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Post by Steve Price on Oct 29, 2008 11:13:39 GMT
Can I just add... "How good is this melodic rock scene?"
All the bands were very accomodating to ARfm over the weekend and sometimes I felt like a kiddie in a candy store. I am a very lucky man, I get to interview and chat to some of my favourite bands/artists and they WANT to give me their time.
This morning when I go to ARfm I received e-mails from a couple of the major vocal stars of the show THANKING ME for allowing them time on ARfm. Are they kidding!!
Andrew McNiece and I lost count of the number of fans who thanked us for keeping Melodic Rock alive... but it's a team effort at the end of the day. If you keep asking for it, we'll keep promoting it.
We've had loads of e-mails, and some phone calls, since the weekend asking us to convince Kieran & The Team into running another Firefest. I felt for the poor bugger at the end on Sunday...as he was trying to say thanks whilst welling up and shedding more than just a tear or two. As he said, they WILL look at continuing but they make no promises. Everyone in the team has a day job and as Firefest has grown so has the amount of time and effort they have to put in. Despite all their hard work, they invariably DON'T get to seet the bands perform.
I have only one request. I notice that people are already putting up "wishlists" for FF6 on some boards. Why not give the guys a break for a while and let them just relax instead of adding to the pressures.
The FF team should be proud of what they have achieved in just 4 years. They have gone from a bunch of fans putting on a rock gig to a respected organisation. It has grown to point where even professional bootleggers are now targeting the gigs. Yep, two guys were caught by the security guys on Sunday with one of the most pro setups I have ever seen. They had Pro-shoot digital video cameras in bags with harddisc recorders and even minature graphic equalisers with a wireless link between the two of them (one on the balcony, one on the main floor). They had recorded all of Sunday acts to the point where they were caught and when taken back to their hotel by the authorities all of Saturday's recordings (audio and video) were found in a pro-video editing system on high powered PC's. These were destined for the Far Eastern market and it goes to show the lengths people will go to.
Steve
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Lea
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Post by Lea on Oct 29, 2008 11:28:56 GMT
That was pretty shocking what happened on Sunday, I dread to think what the consequences would have been had they left there on Sunday with all that footage!!
It just shows how big FF has become now, if they consider it to have a big enough demand for bootlegs like that!
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Post by Lee on Oct 29, 2008 11:47:43 GMT
It has grown to point where even professional bootleggers are now targeting the gigs. Yep, two guys were caught by the security guys on Sunday with one of the most pro setups I have ever seen. They had Pro-shoot digital video cameras in bags with harddisc recorders and even minature graphic equalisers with a wireless link between the two of them (one on the balcony, one on the main floor). They had recorded all of Sunday acts to the point where they were caught and when taken back to their hotel by the authorities all of Saturday's recordings (audio and video) were found in a pro-video editing system on high powered PC's. These were destined for the Far Eastern market and it goes to show the lengths people will go to. Steve WANKERS!!!!! |
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Post by Eden on Oct 29, 2008 12:03:43 GMT
It has grown to point where even professional bootleggers are now targeting the gigs. Yep, two guys were caught by the security guys on Sunday with one of the most pro setups I have ever seen. They had Pro-shoot digital video cameras in bags with harddisc recorders and even minature graphic equalisers with a wireless link between the two of them (one on the balcony, one on the main floor). They had recorded all of Sunday acts to the point where they were caught and when taken back to their hotel by the authorities all of Saturday's recordings (audio and video) were found in a pro-video editing system on high powered PC's. These were destined for the Far Eastern market and it goes to show the lengths people will go to. Steve WANKERS!!!!!  I'll fuckin agree with that! This gets me really pissed, most of the people were there to HAVE FUN AND ENJOY GOOD MUSIC and some assh*les are trying to make money on it. Like TC said on previous page (and I don't think that it is sad - these kinds of morons are!!) - it means something to us. Actually a lot. I'm happy that they are caught - thank you security guys! |
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Lea
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Post by Lea on Oct 29, 2008 12:40:26 GMT
Yeah it was down to the vigilance of the security guys in there that these guys were found and thrown out, so big thanks to them!
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Post by rocklady on Oct 29, 2008 18:02:22 GMT
Ok here's what I thought about the Saturday. I didn’t go to see the first three bands, Talon, Loud n Clear or Paul Laine. Some of you that know me know I have a broken foot, so I used the time to take it easy, chill and completely rest my foot in the hotel room.
