Howdy,
I've been performing at Folklife for over 20 years. I've worked for the organization at times. Now I look on the event as a shell of what it was intended to be.   It started out as a event by performers for other performers , their friend, family. Now for some it's become another people watching event much like the University Street Fair. It's another bite of seattle for some, who come to eat and gawk. There is still a large group of people, who love folk music.   For years the festival organizers have attempted to make it an ethno-music event. The blue grass players, the western swing players, the folk dancers etc. now take a back seat to this concept.   One of the program directors asked m how we used to get volunteers to stuff envelopes etc. I told him, it wa all volunteers. There was only one paid employee who worked year round. The new festival organizers spend a lot of time in meetings trying to figure out how to get more volunteers!
They have meetings for deciding what new musical focus top have at the next years festival.   The festival has no institutional memory. Therefore they are always creating a new festival by new people with new ideas as to what is relevant.   American roots music is what created this event. All of the music that already exists right here in the NW is what the event is about.   If you build it , we will come and play. If the event continues to be a festival for corporate sponsors, we won't.      "How to Alienate Folk Musicians?" must have been the topic of one of their meetings. As top street performers, this year there will be many more than ever.   If the festival doesn't try to control the situtation, you can be replaced by the nine year old violin student.