WOMAD

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  Oh one more thought! I camp with 2 friends who have been going for many years . . . one for 14 years and the other for 18 . . . and they both love Womad as much now as they did back in the day . . . AND they both prefer Charlton Park to Reading.
  Out of interest . . . why was it moved? x

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 11:32am by Yummy Mummy

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  It was moved as the festival outgrew the available space at Rivermead. Also the increase in crime and security issues in 03

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 11:37am by Redleg

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  Yeh see Womad would be rubbish if it was full of crime n stuff!! I'd hate it! In fact I wouldn't go! That's something else that sets Womad apart from most other festivals . . .

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 11:53am by Yummy Mummy

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  ScrummyMummy, I couldn't agree more with your post earlier this morning. I think we are kindred spirits.
  I have been a regular since 2000 and when I couldn't camp last year because of ill health, I was bereft at the thought of not being there at all, so we came on Saturday with a day ticket. Womad IS the best week-end of the year and I feel that I need it to recharge my soul's batteries.
  I shed tears of happiness every year (whether I have had a Malibu or not!!) and I cannot imagine not being there. I get so excited in the run up to it.
  I am not 100% convinced that the leaning towards boutique camping and posh loos is a good thing though, as the festival going demographic has changed a lot over the years, but I can see that this is the way for it to move forward and attract new audiences.
  What REALLY annoys me are the groups of festival-chic wearing luvvies (who no doubt stay in the posh bit) who stand and CHAT all the way through whatever is being performed on stage. It spoils the atmosphere for me. If they want a chat, they have ample space for it elsewhere!!!!!!!!
  Rant over!
  Maybe I should up the Malibu this year!

  sUnDaNcInG iN tHe RaIn aNd JuMpInG fOr JoY aNd WoMaDtAsTiC WoMaDnEsS \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/ \o/ \O/ \0/

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 12:14pm by Jax2000

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  :)

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 12:22pm by Yummy Mummy

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  I am doing boutique camping for the wedding though . . . but for free! x

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 12:23pm by Yummy Mummy

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  How lovely! Just don't turn in to a chatterer though!
  Are you actually marrying on site at Womad?

  

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 1:14pm by Jax2000

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  I'm probably a bit of a veteran too having been to the two Bracknell Womads, then all of the Reading & Charlton Park Festivals as well as travelling up to Morecambe Bay one year and also attending the disastrous Winter Festival in Brighton that made Womad bankrupt for the second time in it's history, Yes, the festival has changed over the years with the audience being a lot younger in those early days, but I'm sure some of that is due to the fact that a large part of the audience has been very loyal and stuck with it, so it's hardly surprising that the average age of the attendees has risen and so the organisers have attempted to cater more for the middle aged than they did back then. Many of the stall holders and food places haven't changed either and it was great to see Yam the Cassava back there last year as I don't recall seeing them since the Rivermead days, although I had tasted their delights at Glastonbury in the interveening years. Yes, things are a little more slick than they used to be but some food retailers have only ploughed a bit of profit back into their enterprises and spruced things up. Like many I miss the late night sessions in the Rivermead Centre but unfortunately there is no big indoor venue now, unless the Eart opens up the House or lets us use the aircraft hangar, and you can't avoid those pesky noise restrictions that come with the licence, but at least there is still some late night music at the San Fran Bar & Molly's Bar. With so many festivals being staged these days, many booking the more well known World Music artists, Womad is in a difficult position in that it is no longer the preserve of that type of music, so I'm not surprised that it may appear to be becoming more obscure in it's booking policy. To stay unique it has to find artists that no other festival is likely to book and those other festivals are always there for those that want something a little more mainstream. I still love it after 25 years and will keep going as long as I can. My first ever festival was Reading in 1976 and I still love going there too every year, even though many turn their nose up at it and consider it a rites of passage event for unruly teenagers. Perhaps I've never grown up

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 2:27pm by Chas

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  God love you Chas . . . God love you.
  Jax . . . I vow never to become a chatterer! Lol! Actually you've made me worry slightly about the company we might be keeping! Lol!
  The plans for the wedding keep changing! The more n more p'd off I get at making plans for the wedding! Lol! But so far have not included actually getting married on site, because I don't think you can. They have silly licensing laws in this country. The plan is to either get married the day before in Wiltshire n do the proper reception n everything . . . but I'm increasingly thinking I can't be bothered with all that so might just do registry office on Thurs morn n go straight there! I'm just worried about upsetting my nan! Lol!
  Actually getting married on site would be soooooooo cool . . . must look into if we can make it possible! x

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 3:30pm by Yummy Mummy

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  I really wanted to get married at Womad back in 2004, but it wasn't possible. Maybe one day in the future, we might be able to renew our vows! That would be so magical! x
  

  Posted on 23-Apr-2012 3:51pm by Jax2000

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