The festival moved to September last year because it originally clashed with Holmfirth in May. I think to stand any chance of succeeding a weekend festival has to look first at the proximity geographically and datewise of other festivals. A 'folk and roots' festival wouldn't necessarily clash with a 'folk festival'. I would conjecture mostly different audience. Having said that it might be worth discussing the issue with the organisers.

As for being detached from the town this is definitely something that needs working on. The pubs seem quite hostile to the idea and when on the concert I asked if there was anyone in the audience from Helmsley I didn't get a single response. Dancers in the square will help but it needs more of this. This year has been a vast improvement on previous years simply because the organiser had help from someone who knows something about organising a folk festival. One of the pubs is just about to change hands and fingers crossed the new people might be more hospitable.