WIVENHOE MAY FESTIVAL - REPORT FROM THE FRONT LINE...

My heart sank when I read the 5 day forecast that covered the bank holiday weekend. Of all the preparations we had done in the previous 10 weeks to put on the festival, the one thing we couldn’t change was the weather.

Martin, CJ, Hazel and Peter had put together a stunning lineup of over 50 bands, musicians, comedians and poets willing to perform to raise money for charity. With over 36 hours of entertainment booked across the 11 venues there was no way we could pull out now.

Being a veteran of several soggy Glastonbury’s, and of course the times when the Mayfair has been washed out, I knew that we could battle through but it would be tough. The emphasis shifted from traffic and crowd control, to rain cover that wouldn’t blow away in the wind.

Fortunately many of the venues could be relocated inside, although restricting audience capacity. At the Park Hotel and the Rose and Crown the setup crews managed to provide enough waterproofing to stay outside, however the Greyhound stage was relocated inside due to a waterlogged stage. Seeing Miranda’s colourful festival flags and banners blowing defiantly against the wind and rain I hoped that the weather would ease up.

And so the first bands started playing at noon, the festival was underway and we had coped with the unfavourable conditions. Moral was high among the troops as I did my first rounds of the venues and I was pleased to see that the venues were already very busy. In spite of the weather everyone just got on with it and started having a great time anyway!

 

Because so many great acts were performing at the same time, it would be impossible to try and cover them all. Some people became ensconced in one venue whilst others dashed around trying to see all their favourite bands.

I started the day listening to a bit of the classical duo Serenata at the Rose and Crown, with Alan from Wivenhoe’s Axe Music playing oboe. I checked in at the Bakehouse and Bookshop but both were too packed for me to get in! So I moved on to the Station and saw a few songs of Done Well in the busy pub.

On my way up the hill to the Park Hotel I bumped into Melody and the May Fairies, the hardiest bunch of bucket shakers you will ever meet. Braving the elements in tiaras and fairy wings, these spritely apparitions brought cheer to the sodden journeys between venues.

At the Park Hotel there was real festival fun going on. Dancing through the drizzle to Sally Scoobs and Lady Shapes, the crowd refused to let their spirits be dampened.

Back at the Greyhound I arrived just in time to see that the New Town Kings had stuffed the pub with people likes socks in a sock draw. Fortunately we had the experienced stage manager Chris on hand who decided that we had to move back outside so all the crowd could get in. 30 minutes later and we had an indoor and outdoor stage going and the party started again. My thanks goes out to the bands and the crowd for being patient and in good spirits whilst we reorganised things.

 

 

I spent the rest of the day at the Greyhound running the outside stage, but with the melodic Legion Seven, the powerful Silverlight Reaction and the outrageous Fuzzface coming up it was no bad thing. This was the best of the local indie scene coming to rock out at the festival. Weather had no relevance to the crowd now and they danced their way through to the finale. Later I found out that at the other venues their headline acts had gone down just as well.

Escaping the aftermath of the Fuzzface gig, I checked in with the police to see how they had been on the day. They reported that there had been no real problems and this was not a surprise from the good natured crowd that I had met all over the village.

And so the soggy but very happy crew reconvened at the Park Hotel where Sally and Nina told us the incredible news that we had raised close to £1500 for the charities we were supporting. As the festival coordinator, this was the best news of the day, to know that all the hard work from the crew, stewards and performers had not been defeated by the weather.

 

 

 

So what’s next for the Wivenhoe May Festival? The festival came together because so many of us wanted the Mayfair back on the King George V playing field. My personal hope is that the May Festival and Mayfair can combine next year to give Wivenhoe the most spectacular event it has ever seen. And even if the weather is traditionally bad on the bank holiday weekend we will fly our colourful banners, dance to local bands and enjoy the most unique free festival in Essex.

WIVENHOE MAY FESTIVAL - WHAT WAS IT?

