DavieG

In fairness to the festival again they DO continually change the format and the programme content pretty radically - and still it works!!!! Anidder big thumbs up!!

Let's have a week long spree with a club scene for each music type and have rock bands at Clickimmin and Morrison quay with Mareel and a stage tent at the pier for the rest. The country halls would of course be heavily invoved as well. The Simmer Dim Music Week ? - This would be a big tourist attraction..! And wha's going to pay for that wan and take the HUGE financial risks (not to mention the organising time) that come wie anything of this nature - much smaller events included? I come back to my final point in the original post - on you go then!!!!

Well whit will we read here next!!!! Somebody got oot o bed wie a gripey belly this morning and no mistake!!!! Thankfully it's just about all been said in reply and thank Christ things DO develop and move on and are not totally static or worse still pigeon holed into what somebody (usually a real minority - if not one person) terms 'folk' music or alternatively wants personally for themselves by way of musical entertainment. The very term 'folk music' should be self explanatory in itself and not simply a convenient and hugely restricted term as suggested here by the original poster. For proof lets just look to one of the most acclaimed, successful and indeed popular 'folk' festivals in the world for an answer - the Cambridge festival - and to how musically unrestricted that is while still keeping a firm focus on possibly the TRUE grass roots meaning of the word folk. NOBODY - that I know of anyway - complains or goes away disappointed (as suggested here) that they have seen, alongside perhaps the more 'traditional' (whatever that word REALLY means) acts that they may favour, that they also get the chance to see Steve Earle, Nanci Griffiths, the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, Trecherous Orchestra or whatever. While many good so called 'indie' bands (Mumford and Sons perhaps being a prime example) now also potentially (or even generally) appeal to the same genre and can confidently find a place on the same bill - upsetting only those that term themselves pureists or 'traditionalists' (a real minority I can assure you) By expanding the term folk (faithfully in my humble opinion) this has brought whole (indeed massive) new audiences to 'folk' music over the past 20 years or so - including young folk most importantly. It's also in that time become 'inclusive' not 'exclusive' and all the better for it I would say. Indeed I would even go so far as to suggest that such as approach has saved - let alone developed - folk music itself. Would the Shetland festival have survived (let alone developed in the way it has) if it still only purveyed folk music as it stood or was recognised in the 1970's and 80's when it first started???? I very much doot it!!!! And tell me what to hell 'World Music' actually is? Whit a fu****g stupid term!!!! Music from the world? OK there's a surprise!!! At one time however this term encouraged more restrictive pigeon holing!!! It more or less applied uniquely to African, possibly far Eastern or perhaps Latin American music - full stop!!! Now it's expanded to recognise the indigenous ( hey maybe traditional) music of ANY country in the WORLD - including Scotland thankfully and yes Shetland too!!!! So now it truly is World Music - not just the music of Africa as it once almost uniquely aligned itself too. Even the WOMEX World Music Expo has expanded to incorporate this new thinking and recognition - well nearly anyway!!!!! Folk Festivals also increasingly have to be financially viable or self sustaining into the bargain - without hopefully totally selling out - especially in light of falling funding opportunities. So it's become necessary to fully embrace the expanded term 'folk music' to benefit from this too. Thankfully the world has moved on greatly, especially over the past 30 years, as to what it (not we) now terms folk music. This has allowed and encouraged festivals all over the world - not just in Shetland - to faithfully expand their programmes in line with this new thinking and for everyone to reap the benefits - added exposure for artists and events, enhanced performance opportunities and incomes for many great artists, increased audiences and audience development opportunities and yes financial benefits too - to name but a few. Had this not happened 'organically' as it has - and the term folk had been left exclusively in the hands of the wooly jumper, zither and finger in the ear brigade then I humbly suggest there would be many LESS folk festivals, active folk clubs, folk music record labels and great musicians working professionally and internationally etc etc than there are now. And remember many larger festivals such as Glastonbury etc now have their own 'folk music' stages - bringing the music to a new and increasing audience . Thank Christ THEY dont pigeon hole it and say "no that's folk music it has no place here"!!!!! Musical genres and indeed festivals who do not develop wither and DIE - fact!!!!! Remember this was happening to what was initially termed 'traditional Shetland music' in 50's Shetland let alone today!!!! However that's not to say there's not a place for what some folk term 'traditional folk festivals' - I fully accept that there are. However they are now very much in a minority (a limited or 'niche' market) and struggle from year to year to even survive due to the simply fact there is so little support for or interest in them from today's audiences. And yes that goes for Shetland in a general sense too. Finally promoting music in Shetland is NOT the unique domain of the likes of the SFF, Accordion and Fiddle Festival, Thomas Fraser festival or even individuals such as myself. If anyone is NOT happy with what's already happening up here or in effect laid on a plate for them (usually at significant fianancial risk to the local promoter(s) concerned) by the likes of hugely committed volunteeers at the SFF or whoever, then I humble suggest they get off their opioninated arses, get out there and do it themselves if they know better what should or should not be done or delivered!!!!!! I look forward to seeing what it is they think needs to be done, what will work in every sense of the word up here and what they physically come up with to address the issues they highlight - rather than simply spouting off and hiding behind the anonimity that this particular forum affords them Davie Gardner Atlantic Edge Music Services Shetland See I'm no afraid to say who I am and what my opinion is. So come on complainer lets see you in every sense of the word!!!!!

