There are many reasons why I miss the National Folk Music festival. The main reason I think was its unique policy of focusing attention on the "traditional" performers. It was a festival where great artists like Martin Carthy,Peter Bellamy and others where more than happy to play a supporting role indeed in the case of Bellamy he insisted after being called on to do the final song in a session that Fred Jordan should actually sing the last song.

The National was also the festival where I first saw people such as the Stewarts of Blair, Lizzie Higgins, Kevin Mitchell, and Frank Harte to name but a few. Some of the informal sessions there were wonderful especially one glorious spring afternoon session led by Frank Harte.

Looking down the list of performers who appeared at the National during the time I went there I see no evidence whatsoever of a southern bias.

The National was an extremely well run festival and was held at just the right time of the year (we had survived another winter)The fact that it all happened under one roof and that you could at least until the last few years drink till all hours in the bar was also a great help.

Ken Hall