WOMAD

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  Has NibNob been to any other festivals? I've tried a few but none of them are as good as Womad. NibNob try some other festivals next year to see how they compare.

  Posted on 08-Aug-2011 4:41pm by Jenirats

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  Lovely to see kids enjoying the trapeze. How about an adult try-out session next year?

  Posted on 08-Aug-2011 6:41pm by Podd

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  I think that the point may be being missed here.

  No-one is slagging WOMAD off in the media - this is just about honest feedback in an era of disastrous misgovernment and economic meltdown.

  Trowbridge, Brampton, Big Session - numerous victims of financial cuts and heavy competition to name but 3 (sorry for my folkie bias here) - there are more to come. Michael Eavis has admitted that the Jay-Z furore nearly bankrupted Glastonbury

  Much as I'd like Mr G to have to reform Genesis again - like many I want to help WOMAD organisers to ensure that the festival remains financially successful - and as such I think customer feedback is helpful

  WOMAD had a rocky start at Charlton Park - mud, then soundspill and teenage misbehaviour. Most of those issues have been overcome and in each way each festival has been a triumph - but for some of us constructive feedback is a way of helping to ensure that the festival is still there next year and that it gets its licence.

  PS

  Posted on 08-Aug-2011 8:48pm by Paying Punter

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  The PS was that I still miss Burrow Hill and the hot spicy cider too!

  Posted on 08-Aug-2011 8:49pm by Paying Punter

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  To put a slightly different angle on Mr Hob Nobs comments-

  As for the lack of world music, well I've mentioned before that I really miss all of the African guitar based dance bands like Remmy, The Four Brothers, Bhundu Boys and the soukous bands ect ect - unfortunately however, there are very few of these bands still performing (usually due to ill health and fatalities) and those that are... played last year.

  The children issue is not something that WOMAD can rectify, people raise their children as they please. I was horrified to see very young kids exposed to the sun, one was in a 'back sling' whilst their parents walked around. I'm sure that the child was fully protected with sunscreen but I personally like to see kids in he shade in hot sunny weather.

  As for the comments about smoking..... The way things are going you will get you wish before long.

  I still haven't stated any negatives yet on this blog but it's coming soon. I think I'll wait a little longer until folks have calmed down a bit!

  Posted on 09-Aug-2011 1:58am by Shellovski

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  I'll try to keep it brief.

  As a first time Womader I loved it in general & enjoyed the chilled out atmosphere, particularly in the wooded area. Great family weekend away!

  However, I did have a few issues with a group of 40 somethings (I'm 43) who were camping nearby that stayed up drinking/singing (badly!) with a CD player blaring every night until 4am in the Family Camping area making me a pretty tired & grouchy mummy each day! (I had 2 kids with me)....where were the stewards/security?! As a pretty shy single mum, I didn't want to confront them myself.

  Speaking of the kids.....the kids world activities were poorly organised. My two went to sign up each day half an hour before their chosen events only to find them pre-booked and for all of the sessions that day! They missed out on everything because they followed the "rules" in the programme! :(

  Food was excellent but overpriced & not enough options for fussier eaters/ kids....pizza every day was our only option once our own food had run out! I agree that more affordable/smaller kids portions should have been available. (other than just half a pizza!)

  AND....What happened to the Cart2Camp special Womad offer?! £5 for first 40 mins wasn't an option at all! £10 for 90 mins ended up costing me £30 as I needed the full 90 mins on arrival & needed a cart for an hour on the Sunday evening & Monday morning. Nuts!

  Will I return next year?! Definitely a maybe! Depends on the line-up & what it clashes with!

  Posted on 09-Aug-2011 1:08pm by Cellomummy

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  Wow...i think that's the first time I've ever seen someone complain about a lack of choice of food at WOMAD...

  Posted on 09-Aug-2011 1:18pm by JimHxn

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  For us it was much better this year in that as we queued to get in it was apparent that a different approach was being taken by the organisers to minors. This was a test year for us after last year being spoilt by unaccompanied large groups of drunken teenagers. This year we felt reassured by the security and police and feel that it went a long way to make a clear message about what this festival is about. That everyone should feel safe and able to have a good time without a minority impacting upon the majority.
  We did think that the toilets weren't as clean the waft was far greater this year and that the loo roll inside the cubicle didn't work as well as outside, as it was previously. That's cos on several occasions it had run out. But thanks and hats off to those who worked hard to ensure they were as clean as poss...a thankless task!
  All in all a much better chilled feeling than we had experienced last year. Thanks WOMAD!

  Posted on 09-Aug-2011 2:00pm by Derbyshirelass

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  Jim...I was referring to lack of choice for fussy kids! Not us grown-ups! ;)

  Posted on 09-Aug-2011 3:49pm by Cellomummy

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  @CELLOMUMMY - Your point about the kids not being able to partake in the kids activities is the best and most deserved gripe that I've heard yet. Especially as they had arrived 30minutes early to sign up. I hate it when kids are let down in this way, I'm sure that this was regretted and that WOMAD will try to fix this problem. Surely if one activity is fully booked then there should be another one in place - maybe an 'open' one for everyone. I wasn't aware that you had to sign up for the kiddies stuff.

  Posted on 09-Aug-2011 4:44pm by Shellovski

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