March 2012 was still the currently aimed for opening date as confirmed at a stakeholders meeting that was held earlier this week. Not 100% certain by the sound of things though - but then whatever is I suppose.

I've been asked a lot what Matt C did while in Shetland - apart from rehearse, sound-check and do the gigs of course..... Sat night we went to the Great Wall for a terrific meal and drinks after the show. It was generally still open to the public so some lucky folk got the chance to meet the man / band there and then everyone simply went home. Too much great food was consumed to carry on drinking if truth be told. Cheers to Alan and Natalie and all their brilliant staff for their wonderful hospitality. Let's be honest folks the Lounge after the shows was never really a realistic option under the circumstances - it would simply have been too mad for all concerned!!! Not that he didn't want to meet people I can assure you - far from it in fact - but it should be realised that to his record company, management etc he's also potentially a multi million pound 'commodity' as well as a really nice human being, so they gotta look after him and 'protect' him in that respect too I'm afraid, while also of course respecting the fans who put him and them there in the first instance. Sunday morning we had a great boat trip round Lerwick Harbour with the wonderful Geordie Mainland of Shetland Sea Charters (this trip is highly recommend) where we caught mackerel off the Bressay light and fed seals at Shetland Catch (one of which he's trained to come onboard the boat looking for fish. Amazing!!!) Sunday night after the gig we were all in the bar of the Queens Hotel which was.........wait for it...........OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TILL 11PM!!! Presumably it was too obvious a place for those who were hunting for him to consider looking However a few more lucky folk who did come in got to meet Matt and the band there, where they got autographs and photos before the doors closed to the public as usual at 11. Monday's hangover(s) was brutal at times, but everyone had a great time winding down in there. On Monday, before he left for Inverness, we had another brilliant meal, this time in the Scalloway Hotel (cheers Caroline and Peter) - where one or two more folk managed to get autographs and photos before we headed for Sumburgh. Contrary to some public opinion Matt did indeed sign LOTS of autographs and pose for photos with folk and fans while up here - even though there was no official signing and photo session after the concerts - perhaps for obvious reasons!! I've no idea how we would have managed and controlled this to be honest. However, he / they turned down virtually no-one who they met informally and who asked for autographs or photos (as many Facebook pages and profiles can now testify to) He was a real gent in every respect like that. Sure his management were relatively tight on such things up here, but in all fairness they kinda have to be like that wherever he goes. As I say it's their job to protect THEIR artist while also giving his fans a bit of leeway and access into the bargain - granted most of it unofficial, informal and even opportunistic on this occasion. So there we go. Had you been in the Great Wall on Saturday or the Queens on Sunday or the Scalloway Hotel on Monday that was where he was at. Plus he did a fair bit of walking around Lerwick into the bargain and quite a few folk met him that way too. So thanks once again to all those hundreds of folk who bought tickets and came to the concerts - especially the really young folk who created such a great atmosphere for us all weekend. Well done again Shetland!!!!