The Wivenhoe May Festival was a series of simultaneous events at venues around Wivenhoe, running from 12-6pm on Bank Holiday Monday 28th May 2007. Entrance to the venues was free.

There was more than 36 hours of entertainment for people of all ages and interests including over 50 live performances of music, comedy and poetry, including Fuzzface, Silverlight Reaction, The Mined, Red Sky Rebel, Mike Trim, Adrian Nation, Whirled Music, Nublues Unplugged, Martin Newell, Some Best Friend, Trilogy, Thud and Blunder and many many more! There was also market areas with the usual array of festival hats, veggie burgers and jewellery, as well as a Farmer's Market at the William Loveless Hall.

The venues include all the pubs, Wivenhoe Bookshop, The Bakehouse, and the William Loveless Hall. The King George V playing field was not used for any events.

The festival raised money for charities including the Wivenhoe Christmas Lights, Colchester Cat Rescue, Wivenhoe Community Bus, Over 60s Club, Colchester Night Shelter, St Johns Ambulance, Activate, The Russ Foundation and Amnesty International.

The festival was organised and coordinated by Wivenhoe residents. Volunteers help to steward, crew, perform and cleanup after the event. Anyone who would like to help wiith future events by raising money for charity, stewarding or be involved in any other way should contact info@mayfestival.org.uk

GET THE CD 16 bands and musicians featured at the festival. £7 Available online.

GET THE TSHIRT Tshirts in steel blue. All sizes £7

 

 

WIVENHOE MAY FESTIVAL – 12-6pm Monday 28th May 07

Lineups, times and artists did change on the day.

GREYHOUND Live rock, funk and ska. 12.00 theMined 1.00 Red Sky Rebel 2.00 New Town Kings 3.00 Legion7 3.50 Spirit of the East 4.20 Silverlight Reaction 5.20 Fuzzface	ROSE AND CROWN Live classical, folk and bluegrass. 12.00 Serenata 1.00 In Accord 2.00 Karen Emms 3.00 Thud and Blunder 4.00 Whirled Music 5.00 Spirit of the East 5.20 Banjo Driveby
PARK HOTEL Live acoustic music. 12.00 Trilogy 12.45 Sally Scoobs 1.30 Lady Shapes 2.15 Kerry Leatham 3.00 Spirit of the East 3.15 rak 4.00 Laura Younger 4.45 Mike Trim 5.30 Adrian Nation	STATION Live acoustic music. 12.00 Jurassic Blues 12.40 Done Well 1.20 Nick Gustard 2.00 Jodie & Phil 2.40 A Third Wish 3.20 Gary Allen 4.00 Some Best Friend 4.40 Martin Jackson 5.20 Martin Newell
HORSE AND GROOM Food and real ales, with live acoustic music. 1.30 Mike Trim 2.00 David Saunders & Joan Gifford 2.30 Nick Gustard 3.00 Shenanigans 3.30 Teatime Assortment	BLACK BUOY Festival market, face painters and hog roast. Fire show at 12.30 | 3.30 | 4.30 | 5.30

WIVENHOE MAY FESTIVAL – 12-6pm Monday 28th May 07

Lineups, times and artists are subject to change, please check on the day.

BOOKSHOP SECRET GARDEN Poetry and spoken word in the Secret Garden of Wivenhoe Bookshop. 12.00 Peter Kennedy 12.30 Chris Tanner, Joan Taylor, Sheena Salmon 1.30 Les Bell 2.00 Martin Newell 2.30 Brian Ford 3.00 Neil Jones kids workshop 4.00 Philip Terry 4.30 Jack Hill 5.00 Mike Harwood 5.30 Pam Job, Judith Wolton, Peter Kennedy THE FLAG Food and drink with a bouncy castle in the garden for kids. WILLIAM LOVELESS HALL Farmer’s market between 2pm – 5pm.