I decided to get to the venue in time to see Valentine. On arriving there, I was carried up the mountain of stairs by Tony M and another guy, I’ll say something, I was actually quite taken aback by the amount of ignorant people around, seeing two guys carrying a female between them and not getting out of the way is (in my opinion) down right rude, especially when Tony stopped at the bottom of one of the stairs and asked everyone to clear the stairs, bearing in mine the narrowness of the staircase, people rather than removing themselves completely from the staircase just moved to the other side, unbelievable, man I felt for Tony and the guy that was helping him, sorry don’t know the other guys name lol
Tony kindly got me a seat and that was me all ready and comfie to enjoy the gig. Valentine albeit Hugo's voice wasn't 100% delivered a very entertaining gig. Bought their album at the M&G.
Jeff Scott Soto never was into his stuff, so it was a bit ho hum at times for me.
Pink Cream 69, I was really looking forwarded to seeing them again since the last live gig seen was back in 92, they did an excellent performance and it was awesome to hear them do Talk To The Moon live again, all in all, hope they come back to the uk (personally Scotland for me) soon.
My highlight of the night was then on stage, Tyketto, Danny was in great voice and rocked the roof off the place, he put so much energy, power and delivered (which seemed a short setlist, unless I was just so into it, it flew by) an awesome performance. Despite Brooke opting out PJ Zitarosa delivered, as I never doubted, an outstanding performance and looked like he was enjoying ever minute of it too! But who was the unknown Tyketto guitarist appearing with them for the first time, oh it was Tony lol but what a gig, awesome stuff. This is what festivals are made of, everyone having a great time and no mud on the ground lol The day was over way to fast!!
More to come on the Sunday gig once I get it together.
And yes indeed, well done on the security guys, god the cheek of some people.
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Lea
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Post by Lea on Oct 29, 2008 19:13:11 GMT
Heyyyyy you're the lady with the broken foot! Did you get your merch OK? I was the one who was listing the merch for you over where you were sitting on the Friday night!  |
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Post by blackcat on Oct 30, 2008 8:17:36 GMT
Was that 2 Korean guys doing the filming. One of them filmed Tara's Secret all through our Friday set too. I hope they got a good swatting
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Post by shaggy on Oct 30, 2008 9:11:42 GMT
I know everyone likes to be able to get a good vantage point to the bands on stage but there is an element of health and safety here regarding people standing on the stairs. The security guys should have the right to remove people from the staircases to keep them clear. You're either on the balcony area or down on the floor area - not blocking the staircase.
Last year was horrendous trying to get to my seat upstairs cos people point blankly refused to move out of the way. There were many times I was ready to shove people down the stairs head first for being so bloody rude. You ask politely and they look at you in disgust and you have no choice but to barge past them and then they have the temerity to complain aloud. At FF4, Elaine wasn't very well and we nearly didn't go, but she didn't want to miss the weekend. She had to use a walking stick cos her balance was so bad and people just flatly refused to move when she needed to use the stairs for things like going to and from the toilet. And having a spatial awareness problem on top of this did not help cos she couldn't hold on to the railing to help her gauge where she was.
If there is to be a FF6 next year and they decided to hold it at Rock City I hope the venue address this issue for everyone's safety. You only need either a serious emergency situation to arise for someone in the upstairs or for someone at the top end of the stairs to fall forward (fainting or drunk) and a domino effect will ensue with disastrous fatal consequences and then the whole weekend will be cut short for everyone.
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Lea
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Post by Lea on Oct 30, 2008 11:57:42 GMT
Was that 2 Korean guys doing the filming. One of them filmed Tara's Secret all through our Friday set too. I hope they got a good swatting Yep they had that too. Shaggy - I thoroughly agree - when I was going to the VIP balcony I thought it was ridiculous how many people were standing on the stairs, MAJOR health & safety issue!! They were telling us we couldn't use the (empty!) secret back way up to the VIP balcony for the bands because it was near a fire exit... yet they had that many people stood on the stairs?!  |
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Post by arenean on Oct 30, 2008 12:34:15 GMT
I have to say that I think this year's Firefest has been my favourite so far! (been to 2-5 inclusive)
I actually enjoyed all the bands, but thought Valentine and Loud & Clear were excellent on the Saturday, and on Sunday my personal highlights were White Sister (wow!), D2, and Mitch Malloy. Actually there were just so many highlights that I was really glad the festival ran over 2 full days (even though the organisers and Steve must be exhausted by now!)