No worries on this. I'm happy to be open and accountable and perhaps make issues such as costs etc a bit clearer to everyone, who after all spend their / your money, buy the tickets and actually help make the gigs happen in the first instance - and hopefully more in the future. You guys are our customers - we're similar to a shop owner I suppose - so I'm happy to account for why you have to pay what you do for what you buy, and also help explain why some things that we'd all like to happen (such as a meet and greet session with the musicians) SOMETIMES can't happen for fairly good reasons. Thanks to you all for the support and hugely appreciate the kind wirds I can assure you. More music - and hopefully comedy - to follow I hope. Cheers again

Thanks to you all and glad that clearly by far the bigger % seem more than happy with both the length o set and the ticket price. I'm absolutely certain he will be back when (inevitably I suspect) he will be an even bigger name than he is noo. I have a feeling he will be that kind of bloke - and the band already want to come back that's for sure. They were ALL really nice guys - as were his management and crew. So thanks again to all who made it a great weekend for everyone and yes rest assured I sincerely hope there will be more to come.

I've certainly got the taste for doing more gigs aimed at younger audiences after this one. The audience, and especially his younger fans, were fantastic all weekend. Great fun to be around and to see them so enthusiastic about music.

OH and thanks to Caroline and Peter at the Scalloway Hotel for the great, if somewhat hurried, leaving meal we had today.

That is there's no chance of me being put off by anyone whinging. I like to think we genuinely NEVER set out to rip anyone off!!!

