Venn Saturday, 4th June

A debate rages after Venn Saturday. The idea was that given the vast amount and variety of events going on throughout the day, a single ticket for £10 would get you into anything. If you attended for the full day, you would have had an absolute bargain. If you couldn't, or were too lazy to get out of bed then it was tough. The idea was to get people running around, seeing things they wouldn't normally see in a whir of festival excitement. Unfortunately, a few friends of mine had wanted to just go to one venue, the Croft - where the most you would normally pay is £6 to see someone fairly famous. Upon learning that they would have to fork out the tenner, all four of them declined and went somewhere else. I don't believe this was an isolated incident, either.

I suggest via the medium of Choke that they have on-the-door prices as well as a full day's tickets. I only made it to two venues, and at £4 each I would have saved myself a bit of cash. Because of a massive delay in the Croft, I missed half the people I wanted to see, had planned to see, and if I'd had a decent timetable, might have been able to see. Such is the way of festivals - true but if I knew I had an hour to spare I would go somewhere else. I didn't want to move, not knowing when Caroline Martin was playing in case I missed Men Diamler. Perhaps this was the atmosphere they wanted to create. I also suggest that since they obviously knew when people were supposed to be on, why not let us in on the secret.

My suggestions are met with stoney aggression. The organisers tell me that it's pathetic whining over £10, I pay more than that to go to most gigs. They say that I don't understand the concept of a festival, that they work really hard and why does everybody complain, why can't I say anything nice. I protest, I did enjoy myself, I was merely pointing out that they could have made even more money - maybe they don't want other people to come. If you don't like it, fuck off is the reply. (It's all on the Choke thread).

More surprising, is the deluge of protests from performers, people who didn't pay to get in. People who got to enjoy the whole thing for nothing. They are mortified that I would have the gall to complain about such a marvellous event happening here, on our doorstep. I sigh, and again insist I merely made a suggestion. On my own, as others I knew about failed to support me, people who I know boycotted paying because they only wanted to see one band. 'Fuck off, I'm not paying a tenner to see Hunting Lodge', they said.

So what did I see at the great Venn on Saturday?

The John E Vistic Experience held some fears for me, I had memories of Lakota for some reason. Then it hit me. They're a good ol' Country band. I run outside, a walk before the folk starts, that'll fix it. I'd promised myself some Klezmer this weekend, you see. The Malcolm X is full of Polish folk (music) this weekend. Malarkey deliver this with style a band like your mum a\ll got together, I couldn't help feeling that we should be out in a park somewhere by a bonfire.

Men Diamler at the Croft, an incarnation of Mario Vendredi who I saw way back at Bar Unlimited - was late. But well worth it. His powerful voice, theatrical shouting, screaming and yet another unforgettable perfomance of John the Revelator drew full crowd participation and cheers aplenty.

Finally I wandered back to the Malcolm X to see the Warsaw Village Band, who play traditional Polish music, combined with many other elements from all over the world, it seemed. Some great music and strong, emotional singing made my £10 well worth it (so there).