Mighty Hoopla, Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake & City Splash festivals, Brockwell Park - discussion

[Agent Sparrow]

That fence really spoils the park. Anyone know when its coming down?

My very personal grump about it is that it’s in the way of my normal cycle to and from work.

More broadly I’ve previously been pretty accepting of the paid festivals but a 9 day block really did seem a bit too much this time, particularly for those who live very near by (I could still hear it two streets and half a park away).

 

[BusLanes]

I went yesterday. Cross The Tracks was way busier than the last one and had sold out. Joy Crookes was fantastic again, but I thought the last band were hugely disappointing.

Drink prices were ridiculously steep and there was huge queues for food. Nice day out though.

Who was the last band?

 

[edcraw]

Who was the last band?

These guys apparently: Khruangbin - Wikipedia

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

How much was a beer?

Drink prices seem to have got up a lot everywhere in the last year.

You could get a 440ml can of Red Stripe for £5.95, and whilst this is still expensive, only 20p more than last year which doesn't seem to bad. I've heard that festivals in other London parks are much worse!

 

[BusLanes]

These guys apparently: Khruangbin - Wikipedia

Oh that's a shame. I really like their music. But I had heard they are not great in big festivals, better in small venues so I didn't get a ticket.

Glad I didn't now

 

[editor]

These guys apparently: Khruangbin - Wikipedia

Yep. They seemed a really weird choice for headliners. No songs, barely any singing, just mid tempo, twangy psychedelic instrumental bits of songs.

And I later learnt one of those up-their-own-arse bands that demand that any live photos must be approved by their management before publication in media or on socials.

 

[editor]

Oh that's a shame. I really like their music. But I had heard they are not great in big festivals, better in small venues so I didn't get a ticket.

Glad I didn't now

Yeah I could see how they might work in a small venue but I thought they were incredibly dull in a big open field. Joy Crookes completely blew them off stage.

 

[friendofdorothy]

My very personal grump about it is that it’s in the way of my normal cycle to and from work.

More broadly I’ve previously been pretty accepting of the paid festivals but a 9 day block really did seem a bit too much this time, particularly for those who live very near by (I could still hear it two streets and half a park away).

didn't mind the noise and the crowds of young people walking by in their finery were a nice sight.

Now Lambeth give us our park back!

 

[Cat Fan]

That fence really spoils the park. Anyone know when its coming down?

Last time I remember it taking them a good week or so but my pre pandemic memory is pretty hazy it has to be said.

Some bits may stay fenced off to let the ground recover.

 

[nick]

Inflation?
At wide awake I thought the prices at the craft beer section were reasonable (for a festival) at 6.50 per pint. I have certainly paid more in other places
So the prices have increased by 25p in the last 2 weeks, if they are now 6.75

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Inflation?
At wide awake I thought the prices at the craft beer section were reasonable (for a festival) at 6.50 per pint. I have certainly paid more in other places
So the prices have increased by 25p in the last 2 weeks, if they are now 6.75

I didn't buy any of the pints, due to the cans of Red Stripe being better value (i think), but i think the price varied from stall to stall. Perhaps the more 'craft' that went into it meant it cost more!

I was at 'Brockley Max' on the weekend, a small community thing on Hilly Fields (Lewisham) and Brockley Brewery were there selling all pints for £5, and had a big queue even though there was no fence. Horrified to hear of the £6.60 for a 330ml can at Gala, a mile or two down the road.

 

[editor]

Photos from Sunday's Cross The Tracks festival:

Forty photos: Cross The Tracks Festival in Brockwell Park, Sun 5th June 2022

There was some great music, some good times and some bloody annoying rain and hefty queues, but overall we had a ball at the 2022 Cross The Tracks Festival in Brockwell Park on Sunday. Here’s…

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[nick]

Early Bird tickets available for WideAwake (Sat 27 May 23)

BOOK TICKETS

 

[ViolentPanda]

Early Bird tickets available for WideAwake (Sat 27 May 23)

BOOK TICKETS

Are you on commission?

 

[nick]

Are you on commission?

Wish I was, but no

I am merely a local who likes that kind of music.
I thought that 2022 was excellent (blown speaker stack aside), I had a great time, saw some great bands and thought it was good (or at least reasonable) value, in comparison to what you would pay to attend some other 1 dayers

ETA in an idea world of course, this would all be a side act to an unfenced and free Country Show

 

[Tricky Skills]

Adding this here, rather than old Country Show threads: Lambeth Country Show set for June this year - 10th and 11th.

 

[TopCat]

Adding this here, rather than old Country Show threads: Lambeth Country Show set for June this year - 10th and 11th.

Well given it’s in June rather than July will likely make the temps more tolerable than last years

 

[Crispy]

Adding this here, rather than old Country Show threads: Lambeth Country Show set for June this year - 10th and 11th.

Looks like they're going to use some of the same infrastructure from the paid events for the country show, which makes sense from a money-saving pov

 

[thebackrow]

Looks like they're going to use some of the same infrastructure from the paid event for the country show, which makes sense from a money-saving pov

And damage to park from set up/break down.

 

[TopCat]

But will lead to a period of prolonged closure of much of the park

 

[killer b]

Was considering going to Wide Awake this year, which has a cracking lineup - but something else has come up that weekend.

 

[story]

Early Bird tickets available for WideAwake (Sat 27 May 23)

BOOK TICKETS

Curses! Missed this! Doh!

 

[editor]

Lambeth hands over the management of the Country Show to a private contractor:

Lambeth Council considered ending the Country Show before deciding to hand the 2023 event over to the private sector

Lambeth Council considered ending the Country Show as the landmark event approaches its 50th anniversary.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[ska invita]

"
£1.1m was spent on staging the event last year. The budget for 2023 is £370,000.

"

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Lambeth hands over the management of the Country Show to a private contractor:

Lambeth Council considered ending the Country Show before deciding to hand the 2023 event over to the private sector

Lambeth Council considered ending the Country Show as the landmark event approaches its 50th anniversary.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

oh dear.

To be honest, its a bit shit now with the fence etc. Saturday is boring, the music is crap and the main decent thing about it- getting drunk in the sunny park with your mates, has been taken away somewhat because you are made to buy £6+ pints which soon adds up to silly amounts. They even try and skank you for another £1 every time you get a refill and dont have a cup for whatever reason, also you cant smuggle booze in as they wave a wand over everybody in case some fucking dickhead tries to bring in a knife.

Sunday is much, much better but was relatively quiet last year in terms of crowd.

Its a shame Lambeth have made such a mess of this, it was something really unique which i would never miss after last years i wouldnt be too fussed in future.

 

[nick]

Unfortunately the country fair is suffering from Entropy and I fear is in a death spiral (although , still struggling on , thankfully)

Bets are on whether it will just fold if the private contractor can't balance the books, or whether it will be paid entry

Have loved it for 30+ years, but sadly it is slowly dying from neglect

 

[sparkybird]

I dunno, when I went this year it was rammed! But I think the demographic is changing.....

 

[Cat Fan]

I can't believe the wall cost £100k. I wonder what the cost of the extra security was, all included

 

[madolesance]

Here’s the timetable for the park events. It doesn’t account for the build and take down. That’s gotta add a couple more weeks of disruption.

 

[madolesance]

Here's another event for Brockwell Park, beginning of August for 3 days with potentially 35000 people per day- Pokémon GO Fest 2023: London