No chance

Thanks for all the feedback folks and sorry if anyone felt they were short changed. As promoters we have no control whatsoever over the lenght of set or content - that's purely the artists and his managements domain. If he chooses to promote his new album and not fill his set with cover versions then that has to be his choice and priority. As several have pointed out this was indeed a Matt Cardle show to promote his new single and album and not an X Factor one. Shetland was only his second and third gigs ever with his new band who - before going on tour - only had one week to rehearse. When they announced the gig in Shetland they did not even know who was going to be in the line-up at that time. You can rightly say this was their fault - but that's the fact of the matter anyway. When we heard that the set was only likely to be 45 mintues + we too were a bit disappointed and asked if it would be somehow possible to extend this slightly. We were told this could not happen and would not be possible. As far as price goes unfortunately the costs for a show like this, and irrespective of set lenght, are very high and we have to cover costs somehow. When we agree and budet for a show you are never sure if the tickets are going to sell or not - so this business is, in effect, a huge risk. Marvin has aptly covered most of the costs we have to carry - but here's a rough breakdown of what we have to cover purely from ticket money alone - no sponsors, public funding or bar take for us I'm afraid. Artist fees (main act and support act) Flights Accommodation Artist food Venue Hire Stewarding PA Hire (The PA for this gig largely had to come from Glasgow) Truck on Northlink PA operators fare and accommodation Production operation costs (sound and light) Mini bus hire + fuel Marketing (adverts etc) Ticket printing Additional instrument and backline hire Hire of crowd barrier Transport of equipment - local truck hire. All this has to be committed too from the outset - whether the tickets sell or not - and I've found out from bitter experience that there is no such thing as a "sure thing" in this game. Rest assured we did everything possible to keep the ticket price as low as possible while still covering all our costs (especially as we believed lots of young folk would be keen to see him). As regards security - they have to respond to the needs and regulations of the venue operator, as well as addressing our needs as promoters and the artist management - plus we have insurance, licensing and health and safety obligations and issues to address in this respect too. The police also request we act in this kind of responsible manner at all times at events of this size -especially when there are a lot of under 18's and very young children at the event After the delays experienced on Saturday night re getting into the venue the Clickimin and Arctic Security staff changed several things to make Sunday nights entry much quicker and easier - so thanks to them for that. The security at the back door in terms of the fans were acting on the wishes of Matt's management. They are duty bound to look after his personal interests while trying to be fair and kind to fans too. This is required of them as part of his managements job description irrespective of whether he's playing Glasgow or Shetland. I'm genuinely sorry we / they could not offer fans an official meet and greet, photo or autograph signing opportunity - but given the anticipated level of demand for this, not to mention the levels of excitement (and, at times, yes even frenzy) we experienced from his fans over the weekend (great fun and lovely to see as this was) it was considered impossible to deliver such an official opportunity and, perhaps more importantly, a means of doing so and managing it fairly and safely for all concerned. So his management, ourselves and the venue operators agreed it would not be possible to do this. However I'm, genuinely delighted at the way things went over the weekend and equally delighted that by far the bigger percentage of you appear to think you got value for money. Sadly we never seem to be able to please everyone - but hey that's life I suppose!!! Matt and his band / crew totally loved Shetland and the people up here and let me say his fans were wonderful and so much fun to be around over the whole weekend. So thank you one and all for making it a terrific experience for them and indeed for all of us involved. The atmosphere is the Clickimin was electric both nights and it made us all very proud to be part of it. The fans / everyone's bahaviours was exemplery. so a million thanks to all of you who bought tickets, came along to the shows and made it a weekend that none of us will forget in a hurry. My thanks go to: Matt and his band / crew Our support act Malachy Tallack Beyond Promotions Inverness Robert Geddes and his all staff at the Clickimin Centre David Wagstaff and his team at Technical Production Services Sound Acoustics, Glasgow Brian, Fiona, Arthur and Maggie at High Level Music Stuart Wadley and his staff at Arctic Security Alan, Natalie and their fantastic staff at the Great Wall Queens Hotel staff Karen and Keith at Alder Lodge Marvin, Karen, Vaila and Clare Bolts Car Hire staff Graham Malcolmson Russell Gair Shetland Arts And last but by no means least you guys for buying the tickets and coming along Sorry if I've missed anyone but it's not intentional I can assure you. Cheers again Davie Gardner

All tickets should arrive in good time. If not we have official lists of website purchased tickets on the door. So no worries hopefully.

ALL tickets should have been despatched by now.

For those looking on Shetlink for Matt Cardle Sunday night tickets they are not sold out for that night as yet - it's just the Saturday that's sold out. However it's true to say that there are not many tickets left for the Sunday either so better to buy ahead of the weekend if you want to be sure. Tickets are still in High Level Music and on Ticketmaster website.

Just to kill all such carzy rumours. The support act will be local but it's not been decided who yet. Likely to be a different one each night. This is not an X Factor tour as such - it's Matt Cardle's own tour - so clearly he will be the only X Factor person appearing. Sorry bout that!!

No - thank God

The new PJ Harvey album Let England Shake - which won the Mercury Music Prize last night - or 'Skying' by the Horrors. Can't wait for the new Wilco album either. See I'm not an X Factor man

Last few tickets for Matt Cardle + band in the Clickimin Centre Sunday 25th Sept still available from High Level Music and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com Best to grab some quick if you still want to go cause 2nd show is heading towards a sell-out too!!!

Atlantic Edge Music Services www.atlanticedgemusic.com

Cheers for the kind words folks. Really appreciate that. Whatever happens it's still a real pleasure to be able to do gigs o this size and kind in Shetland. Great and initially frantic sales for Matt C again this morning - and we didna have to "move' any tickets at all - so hopefully no more issues and more importantly no more disappointed folk which is great news. Ignore the "sold out" rumours that are flying around as always. Tickets sales are brilliant again - but some are still available in High Level and on Ticketmaster if you're quick. They are still selling steadily as we speak though, so it wid be best to move as fast as possible. Cheers again to you all.

