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No cobbles, then no hobbles as music festival is cancelled
Hobble on the Cobbles in Market Square, Aylesbury
One of Buckinghamshire’s biggest festivals has been cancelled, just over a week before it was due to make a comeback.
Organisers say they were forced to make the ‘tough decision’ to cancel next weekend’s Hobble At The Waterside because of poor ticket sales, which have left the event ‘no longer viable’.
The show was cancelled last year because of funding problems and organisers say it could return in 2013, but only ‘if the support for it is there’. In the past thousands of people descended on Aylesbury’s Market Square to watch bands like Marillion, Scouting For Girls and Kajagoogoo headline Hobble On The Cobbles. But in 2011 it ran into difficulty securing funding and had to be cancelled.
This year organisers planned to stage a comeback at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, they rebranded it Hobble At The Waterside and sold tickets at £14 each for the previously free event. Stars that were due to perform included Steve Rothery and Pete Trewaves of Marillion and Rob Harris of Jamiroquai.
Promoter Stuart Robb said: “It is very unfortunate. It was a very difficult decision, but it was a mutual decision because there was a lack of support to make it viable. It’s down to low ticket sales and we didn’t get the support we needed to make the event run. Hopefully it will be held again in the future. If the support for it is there, there’s no reason why not. We are still working with the theatre.”
Bierton district councillor Julie Ward said: “It is the last thing I would have wanted, for the theatre to become an elitist provision. At the moment it is not really offering a lot beyond musical theatre, when community events like Friars and Hobble can not be held it is a great loss to the town.”
Southcourt councillor Freda Roberts said: “I dare say a lot of it is because people might not find Hobble the same in the theatre as being in the Market Square. But it is disappointing. I attended many times over the years.”
Elmhurst And Watermead councillor Raj Khan criticised the ‘astonishing prices’ charged to event organisers to put on shows that used to be free in the town – noting that taxpayers help fund the venue.
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Weather for Aylesbury
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Comments
There are 21 comments to this article
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Mark Willis
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 09:46 AMThe loss of the Hobble at the Waterside is a real blow, BUT we have to remember that the best place for live music is Market Square, this event has not been killed by Health and Safety, BUT by the loss of funding from AVDC, they would rather put our money into other things than promoting Aylesbury as a wonderful vibrant place to live, couple that with the dire economics and the loss of sponsorship and you have the reasons why the cobbles couldn't happen. The Waterside concert idea was an attempt to raise funding to be able to stage the Hobble once again on the cobbles, at £14 for a days music it was great value and would have been a good day, sadly not enough of the public agreed and bought tickets, if we want Aylesbury to keep its place in music history then we have to find ways to encourage live music into the town, and not constrained by the limitations of the Waterside theatre.
PeterB
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 07:42 PMHobble at the Cobbles (Aylesbury Showcase) has put on free (LOCAL) live music for 6 years or more so I think that for them to ask for a small charge for tickets for an event designed to raise funds for the Hobble at the Cobbles event is more than reasonable. I would have (and have) paid £14 to see a number of the bands on the bill on their own so to get such an amazing line up for such a low ticket price is exceptional value. We need people like Aylesbury Showcase and Friars to put on a varied musical line up in the town as The Waterside Theatre seems eager to kill off the heritage that the town has for live music. The town has missed out on an amazing musical event.
Aylesbury Rocker
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 04:50 PMThe point of this event has been missed in your article and in some of the comments posted. Funding for Hobble on the Cobbles has been withdrawn by the Council. Therefore, in order to survive Hobble needed to raise some money. People were putting in a lot of work into this show behind the scenes. I personally had been asked to roadie and tech for three of the acts. This would be a full on and long day of work. I WAS DOING THIS FOR FREE because I wanted any profit to go towards funding Hobble on the Cobbles. The promoterorganiser of this event is a local man who also was DOING IT ALL FOR FREE! The simple fact is that because this event wasn't supported the chances of another Hobble on the Cobbles has been reduced significantly. The tickets were priced at a very reasonable £14. This is FAR cheaper than most gig tickets, and for this small sum you were going to be treated to a number of very diverse, quality acts. To everyone who objected to buying tickets because they think it should have been a free event, you only have yourselves to blame if Hobble on the Cobbles is now lost forever.
friarsfan
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 04:40 PMI think people have totally missed the point of this... I don't think Hobble at the Waterside was ever meant to be a replacement or substitute for HOTC, I think it was simply a fundraiser style gig, (good value for the price too, £14 for 14 or so bands - including some named bandsmusicians) to help boost the funding of the summer event, in this economic climate! Such a shame this gig was cancelled. With public support it could have broken down barriers with the theatre to book more local groups and upcoming touring bands. Sounds like the lack of public support, not the organisers nor theatre may have messed that one up, and put the future of HOTC in jeopardy at the same time!
GOWEST
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 02:35 PMOh dear, I am going to be amongst the minority on the Waterside question. Having visited the theatre many times, I love it. £29 for two tickets in superb seats to see 'Save the Last dance for me' was a perfect night out. Well performed and produced it gave one a 'feel good' factor. The theatre is not just for younger people wanting to listen second rate comedians and rock concerts but IS for all age groups and caters as such. I have seen 2 music concerts, 2 pantos and 4 musicals and loved every one of them. Don't blame Waterside Theatre for the demise of Hobble on the Cobbles blame the 'local' councils and the 'elf and safety brigade. Market Square is THE only venue for a free show.
