So here we are again, is Sidmouth a Fringe event or is it a Festival with a programme offering all sorts of opportunities to take part in workshops, attend concerts, spend money, drink to excess or not....

At the end of the day they both feed off each other. The atmosphere is great, the events top class.

A dedicated bunch of people plan the event and an even larger band staff the event as volunteers, as stewards, many of these never use their hard earned ticket other than for the camp site and late nite extra, spending the rest of the time at fringe events.

Lets not start splitting the festival up again it is one organic entity.

I would highly reccomend volunteering that way you get chance to look around the festival, camp etc. at no financial risk for around 4 hours work per day. Ther are many different roles.

You can argue forever about what is good folk and where roots music fits, where the fringe starts and stops and ..... but at the end of the day it is all enjoyable. I've been there (volunteering) since 1980's and I keep going back, it is different now, not better not worse different as it is different to its humble beginings in the 1950s.

I would say volunteer or buy a ticket it is a worthwhile experience. If you do I'll see you there, along with many old friends and aquaintences, some I only see at Sidmouth once a year, it is great.

Andy