Hull Freedom Festival 'best yet': 75,000 enjoy urban carnival
FREEDOM Festival 2012 has been hailed the most successful yet, with more than 75,000 visitors soaking up the atmosphere at the weekend.
Organisers were initially worried about pre-sale tickets for shows at the new Teatro Spiegeltent at Hull Marina. But they were pleasantly surprised as families flooded the festival site and a number of productions sold out.
Director Peter Irvine, of Unique Events, said: “Many people have said this year has been the best ever, including businesses who have benefited greatly from the number of visitors.
“We’ve shown Hull at its best and we are deeply committed to continuing the festival for years to come.”
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Businesses had their busiest weekend of the year as fans crammed into cafés, pubs and exhibition spaces.
Mr Irvine, the creative force behind Freedom, said the aim this year was to create a “coherent festival arena” with stages just a short distance away from each other.
He said: “The event is now in its fifth year and I think Hull Marina is possibly the best place for it in Yorkshire.
“It is an area that has not been spoilt and has become a creative environment.
“We spread the events across the city more last year but focusing everything in this area of Hull has worked to generate an atmosphere and create an identity.
“Freedom has come of age in 2012 and now its future depends on Hull City Council supporting it again and us working together.”
Mr Irvine said the team of 40 people from Unique Events were able to work better with a temporary box office on site and a number of shows in the Teatro Spiegeltent sold out.
MORE ON THE FREEDOM FESTIVAL
• Gallery: The Freedom Festival in pictures
• Freedom Festival as you saw it
• Thousands watch Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
• View and buy all the Freedom Festival pictures taken by Hull Daily Mail photographers
• Follow all our Freedom Festival coverage here
More than 3,000 people packed into the tent in Humber Place to see the likes of vintage glamour queen Lily La Scala, comedy act Abandoman and funny man Patrick Monahan.
Mr Irvine said: “We produced about 3,000 posters but we were a bit worried about the tent because it was new and people didn’t know what it was all about.
“Quite a few of the acts have had sell-out shows in Edinburgh but sometimes that doesn’t mean a great deal over here.
“There has been such a unanimous vote of confidence this year and social media has definitely helped with people tweeting and posting comments about the event.”
Pauline Davis, corporate director for regeneration at Hull City Council, said not only had the festival seen more visitors than ever before but there hadn’t been any trouble.
She said: “It’s been a safe event and everyone has loved the acts, and, of course, the sunshine.
“We had a lot of events to compliment the shows, including the Freedom picnic and bandstand acts in Queen’s Gardens.
“There has been such diversity and for every £1 spent on Freedom, £10 is put into the local economy.”
Billy Spicer, who runs the Green Bricks pub in Humber Dock Street, was one of many people who benefited from the amount of people on the marina.
Having taken about £15,000 on the bar during Saturday alone he said his sales had doubled throughout the weekend.
Mr Spicer said: “The marina is gorgeous – there is no better place to hold an event like Freedom.
“There’s definitely been a knock-on effect for businesses like ours, which is great during the recession.
“I hope the council realises this area has potential.”
The festival highlights for many over the weekend were headline acts Spiritualized and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
MP Alan Johnson let visitors have their say during a political debate yesterday, before an afternoon of free music with Beverley Folk Festival. A closing party was held with singer-songwriter Mark Morris who made his name fronting Indie band The Bluetones at Pave in Princes Avenue.
Mr Irvine said: “I feel we got the programme right this year. People have been really cooperative and it just goes to show what can be done in Hull.”
Comments
by sparkyhu9
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 5:42AM
“Hmm 75,000??? Bit ambitious figures!! Suppose it made the marina actually look welcoming for a few days!”
by bt13jz
Monday, September 10 2012, 9:58PM
“The love cannon looked a little bit rude though ...”
by Troy_Rudeface
Monday, September 10 2012, 8:00PM
“Great weekend, as was HumberFest last month, gives the impression Hull is a discerning & bohemian city.. it's as if there's a proverbial giant clove of garlic hanging over the Marina area for these events, keeping the chavs & plebs out”
by india7
Monday, September 10 2012, 7:38PM
“Wow, this event is really starting to improve and can only get better - more fun in the sun and indeed, something to really look forward to in the Hull calendar. Who knows, it may eventually become as popular as Hull Fair?
Well done to the organizers from Edingburgh and Hat's off to The Lib Dem's for having the foresight in bringing this event to all the party animal's in Hull!”
by hesslelad
Monday, September 10 2012, 5:40PM
“Understand the Hull City Council put in £200,000 for the festival,which resulted in about a million spent by vistors in local shops ,bars and cafes.But this and al the other events and festivals this year has kept folks in Hull,brought folks to Hull,and has a lot of spend in Hull.Well done to all concerned and keep promoting Hull as a great city.”
by Mrtumbles
Monday, September 10 2012, 5:37PM
“2012 Stobart Super League Dream Team Announced:
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by erik_B
Monday, September 10 2012, 5:26PM
“"by TonyWilsonMonday, September 10 2012, 5:11PM
The only disapointment was Spiritualized, they weren't very good in the 90's."
-------
Don't agree myself. They were great, shame there was no encore. But such are regulations.”
by TonyWilson
Monday, September 10 2012, 5:11PM
“I went down on Friday night and thought it was a good set up, better than other years when they had chav magnets like Peter Andre on.
Really good crowd this year.
The only disapointment was Spiritualized, they weren't very good in the 90's.”
by gassetta
Monday, September 10 2012, 4:40PM
“seems if you have anything bad to post about this event HDM delete it, 75000 you must be on another planet”
by qualitychap
Monday, September 10 2012, 4:29PM
“i went there late sat afternoon and stayed till midnight,great atmosphere and very vibrant,helped by the hot weather,also trouble free with no attitude and i noticed all different types of people and ages,enjoyed a lot of different music and thought the pier stage was in a good position.but wish the volume was a bit higher.
there was not enough dustbins for the litter and empty beer glasses,and took a while to be served beer,but this happens at all festivals.
on the bigger picture,i disagree with some posts,i think this area still needs massive regeneration,from private developers,as in the cold light of the day,its really a very run down area,next to the marina,which is a crime.and 50 weeks of the year,mainly empty.
paths and roads needs upgrading,by all means retain some of the warehouse buildings,but for this great unique area,to realise its potential,a lot of it needs rebuilding.
and of course the old problem of castle st,which makes its access,not pedestrian friendly,infact i saw a few close calls between pedestrians and traffic on Saturday.
it all started 5 years ago with the great clipper weekend,hull has massive potential,not only too attract its own people to the city centre and marina,but too really be a top ten city,it has to attract more visitors from out of town,as york,leeds and liverpool do.
once again a really enjoyable experience at the festival,long may it continue.”