I got to meet Ede to give her my Meet & Greet ticket (me and my friend Richard from work, who didn't have a ticket, went to see Tara's Secret instead..), but I didn't want to bother Steve, as he always looked busy when I saw him!
Didn't know John Parr was there!! Of course, he only lives down the road in Darlington, but it's great that he's a Firefest/ ARFM fan - I'm really interested to see what comes out of your meeting with him Steve!
Any chance of a conversation with Kieran on the show on either Saturday or Sunday Steve, to hear his thoughts about last weekend?
Thanks so much to Kieran and everyone else who put on such a fantastic show, along with Steve and ARFM for all the work they do, and for keeping us all informed.
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Post by Paul B on Oct 30, 2008 13:10:02 GMT
Well Shaggy is right on the H&S front regarding the staircase... I could give you a whole lot of legislation that is being breached by allowing people to stand on the stairs....  But... that's the day job so I'll not bore you here........  So I'll just get me coat!! Prog (I luv Health & Safety) Paul  |
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Post by Janette on Oct 30, 2008 13:30:39 GMT
Flippin' 'eck, - that 's the first time I've ever stood on the stairs at Rock City and I seem to have stirred up a hornets nest!  ;D Firstly, Shaggy, last year there were simply *too many* people in the place IMHO. It was *horrible*, you couldn't move around anywhere, let alone on stairs. This year it was much better. I don't know which stairs you were attempting to get up and down, but I was on the stairs leading from the bar to the left as you look at the stage, and for the 2 bands I stood there for, there were only a few peeps on there it seemed? Certainly people had no probs getting up and down them. The lady with the broken foot went past a couple of times and I read on another board that people were rude to her, well all the peeps around me couldn't have been more willing to get out of the way (assuming they were in her way in the first place) and be of some assistance. I'm sure Kazbaz will back me up if she reads this as she was stood next to me for Tyketto. The stairs on the other side (to the right as you look at the stage) did seem to have loads of peeps on, and I take the point about people falling, as they face forwards. The ones I was on are sort of sideways on, so you are stood against the railings therefore no-one can fall over, if you see what I mean. The 'open stairs' leading up to the bar (the ones Lindsay fell down a couple of years ago) also weren't as bad as they usually are, it was pretty easy to get up and down them and people were more than willing to stand aside to let you pass. I never encountered any of the bolshiness or rudeness that other people seem to have experienced, I was let through wherever I wanted to go no problem, with smiles from most of the people!  All that aside, I guess if there was a fire and you were scrambling to get out, people standing on the stairs would've slowed things down a fair bit  Mind you, if there *was* a fire in Rock City, I think you'd have real trouble getting out anyway, I try not to think about it when I'm in there! |
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Post by shaggy on Oct 30, 2008 16:52:54 GMT
The stairs on the other side (to the right as you look at the stage) did seem to have loads of peeps on, and I take the point about people falling, as they face forwards. The ones I was on are sort of sideways on, so you are stood against the railings therefore no-one can fall over, if you see what I mean. yep them's the ones I'm talking about. Every year they are packed with folks. |
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Post by Alison on Oct 30, 2008 20:15:29 GMT
If there is to be a FF6 next year and they decided to hold it at Rock City I hope the venue address this issue for everyone's safety. You only need either a serious emergency situation to arise for someone in the upstairs or for someone at the top end of the stairs to fall forward (fainting or drunk) and a domino effect will ensue with disastrous fatal consequences and then the whole weekend will be cut short for everyone. For anyone with any kind of health or mobility problem Rock City is a nightmare. I know that the layout of the building perhaps makes it difficult to adapt, but one can't help thinking they aren't even trying! It should not be neccessary for people with mobility problems whether temporary or otherwise to be going up and down stairs to use the toilet or to get to a bar. Something else that might be helpful would be some of the lights could be on in between bands, or if there could be a few downlighters or spots on the staircases. I found it quite hard myself to negotiate the steps down from the bar because I couldn't tell what was the step and what was the edge of the step, in the half-light it looked like stripes. (And I had only been drinking mineral water!) I think hell will freeze over before Rock City's management address any problems of disability access or health and safety. |
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;D
Mind you, if there *was* a fire in Rock City, I think you'd have real trouble getting out anyway, I try not to think about it when I'm in there!