Dick - "too folky for a country audience and too country for folk", is how Jack Hudson has been described by someone who reviews his records.

That could easily explain his lack of bookings. I haven't seen him or heard of him much recently - and I get around - he does not seem to have a web presence or a myspace presence. He doesn't seem to do many gigs at folk clubs so he clearly isn't just ignored by festival but by just about everyone else as well. Remarkable how everyone comes to the same conclusion as far as booking him is concerned.

There is a whole festival at Bradfield devoted to traditional singers less than five miles from where I live. About sixty people turned up to listen to them and the festival is supported financially by the organiser out of his own pocket to make sure it continues. He charges £10.00 for the weekend so ticket prices are hardly extortionate and that includes camping. Beer is £1.50 a pint. And sixty people turn up.
Four of them were people who had come at my invitation. And another was me.

East Anglia Music Trust has traditional singers and dancers. I could go on........

Joan Crump has evolved a slot for traditional singers at Loughborough Festival next year.

Shepley Spring Festival will have traditional singers from Sheffield next year too.

As far as "most of us" is concerned Jim, - the only way you could legitimately claim you were being ignored by festivals (I would think) is if you are getting tons of bookings elsewhere and still getting ignored by festival organisers OR some festival were booking you and some were ignoring you despite concerted efforts to get bookings by you or your agent. If all festivals are ignoring you then it may just be you. I don't know not knowing what you do or what you sound like.

When I was involved in a festival I received dozens of CD's from unknown singer song-writers who have to be especially talented in my opinion to get a look in. I have to tell you most people ignore them as I did.

I also received loads of CD's and promotion material from solo singers, bands and groups. When I asked when and were I could see them sometimes I got a reply. Some never bothered. One duo put on a special performance. They got booked. Another I travelled miles to see. Their stage presence was nil although their music was reasonable.

Tell me would you book a band with nil stage presence for your festival?

Anyway it is fairly easy to remedy. Start your own festival.