Nothing more I can add really. When it comes to gigs / demand like this it's always going to be a bit of a lottery I'm afraid - whatever approach we choose to take. Whatever I / we do will inevitably be wrong in someone's eyes and not suit them personally. So be it!!! Sorry Invicta - although you are very much entitled to your view I just can't really see what the issue is here. Sure we changed the original plan, but that was in light of new and informed evidence on the day itself, nothin more. Even as a result of this action no-one who was in the original queue - or even those that arrived fairly sharpish AFTER nine o clock - failed to get tickets because of this action, so I have to say my conscious is fairly clear on this one. Indeed more people who initially chose the on-line buying option got tickets than would have and as I say no-one in the original queue lost out due to this. Indeed not ONE complaint was received on the day in this respect so there we go!!! When you change something for the better surely this is acceptable?

http://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/facepalm.png Great reply must have taken a while to think of that one Thanks for getting back Davie . It wasn't me who went to get tickets the last time and It seems to me that I haven't been given the total story or at least that is the way it seems. No probs Invicta. Rest assured there was no underhand dealing here and the move we made was in the interest of the ticket buying public I assure you.

Ticketmaster charge both a booking fee and postage I'm afraid so that's probably why their ticket costs appear higher. All Matt C tickets are face value £20 and that will be the price in High Level tomorrow morning. They have no booking fee or charge anything for the excellent service they offer me and other promoters in Shetland. And before everyone says the Shetland Box Office is free in terms of charges - that's not really the case as the promoter (me or the external agents who govern these kind of gigs) is charged quite a hefty fee by the SBO to use their services, not the ticket buyers (you) as on most other websites or box offices. This is a fee I cannot normally afford to pay or absorb without putting more costs on the ticket(s) to you the punters. Rest assured I / we would if we could. Sadly altering the ticket price for Shetland alone is something we cannot do with nationally managed / promoted tours such as this one - so, in short, we would have to carry the additional cost for this ourselves. An additional cost burden we / I cannot absorb I'm afraid. This is currently why I, and some other regular music promoters in Shetland, don't currently use that facility for larger gigs. However we are discussing this with them with a view to resolving the situation. As such this is not something I will be discussing further here. Simply accept that the cost is prohibitive for us on these kind of occasions, but that we will hopefully have this issue resolved at some point down the line. Hope everyone who wants tickets can get them tomorrow. Rest assured we are doing our best for you and NO element of foulplay as regards ticket allocation takes place. There is simply no need to resort to such a thing on our part.

This has already been explained Invicta. On-line sales demand for the first show far outstripped the direct sales demand. As soon as we realised this was very likely to be the case (prior to 9am judging the queue we had in front of us) we "moved" 200 tickets from direct sales to the websites to try and address / help the anticipated demand in that respect. Even then they sold out immediately. EVERYONE who queued at High Level at and prior to 9am got tickets no problem as did many others who arrived after that time. The only one's who were not able to purchase from High Level were either those who arrived too late in the first instance (thinking there would still be tickets available) or those who had not managed to get via the internet - even though a further 200 had been added to try and address demand. So I can't really see what the problem is here or how it was a "bad show" as you say. If you did not get tickets from High Level yourself then so be it - but my story still stands. Everyone who was there early enough (prior to 9.45 when they sold out) got tickets from that outlet. If anyone was disappointed it should have been those who failed to get from the internet sales outlets - not from HLM as you suggest. For our part we had to entirely guess where demand would lie in this respect - as we will have to do again tomorrow. Who know's it might work out very different this time around. As I say who know's how this one will work on the day itself - and if you have a better informed insight than I do on this I would be delighted to hear it. There will be 500 on sale tomorrow at High Level and 750 on the internet. All we can do is guess where the demand lies and do our best to address that. Seems to me you're damned if you do and damned if you don't - but hey I can live with that!!!