Some of you seem to have got in a bit of a tiz about my "pompous" comments regarding the Killer Queen concert. To coin a phrase some of you need to calm down a bit. You'll live longer if you do! That's the point of a blog you know to let people have their say. Just because my views don't always agree with your own doesn't mean you have to have a go. I'm sorry if I find Killer Queen and tribute bands a bit naff and clichéd. They have their place if you like that sort of thing and I've already admitted that I've seen a few in the past. I also cannot deny that it was a commercial success given that it was sold out. (the weather must have helped on that score though.) But as the centre piece of an Arts Festival? I'm sorry but lets not even grace it with that phrase. An arts festival should, in my opinion, be about lifting peoples expectations and making them think a bit deeper than a 30 year old song that they've heard a thousand times, sang by a saddo in a yellow jump suit, which they can shake their heads to while they get slowly drunk. So if thinking that makes me "pompous" then so be it. If the fella who runs the local indie bookshop doesn't push for a better appreciation of The Arts then what hope is there left?...
7 comments:
So what's your problem? The musical events on the Castle Lawn have been around a lot longer that the Arts Festival. It was the Arts Festival Committee that saw fit to include them this year with their mini festival. TDBC would put the Castle events on regardless of whether there was an Arts festival on the same weekend. You should also take it up with the committee why the only other major event was a sing-a-along to Grease evening. But without these events the min Arts festival did not have a lot to offer. But I guess the funding was not there to expand the event and I am sure that the local councils should not be spending tax payers cash on this. KCC already puts more than £1.5 millions a year into the arts and Tonbridge is just one of many Arts Festivals in Kent that receive non of this budget.
So if you know of a way that the Tonbridge Arts Festival Committee can fund an annual event then maybe you should let them know rather than be critical.
Well once again people start having a go instead of keeping the debate civil. Honestly I don't know why I bother with this blog sometimes! The answer is that it can be done as it was last year. By a combination of business funding, sympathetic individuals funding, arts funding, advertising and sponsorship, ticket sales and catering sales. It can be done because it happens in other towns every year. Close to home, Sevenoaks for eg. holds both an arts and a literary festival each year. Manofkent you are misinterpreting what I'm trying to say if you think it's that we should never hold tribute band nights. I'm only saying that we should call that the arts festival. So we are kind of agreeing with each other....
Well once again people start having a go instead of keeping the debate civil. Honestly I don't know why I bother with this blog sometimes! The answer is that it can be done as it was last year. By a combination of business funding, sympathetic individuals funding, arts funding, advertising and sponsorship, ticket sales and catering sales. It can be done because it happens in other towns every year. Close to home, Sevenoaks for eg. holds both an arts and a literary festival each year. Manofkent you are misinterpreting what I'm trying to say if you think it's that we should never hold tribute band nights. I'm only saying that we should call that the arts festival. So we are kind of agreeing with each other....
Honestly TB, what do you expect?, getting people fired up with what can only be described as a provocative post, and then running for cover when they bite back. If you want to court controversey, don't be surprised if people react to it in a heated manner. After all, isn't that the whole purpose of encouraging comments on the blog?
Well I think it's a great blog, thanks Mr Books for keeping it running.
I totally agree with you about tribute acts. What a total waste of time and talent (some of these people are talented musicians). If all people want to watch is people imitating other musicians it is a sad day indeed. Sadly tribute acts are everywhere: pubs, clubs, theatres, festivals. I am waiting for the first tribute band of a tribute band!
We should be encouraging new talent rather than watching someone dressed as Mr Mercury prancing around the stage. Nobody can get close to the true Freddie (RIP) in any case!
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