WILL THERE BE SHADOWSFIX 2014?

[garda123]

I have booked for Lakeside , all we won't is to hear the music of The Shadows & keep it alive for as long as possable .
Does it matter who holds these weekends as long as they keep going i will be there.

[David Martin]

I appreciate what Justin has written... it's nice to just turn up and listen or play, and very different to have to organise and be in charge.

Having said that, I do not believe that the management at Lakeside have the slightest interest in keeping the music alive. They want to sell seats, hotel beds, beer and food at a dead time of year - and that's not necessarily bad as long as we are aware of it. But a good, clean, commercial imperative has been tarnished, along with their their reputation for even handedness by the untoward events and alliances of former years...

But it is as it is... so for this year, you must decide what is important to you, and act accordingly.

But for the record, I agree with Bob and Ecca...

[JimN]

I appreciate what Justin has written... it's nice to just turn up and listen or play, and very different to have to organise and be in charge.

Having said that, I do not believe that the management at Lakeside have the slightest interest in keeping the music alive. They want to sell seats, hotel beds, beer and food at a dead time of year - and that's not necessarily bad as long as we are aware of it. But a good, clean, commercial imperative has been tarnished, along with their their reputation for even handedness by the untoward events and alliances of former years...

But it is as it is... so for this year, you must decide what is important to you, and act accordingly.

But for the record, I agree with Bob and Ecca...

I agree with David, Ecca and Bob T, particularly with regard to whether the Lakeside event was set with any regard for Shadowsfix. But logically, why should it have been, any more than the organisers of Shadowsfix should take account of Lakeside?

Let's have a Shadowsfix event in 2014. Nothing wrong with the August Bank Holiday weekend as far I can see - and Lakeside is a hundred and odd miles away.

We aren't all twenty-four, with all that it entails in being able to philosophically shrug off a year's delay as though it were a mere nothing...

[MartcasterJunior]

It's all well and good saying "sod Lakeside" but if Justin doesn't think he has the time or resources to organise an event this year, regardless of potential clashes with Lakeside (which I actually think is an admirable decision and one with the interests of ALL fans at heart), then there's nobody prepared to organise a Shadowsfix-style event this year.

Perhaps those of the "sod Lakeside" persuasion might want to put their money where their mouth is? If they're prepared for someone else to take the commercial risk of clashing with Lakeside and other events, and are so keen for it to happen, maybe they could take the risk on themselves?

Matt

[ecca]

Yes , sod Lakeside, I stand by that.
The only person saying that it has to be Justin that does it is you .
I'll happily look at other possible venues and ways of doing it.
Sod Lakeside.

[MartcasterJunior]

I didn't mean to suggest that it had to be Justin. But this thread is about Shadowsfix, and Justin was a driving force behind that, so any question about Shadowsfix should inevitably head in his direction.

(I'm also firmly in the "sod Lakeside" camp by the way, I just wouldn't want another event to suffer because it was planned with that motivation.)

[RogerCook]

I would like there to be a future Shadowsfix. I don’t mind where or when it is. However, I would prefer that it doesn’t clash with other Shads related/instrumental events that I might want to attend (eg Pipeline, Scarborough). ShadowsFix 2013 was fun and pleasantly intimate maybe because it was at a smaller venue than Lakeside. I went to both to enjoy the music and to support the musicians (and those who put the organisational effort in) and would do the same again. I won’t consider booking for Lakeside until I know who the acts are though.

[MeBHank]

I'm so glad that ShadowsFix already seems so important to Shadows fans. It makes me very proud.

For various reasons, a ShadowsFix on the scale of last year's is out of the question for 2014. In light of such demand, though, I have been thinking about what is doable. So, how about this for an idea?:

I would be willing to arrange a one-off ShadowsFix "Lite" this year to keep us going until I can arrange the full-fat version once again. This would be a one-day event: a club function in the afternoon (with backing tracks and any bands, scratch or otherwise, that wish to play), a break for a meal, then a concert in the evening featuring the Shadowers and, if finances allow, another group. This format is similar to that of the U-Play Shadows Days that many of us enjoyed in the Bristol area, as hosted by the Midnight Shadows.

The principle of "for the fans, by the fans" still holds true. If ShadowsFix "Lite" were to go ahead, initial (and very rough) thoughts on the finances tell me I would need to sell 150 tickets, and be confident of doing so. Your support in helping spread the news would be vital.

Whadya think?

J

[Stratpicker]

Justin
Where are you thinking of for location? Bristol-ish?
Ian

[MeBHank]

Justin
Where are you thinking of for location? Bristol-ish?
Ian

I'm undecided, Ian. I'm not sure we can hold it at the Kingfisher Club that hosted us so well in August. I haven't been considering Bristol as an option, I merely mentioned it as it was where the U-Play days were held.

I am looking into venue options and I will probably ask for further opinions when I know whether a ShadowsFix "Lite" would be supported.

J