News

Haverfordwest: Folk Rock Festival cancelled due to low ticket sales

Published

10 years ago

May 15, 2015

Tom Sinclair

Status Quo, along with Mumford and Sons:
M
ay play in Pembrokeshire next year

THE ORGANISERS of Haverfordwest Folk Rock Festival have decided to cancel the event due to a lack of ticket sales. Management said that lack of sales revenue means they simply cannot afford to go ahead with the festival.

The Herald spoke to Doc Gee, the main organiser of the event, who said: “The aims of the Haverfordwest Folk Rock Festival were always for the good of Pembrokeshire, to give local artists the opportunity to work alongside top international artists to learn from them and build contacts. It was also to bring top acts to Pembrokeshire and create an annual event for Haverfordwest, which would bring an audience from away as well, bringing opportunities to the area and putting Pembrokeshire’s county town on the map.”

In order to obtain the planning license for the Conygar Stadium, strict guidelines had to be met. A large number of licensed steward, porter loos, crowd barriers car park attendants and other costly requirements meant that the festival was costing the organisers £20,000 before artists, marquees and generators were even bought. The final figure of the cost of putting on the new festival exceeded £50,000.

Though, this was not of concern to Doc Gee, as the costs were anticipated and were heavily discounted to help the festival. Similarly to all festivals, the advance ticket sales needed to cover 60% of the overall costs that were needed to enable deposits to be paid, while the remaining 40% would be covered by sales at the gate.

Doc Gee told is that the event was not aimed at being a profit making venture, with tickets being priced at a break-even level.

Although 2,000 people said that they would be attending the festival, which was 60% of the advance ticket target, these people did not but their tickets by the requested deposit date at the beginning of May. The advance ticket sales only reached a fraction of the amount the festival needed to go ahead.

Doc Gee told The Herald that the acts, suppliers of the stages and PA were very helpful, allowing the festival to delay payment. On May 12, the final day for the festival to pay their deposits, it was decided that the festival would need to downsize in order to be affordable for the organisers.

The headline bands were very understanding when they were told that the festival could not afford their performances and the number of people who could attend was reduced to 499. This meant that the number of stewards, portaloos and barriers could be reduced. Ticket prices were reduced to £9 and could be paid for at the gate, making the event affordable for everyone.

Still, the costs were greater than the possible income, so the festival had to be cancelled. Though, in the last two days, Doc Gee tells us, over 16,000 people have tried to purchase tickets online. They have also received a large amount of emails expressing how disappointed people are about the announcement.

“Putting on a new festival is always a risk,” Doc Gee said, “but it was something we felt was important for our community.”

Not too disheartened by the fact that this year’s festival will not go ahead, Doc Gee says he is already planning next year’s festival, with two huge bands lined up. The organiser said she will only go ahead if the early bird tickets, which will be released in July or August this year, sell by October 2015. The two bands who are intended to headline the festival are Status Quo and Mumford and Sons.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

12 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.