I must underline the bit about sound systems. I've been to several festivals where the performance has been ruined by a sound man who thinks that louder is better. From being sound reinforcement the sound system has become a performer in its own right. At the recent AFO showcase, we even had performers on stage asking for the volume to be reduced.

I used to know a sound engineer who reckoned monitor volumes were so high in studios these days that most sound engineers were going prematurely deaf, and it would seem that in retirement they all go to folk festivals!

John