I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Tag: Festivals

Don’t go to a huge amount, but a few, and that’s ok.

Beyond the border postponed

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Some memories from the last Beyond the Border Festival

Like so many other events Beyond the Border has been postponed. It’s a shame. The last time I went was at St Donat’s, which is a beautiful venue for a festival like this. The next time the festival runs it will be somewhere else, and I’m not sure that’ll work for me. Sometimes it is a good idea to know when you just want the memories of a thing to be left as something beautiful to look back on.

It might be now for me. It might be a good time to leave it anyway. Given that it’s postponed for now I don’t really have to decide. I hope that it does get going again next year. It would be a shame for it to end completely.

The Edinburgh Festival

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Once again I visited the Edinburgh Fringe this year. It was, as always, great fun, with some truly excellent shows, and of course, some really quite terrible ones too. But overall it was great.

There were a few shows that stuck out, but only a few. But that’s kind of what matters at the fringe. You find a few things that make you sit up and think, and the rest, whilst fun, is just a part of the trip.

One thing that stood out was a production about Delia Derbyshire, which I quite enjoyed, but I actually knew a lot of the content was before I went to it. It was good to see a show about her anyway, and it was good to see people talking about her work.

The 13th Redhill Beer Festival

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I don’t think I’ve ever been to this beer festival. It’s one that I’ve meant to go to, but never got to. However, when I saw the logo for this festival I knew I had to go for it, and it wasn’t bad really.

There was a reasonable selection of ales and some good milds too, several of which I sampled on Friday night. I can safely say that I’ll probably do this one again though.

The Oxted Beer Festival

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Oxted Beer Festival
Oxted Beer Festival
Oxted Beer Festival
Oxted Beer Festival
Oxted Beer Festival

I haven’t gone every year, but I think I have for the last few, and it’s been ok. My big gripe with this beer festival is the cost. It’s more expensive than the Great British Beer Festival and is no way near as good! So why does it cost so much, and why has it gone up in price year after year? I don’t get it.

The beer wasn’t bad. They didn’t run out, which was a positive as they did run out last year. The music was ok. Friday night was better than Saturday. Saturday started well and got progressively worse as the evening went on.

So I’m not sure that this festival is going to be on my list if it keeps on getting more and more expensive for less and less value. It’s a shame, but if the organisers can’t make it work without putting up prices by 20-25% every year, then they’re doing something very wrong.

Record Store Day Release of Metamatic

Posted by on in Events, Music

Amended Metamatic pak

One of the things I picked up from Record Store Day last weekend was this special release of John Foxx’s first album Metamatic on white vinyl. I’ve had this album for ages but I couldn’t resist getting this version.

Edinburgh Festival: The Bridge by Benjamin Scheuer

Posted by on in Edinburgh Fringe, Festivals, Music

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To say that this was a moving performance would be a huge understatement. It was incredibly emotional and Benjamin poured his heart and soul into it. I love the songs and the craftsmanship that they showed. In fact, so much so that I bought the album on vinyl. It’s well worth it.

His material is also available for free on SoundCloud too.

A day at WOMAD

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Main stage
Radio 3 stage
Big red tent
And then the rain
Only for the day
Ticket

I go every year and love WOMAD, but, not in the rain, and this time around it rained and rained and rained. It was a shame as the day had started really well. But by 9pm it was wet, muddy and cold. I hope it’s better next year.

Purley Festival, day 1

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Purley Festival
Paper windmills
Matthews Yard Stage
More paper windmills

Whilst I was only there for a couple of hours today it’s lovely to see a local event like this and see so many people enjoying the park and some live music.