The article about The Sidmouth International Festival "closing" appears in a newsletter produced largely by Steve Heap so I guess he knows what he's talking about.

One interesting point which nobody else seems to have picked up on yet is the reference to the International Festival closing due to increasing regulation of outdoor public entertainment including insurance and licensing issues.

If they contributed largely to the demise of the International Festival then surely the individuals trying to put a Folk Week together this summer will face the same issues and problems?

As they don't even have the £60,000 public funding which Steve Heap enjoyed presumably they will face even greater problems meeting all the regulatory requirements with less funding to pay for everything?

One wonders whether the Olympics organisers will face the same problems?!!!