QualityMullet
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 02:01 PMWow. Outdoors to indoors. Free to charged for. And then a surprise at lack of demand. High concentration of muppetry on display from the organisers.
Pineapple Mike
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 02:00 PMThe negativity here is incredible. This town NEEDS local events and it NEEDS support. As it happens, irrespective of the Waterside, it would probably have been the same ticket price at the Civic and there are lot of artists here so was decent value.I think (and yes I was going) I know the organisers put their hearts and souls into this and it wasn't to be but don't expect anyone else to try to pick up the mantle because you all seemingly want free or next to nothing cost events with big artists! The Hobble on the Cobbles may be a free event...BUT the bands have to be paid, and the organisers have to jump a ridiculous amount of regulatory and legislative hoops to close the Market Square for the daygeneral logistics. It might be FREE to you but get in the real world if you think everyone does everything for free. These events have to have commerciallycouncilsponsorship supported and funded and if that can't be secured, you can't have an event. Simple as that.. It's worth bearing in mind that the many people who have benefitted directly or indirectly through the Hobble on the Cobbles i.e pubs have declined to financially support these types of events despite making from it. So, instead of slagging off "whoever thought this up" or bemoaning that £14 was too much for a free event (this was not Hobble on the Cobbles! - so wasn't free), let's see YOU, yes YOU do something constructive to get people onside and supportive of worthy local events. I'm sick to death of seeing people so critical and no obvious remedies. You get what you deserve in the end.
J Ward
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:42 PMDear Local Boy, I would like to take issue with your comments "Julie Ward obviously voted for it because it sounded good & didn't bother thinking it through" and "it is your own fault". I DID NOT vote through this theatre, as I wasn't a serving councillor at the time. I was elected to AVDC in 2011, after the theatre was already built. I fail to see, therefore how this can be any fault of mine!! I share the disppointment of many local people at the lack of diversity provided by this theatre. Ambassador Theatre Group are not, personally, my cup of tea, although I appreciate that there are many people who enjoy their offerings. Sadly, to date, there has not been a single act I have been motivated to go and see at the new theatre. I did, used to go and see comedy acts on tour at the old Civic, but the same acts would now cost me twice the price to see and I have resisted. I hope this sheds a little light on your comments, which were unfortunatley a little ill-informed and you are better able to understand where I am coming from. Julie Ward
Paul Kersey
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 01:26 PM14 quid a ticket (plus a "very reasonable" 5.35 booking fee!!! LMAO). Way too much to charge for this non-event. There are proper bands out there who charge less - unfortunately none of them will ever appear at the elitist Waterside. Sorry guys, a major own-goal here!
Aylesbury Duck
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:01 AMI have just had a good idea, why don't AVDC move this years Mix 96 bonfire and firework display from the rugby club to indoors at the Waterside Theatre, I for one would pay £14 to stand outside and watch this millstone burned from around our collective necks.
Aylesbury Duck
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:52 AMWell there is a surprise; I wonder whose stupid idea that was? How did they think the iconic (and free) hobble on the cobbles in the sunshine of the market square was ever going to be well supported at £14 a ticket INDOORS? Total and utter numskulls. ... .. I wonder if anyone knows how much we will now be paying Ambassador Theatre Group not to use our own theatre on the cancelled date, more of our cash wasted. As usual AVDC change something with a winning formula and wreck it, well done!
AylesburyFella
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 08:39 AMWhat I meant was how on earth did they think that we would pay??!! An event that was outdoors in the glorious sunshine AND free to just join in with that someone suddenly thought they could commercialise!! The clue to it's success being in the name 'on the cobbles'. They tried to turn it into a show!! What next?? The indoor market show where you can buy a bunch of flowers or 2lbs of potatoes AFTER you have purchased tickets at £14?? Totally totally stunned at whoever decided this. They have got to be the most stupid person in Aylesbury...
JR
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 01:17 AMAylesbury Fella, "how did they come up with £14? probably based on how much it cost to rent the theatre for a show & divided by number of people they could cram in. I presume ATG will still want someone to pay a hefty cancellation fee - despite the reason for cancelling being the exhorbitant ticket prices based on ATG's exhorbitant fees. So, win-win for them & lose all the way for us.
LocalBoy
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 10:45 PMBierton district councillor Julie Ward said: “It is the last thing I would have wanted, for the theatre to become an elitist provision. At the moment it is not really offering a lot beyond musical theatre" ........... but that is all it was ever going to be. Gone are all the community events, they are totally unaffordable. Glad that the Ambassador Theatre Group is making lots of money from the shows and the ludicrous handouts from the public purse. Julie Ward obviously voted for it because it sounded good and didn't bother thinking it through. Too late, Julie. You can't whinge now. It is your own fault.
mfly
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 09:32 PMGutted, last year we were told 'we'll be back next year' and now due to some mad idea to host it in the theatre many, many people who enjoyed free music in the open air will now be sorely disappointed. No wonder there is no community spirit left, we have no opportunity to be a community!! Once again a favoured Aylesbury tradition has now been lost.
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