!!!! :eek:

It would be an ideal opportunity to promote Aural Moon too. Maybe get some flyers printed and hand them out to the prog fans there.

Let's make it happen!

from a novice...
 

Yes I will be there. I'll talk to Vax at Rosfest to get the scoop on the travel plan/what to do. I've never booked an airline ticket, etc. and need to map out costs.

If you're on you're best behavior....I'm not going.

Everything else is in place, and I'll be ready!

(is Clarence House related to Clarence Sale?)

THAT is great news, k and Rick!

Rick, k and RM stayed at The Angel last time, but don't let that put you off. :D

Would recommend the B&B we had, but it's a bit of a ways out. Still, k doing a 1/2 lane (by US standards) cowpath at midnight after a day in the venue lounge would be worth a trip in itself.


m

well, not to be outdone by Rick, I'll commit too. being a travel junkie, I can take of my own plans (mostly), so be sure to help Rick.

Keithie, I'll take you up on the offer to get tickets.

The Angel seems like one of the few hotels actually IN town, correct?

Great news Jim.............. :D

The Angel is 5 minutes staggering distance from the venue.

Don't forget I will be there too!

Looking to see if the site was up yet, and found this review from last year.

http://www.elrose.demon.co.uk/Interv...view_2004.html

make that three more....
 

It's 99.99%+ certain that the Forte contingent will be there too ...
plus one other ...

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Bad News
 

I've just noticed the dates have been moved foward to the 14-16 October.

This is bad news as my niece gets married on the Saturday which counts me out.

This makes my heart bleed - I've been looking forward to it but as my family is so small I have to be at the wedding.

Oh dear :( :( :( :( :(

Retraction - sorry
 

Sorry my friends - I've got my dates mixed up -

The wedding was a week later - SO I CAN COME TO CHIPPENHAM

I am also an idiot but so is Microsoft.

Re: Retraction - sorry
 

I thought so...just waiting for you to catch it (the dates were never moved)

After the week I'm having, I may not make it until then.....

I am also an idiot but so is Microsoft.


If only Bill Gates would realize that. :D

I guess you'll have to stay in the UK for a good ten days then, RM :D

Re: Retraction - sorry
 

It fills my heart with joy unbounded to hear that you're finally coming to the conclusion that Microsoft is staffed by subhuman cretins who require a three day training class in order to properly tie their shoes.

I only wish I could make it to the show, but unless things change significantly between now and then, it's not too likely.

bad news...
 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I'm only the messenger:

I just received this mail from Shaun Hunt:

"It is with deep regret that I have to announce that progSfest 2005 is CANCELLED

I am sorry for the inconvenience caused to bands and fans alike.

A drastic change in personal circumstances means I simply cannot afford the financial risk.

Refunds to those few who have already paid for tickets will be sent out shortly.

As of today this email address will no longer be in use.

I thank those who have supported me thus far............... regards......... Shaun"

Damn is a light word - I was only millimeteres from ordering flight tickets after I had sorted the dates out.

I hope nobody else has got caught.

But we must find something else to get Jim and Rick and Vax to England or Germany perhaps ?

a few comments on this and future gigs
 

The promoters/organizers of these events seem to fail to appreciate the "international" appeal of these events. NEARfest and ROSfest attract people from around the globe and the Chippenham festival is no different. People need to plan and acquire air fair months in advance. I hope everybody opted for refundable air fare.

NEARfest and ROSfest at least worked with local hotels to provide lodging for their events. It appears that the folks headed to Chippenham were left to sort this out for themselves.

The Marillion weekend gigis I've attended have be held in the British Holiday camps of Pontins (what a rathole) and Butlins (1000% better than Pontins but still not 4-star accompdations by any stretch of the imagination). Marillion held 3 days of gigs with several (3) support acts on the Saturday and Sunday. I think that this sort of a model would be good for these Prog festivals in the UK. One place to eat, sleep, drink and see/hear great acts. Marillion had 2700 at Butlins last go around. How many were at the last CHippenham fest? FWIW, nice stage and hall in the Butilns in Minehead.

Anyway, sorry to hear about Chippenham. Let's get more moonies to shoot for ROSfest next year. It's still small and intimate (not that way so don't make any stupid comments Rick) and easy to obtain tickets. NEARfest has become way too popular and, now that it's moved back to Bethlehem Pennsylvainia, it's in a venue smaller than in past years.

I don't know if that's feasible. It's like a Californian saying let's get Moonies to Baja Prog, etc. Anyway, I'd like to get back to ProgDay again for instance. And I'll try to hook up with Moonies as it works out.

This show did not get me to want to visit....It was convenient. The music is secondary. I've been wanting to visit, and this happened to be a good idea. It's very disappointing, but we have to roll with it.

I'll think of some way to get over there sometime. I don't blame the promoters at all, few make money on this stuff, and I was waiting until tickets were secured before I committed to a flight, etc. Hopefully, as stated, others waited.

As for a stupid comment.....Thanks for looking out for me. I don't know what I'd do without you. :rolleyes:

I'm in shock.

Chippenham was nowhere near the level of what you are describing for Marillion, vax. I wish it had been, for Shaun's financial state, but Chippenham was very grassroots, and therein lay the appeal for me.

I am very sad. :confused: :(

How many at last year's event???

The original number of "seats" (if you will) for the Marillion weekend was to be 1800 but many fans really wanted to go. They opened up to 2000 and then 2500 and last figure I'd heard was 2700.

I would thing that one of these places would entertain smaller audiences.

I'm still surprised that ROSfest seats weren't completely filled. :(

I am guessing no more than 300, if that. What say you, RM and Keith.

It was amazing to me that we had bands like The Tangent and IQ in such a small venue (no larger than a church hall, really).

I know Shaun took a personal soaking on it, but was bound and determined to continue on.

All power to him..it was a brave undertaking.

Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn, Damn and Damn!!!!!

What a pis**r!!! I was really looking forward to this, so much so that I cancelled tix for another festival the same weekend a nd now they've gone too.

I'm really sorry guys and gals but I know Shaun and he wouldn't cancel it unless he was really in the mire.

I agree mossy, no more than 300 and the intimacy of the venue is what made it special (that and a few other things ;) )

Rick, let's get our heads together. Maybe we can sort out a trip for you anyway. I reckon we could take in a few gigs and things. What say you. Jim and anyone else who was making the trip let's discuss.

I was dreading the time would be seeing this post Keith :(

We'll make it happen. Gigs are secondary, but still fun. I'll talk to Trudy. We'll talk. ;)

Ok mate. If we can sort something out that would be great.

We could always all descend on RMortis' niece's wedding :D

Hrm
 

It's a great shame.. :mad: was looking forward both to the acts and meeting with friends..

If I can find a suitable email addy - I'll suggest to my local venue (The Brook) that there are these bands at a loose end for that weekend...

The venue is 600 (rather than 300) but the promoter *does* put prog acts on - therefore is not averse...

I don't have time to hassle this one at the moment... but if anyone else does ..

UPDATE
 

Hi all,

I don't have time to pursue this to its limit - but I have just been speaking to the Brook and emailed the owner directly with the suggestion to take the Fest on....

I'll keep you posted on any feedback.

cheers,
Jam.