Woodstock to compete for Big D space
Relations between the organisers of campus events Big D and Woodstock have soured after controversial proposals to move Woodstock to the space between Langwith and Derwent colleges were mooted by the YUSU Coordination Committee.
Moving the event, which has traditionally been held on Vanbrugh Paradise, would place it in direct competition with the Derwent event for the space.
Derwent College’s high- profile Big D event has long hisbeen one of campus’ most successful, selling out within 24 hours last year and featuring acts such as MC Verse, Chesney Hawkes and Pendulum. In direct competition to this, Woodstock, which runs in the same week of summer term each year, is a RAG-organised festival featuring live music acts predominantly from campus.
YUSU Student Development and Charities Officer Jamie Tyler proposed the move at the Union Coordination Committee last week: “It makes sense to move it to Langwith, as it would coincide with the opening of the Union Bar. It would be a perfect opportunity,” he said. “In addition, once our bar is established, if an event this big took place in that area it would be easier for us to provide more staff support, as we will have more in that area whose remit will be to aid events in that venue. ”
Concerns have been raised by those within Derwent that this proposal could have a negative effect on their event, with the University opposing the pressure of having two large scale events in the same area in one week. When questioned about the knock-on effects of his plan, Tyler appeared relatively unconcerned: “Well that is something that they are going to have to think about,” he said. “Big D is in fact never a guaranteed event. Anyway, it’s just a thought at the moment. Nothing is set in stone.”
Oliver Lester, chair of Derwent College, remains optimistic and denied that Woodstock’s planned move would be at the detriment of Big D: “I promise now that Big D will go ahead like it has for the last 40 years, sell out like it did last year in 24 hours, and be the best end of year party at the University of York.”
“Different areas around campus need to be considered in making Woodstock bigger and better; Derwent being one of them,” he added. “There are advantages and disadvantages to each venue, and these will be fully discussed over the year,”
Hostility between the organisers of the two events has been long standing, and emerged last year when Big D organisers supposedly undercut RAG by securing a £1,000 grant from Deloitte. It was suggested that the sponsorship was originally intended to fund Woodstock.
Tyler has been keen to quell the fears, saying: “this move is nothing to do with Big D, nor is it an attempt to take over the event.”
The University have declined to issue a statement as regards the proposed move, and have emphasized their desire to support both events. “From a support perspective, it’s a purely practical question,” said Director of Facilities Management Keith Lilley
“The DFM and the University have always supported these events and will continue to do so,” he added.
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