Went to Whitby last year after a gap of many years. A really great festival with plenty of "Fringe " events as well as the usual line up of artists who appear at every festival.

The festival that has changed most IMO is Broadstairs which has almost become a pop event with very few opportunities to join in unless your able to climb the stairs to the sailing club or squeeze into the overpacked sessionbs at the Wrotham.
Mind you, the artistic director once told me that she wasn't a folkie but a jazz enthusiast.A pity to see what was a great event so much in decline.