I personally think it will be a holding station this year. People will have committed in their minds or financially. Next year is too far away to decide. And by next year it may well be a case of the percentages. The numbers will be down. People will not travel as far or as often if the Slow Down, Credit Crunch (Oh! OK recession) bites. And they sure as hell ain't gonna risk mud or flood on top of that. The Glastonbury rejects (more tickets allocated to the yoof) may be used to mud but not everyone. Ditto dust if it is dry.

Big festivals will feel it as the punter looks closely at what is on offer. Joy vowed this year she wasn't at all interested in a festival that cost £16 per indifferent (for multiple reasons) ceilidh and a two hour drive each way when she could be earning, gardening in high season. So she decided to do Sidmouth for a week, in her high season! You do the comparisons but greed is not that far from the centre of her perceptions, and that does put off punters.

But then there is Folk and there is entertainment. Sidmouth errs on the side of Folk. Damn it - it is Folk.