THE BAKEHOUSE Nibbles and giggles at the Bakehouse restaurant. Lunch will be served between 12pm and 3.30pm. 12.00 MC Owen Niblock 12.35 Alfie Brown 1.00 Lisa Egan 1.30 MC Owen Niblock 1.35 Nadeem Rangzeb 1.45 Sheena Salmon 1.55 Donald Mack 2.25 MC Gill Smith 2.35 Terry Fromont 2.45 Ed Hands 2.55 Trunkdog 3.20 MC Gill Smith 3.25 Carrie Anne Guthrie 3.35 Hannah Dunleavy 3.45 Daniel Gray 3.55 Chuquai Billy 4.25 MC Leanne Diggins 4.35 Gareth Berliner 5.15 MC Leanne Diggins 5.25 Mike Belgrave

NOTTAGE Sea Changes and Wivenhoe Oral History project. Open from 2-5pm.

STREET ARTISTS Bassline Entertainments are providing street artists including human statues, stilt walkers, jugglers and a fire show.

LATEST NEWS

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Thanks to Deans, Londis, Bengal Spice, Spicer McColl, Totally Balloons and the COOP
Many thanks to Deans Garden Centre for funding the radios, Londis for the stewards' high visibility vests, Bengal Spice, Totally Balloons and the COOP for covering our printing costs and Spicer McColl for the human statues. Your donations are appreciated and help us give more money to charity.

Careful with that Axe, Eugene... - 23 May 07
Wivenhoe has its very own guitar shop! Located opposite the Bakehouse at the bottom of the High Street, Axe Music sells guitars, strings, plectrums, FX pedals etc. Owner Alan will be playing with Serenata at the Rose and Crown at 12 noon.

Spirit of the East adding an exotic touch to the day - 22 May 07
The Spirit of the East Dance Company will be performing at 3 of the venues during the day.

More things added to the festival - 17 May 07
The Nottage have confirmed that their Sea Changes and Oral History Exhibition will be open from 2-5pm. Also Bassline Entertainments are generously providing street artists, so watch out for human statues, stilt walkers, jugglers, Darth Vader and an amazing fire show.

Lineups confirmed for the stages - 14 May 07
Some of the coolest local musicians, comedians and poets are coming to perform at the festival.

Bakehouse confirmed as the comedy venue - 17 April 07
Hazel, from Wivenhoe's magnificent Funny Farm, will be putting on a collection of comedians at the Bakehouse, where you can relax and enjoy some laughs over a cool glass of wine and tasty bites.

Station confirmed as the 4th live music venue - 23 March 07
Nestled in the intimate surrounding of Wivenhoe's last drinking hole before London, The Station Hotel will host a small acoustic stage for small acoustic acts and buskers.

 

 

 

WIVENHOE MAY FESTIVAL – CD and TSHIRTS online

You can order a CD or tshirt using our paypal account online.
Donations to the festival can be paid via paypal to info@mayfestival.org.uk.

GET THE CD 16 great bands and musicians featured at the festival. £7 TRACK LISTING 1. Thud & Blunder - cossack dance 2. Silverlight Reaction - casualty 3. rak - bad guy 4. theMined - just listen to him 5. Fuzzface - (not now) i’m in a hot tub 6. Red Sky Rebel - roll your mind 7. A Third Wish - how do you feel 8. Legion Seven - sometimes 9. Some Best Friend - smoke and mirrors 10. Trunkdog - the travelling dip dandy 11. Mike Trim - celebrity schmooze 12. Tim Witnell - green eyed monster 13. Laura Younger - city girls 14. Adrian Nation - hold your light high 15. Sally Scoobs - oblivion (live) 16. Martin Newell - wow look at that old man	GET THE TSHIRT Festival tshirt in steel blue. Large - £7 XLarge - £7

 

 

OTHER WIVENHOE EVENTS

Thurs 31 May- Funny Farm - Simon Munnery + Support and MC. Tickets at the door £5/£3.50 (WTFC members £4, Essex Student Comedy Club £3)

Fri 1 June - Colchester Morris Men - Black Bouy pub

Thurs 7 June - Wivenhoe Folk Club - Claude Bourbon (Doors 7.30pm £5/£4 concessions)