MOKFEST Saturday Night Concert in Victoria Hall

[Mack]

Malky,

The barricade is there at the insistance of Argyll & Bute Council Health and Safety - it meets the necessary safety legislation for an all-standing concert of 700 people. As you might imagine, It costs a veritable fortune, something that we have to put place despite the below par turn-out on Saturday evening. Every other concert on the Mok Fest programme was extremely well supported,with sell-out performances across the board! However, despite a wonderfully enthusiastic audience, the festival has now taken a financial battering that may prove fatal to its long-term future. Well done to those who turned out to create an atmosphere second to none!
The event was excellent, both bands giving performances to match anything that has previously been seen at the MOK Fest. I can only say that the committee are left in disbelief at the lack of faith shown in our judgement.

[Govangirl]

All I can say is that I'm absolutely gobsmacked it was not sold out. Being in Campbeltown last Saturday night I was saying to Mr Govangirl that I wish I had timed it better so that I could have gone to the concert the week after. I recall he laughed and said I would have had no chance as all the tickets would have been sold. Just shows you. Shame.
And making my holiday a week later would have ensured a front view of Auntie Em, Ags! Shame again!

[katya]

I was lucky enough to happen upon a couple of tickets for Saturday night and have to say that I had a fantastic evening! The bands were excellent and I was really impressed with Attic Lights. I don't think the organisers get the recognition that they deserve, with some people just moaning about why there is no Burnside Bash etc. although I think they would definitely notice if the committee stopped putting in all the effort that they do. I for one had a brilliant weekend and would like to thank everyone involved for making it all happen!
Kx

[Malky]

Mack, thanks for reply. I've always thought that health and safety was mostly common sense but more and more it has become a way of preventing litigation and in many cases the costs involved have been so prohibitive as to stop many events taking place.

, the festival has now taken a financial battering that may prove fatal to its long-term future.

I had a feeling that the low turnout would have a financial impact on the festival. It would be a shame if that was the last festival

Malky

[Ags]

.
What a shame you didn't manage to be here Govangirl...Justin was fabulous as always! I had a great weekend ...still a wee bit hoarse but very well done organisers and committee! Most of us appreciate the work you put in. The parade was great....we got second prize for Machrihanish Playpark fund......well done to all the hard work that went into the float! I just turned up on the day I'm sure we got the prize cos ninja was so good at walking in his high heels .
Capercaillie in the picture house were superb although I was getting tutted at by the woman in front for clapping along to some of the foot tapping tunes.....I was with 3 pensioners for goodness sake...we were hardly being riotous I didn't hear very much of Attic Lights like Malky said as the picture house over ran a bit but what I heard sounded very good....and Justin.....just brilliant! Well done everybody and heres hoping its not the last MOK festival!!

[£3.73]

[Mary G]

All Festivals are taking a hit this year. Right across the country. Whether the MOK Fest caught some of that national downturn, or whether other factors were at play, will be hard to judge. Maybe a bit of both.

I would just like to add my thanks to the Committee for all the work that they have done over the years, including brave decisions to alter the format. It is very easy to stick with the same thing year-after-year. But events like this do often need a freshen up, and I for one have enjoyed the changes - some subtle, some more radical.

I look forward to a changed event next year - would hate to think that there was no event at all

[£3.73]

[rainbowsprite]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the MOK Fest committee for organising another brilliant festival

I am sad to hear that due to poor sales for the Sat night,the future of the festival is uncertain.

It seems such a shame for the committee to put in such hard work to find a new act for the main night each year, to find the night with the local artsist sells out almost instantaneously. With the Saturday night being so poorly supported

I remember a few years back you were only allowed to buy a Survivors Night ticket if you had bought a Saturday one. I think this policy might be worth reinstating.

People have become that obsessed with getting tickets for Survivors they would probably pay the extra for the Saturday too just to make sure they got to the Sunday! That way both nights would be well supported and only the true Survivors would make it to Survivors Night

People are too quick to moan about things and not to praise! I would just like to remind you all the Festival does not just magically appear every year. There is a committee who put in a great deal of time and effort to make it a success.

I would once again like to thank the MOK Committee for all the hard work they do for very little thanks of apprecation. It must be disheartening to put in all that effort to hear so many moans and groans from people who expect the festival to be an annual event but are not willing to support it to help it survive

[£3.73]

[Ileach B]

I found this year the general hype about the Festival wasn't the same! Even on here the thread hasn't been as busy. The last 3/4 years we have bought Saturday night tickets and Survivors. Have to say the last couple of years the bands haven't been my taste but we have gone and had a listen. Maybe it's just the effect of the economy, people don't have the money to spend on tickets at £25 each. For a couple that is supporting the Friday, Saturday and Sunday night concerts plus drinking is a lot of money and maybe locals just don't have that money anymore!

But something that is lacked in the town is local pubs supporting the "Fringe" side of things! So people who don't have tickets can then see different bands in the pubs. Used to be every pub had a a band in? Also what happened to Burnside Bash? This was the follow on from the Green that was also well supported? Just a few suggestions and feedback. Certainly the weather stalled it the last couple of years. Or maybe time for a new concept? Did the festival not have a sponsor years ago?

[rainbowsprite]

My apologies £3.73 was rant was not aimed at you

I was just having a moan to anyone who wanted to read my thoughts, have been listening to too many complaints about this years fest from people who are quite happy to sit back and just expect it to appear every year!

My comments were not aimed at any individual

Ileach B I totally agree about the 'Fringe' side of things, seems to be some local publicans expect to profit from the festival without putting anything into it. I believe thats why there was not a Burnside Bash (someone please correct me if I am wrong).

[EileenH]

I would have liked to have gone to the Saturday night concert but it said in the paper that it was sold out. I got tickets for the Friday night and Survivors. I was down for the parade and if you add all this it's a fair wee bit of money spent! From what I heard, Saturday night was a success. I think if the rain had stayed away on Saturday afternoon it would have helped.

[Tubby the Tuba]

Thot survivors night was great and better than the saturday night, altho I thot Attic Lights were better than Justin Currie, he didnt seem to want to be there.

£25 spent listening to background music while I drank and yapped to folk was abit steep I thot, shouldve went back to the feathers instead.....!

[dr-sanchez]

£25 spent listening to background music while I drank and yapped to folk was abit steep I thot, shouldve went back to the feathers instead.....!

exactly why i didnt bother spending any money going to the vic this year