Conrad, your concern for "stupid" volunteers and "manipulated" audiences is not only misplaced, it is unbelievably arrogant and condescending. Can you not understand that the people who volunteer, or buy festival tickets, are intelligent adults who know what they are doing, get pleasure from it and believe they are getting value for their money and time? If they didn't, why would they keep going back each year?

Besides, the type of festival you are advocating seems to depend entirely on volunteers donating not only their time but food, facilities and presumably money to pay for those things which cannot just be brought along. Are they "stupid" too, and aren't you concerned about exploiting them?

I struggle to understand how your festival could possibly draw people into folk music. Apparently they are expected to gather in a field with no shelter, presumably no seating (unless some exploited volunteer provides it), and required to piss in the hedge and crap in the ditch. The won't be able to hear the music because there's no PA. The event could be shut down by the authorities at any moment because you don't have the necessary licences and permits. Is that really a good advertisement for folk music?

Your whole argument seems to be based on your belief that people are getting rich by running folk festivals and performing as folk musicians. No one else seems to know of anyone who is doing this. In particular, most folk musicians could earn far more performing in other genres, but they don't because they love the music However if there are a few people getting rich out of it, it will be because they provide what people want - good luck to them.

Most people who appreciate folk music value it sufficiently to pay what it is worth. Apparently you don't, and expect other people to give it to you for nothing. Can't you see how exploitative that is? and yet you have the nerve to criticise others. Take a good look at yourself.