Oh....don't give up on our Martin! It sounds like it was a pretty sub-optimal experience overall; not the best setting, apparently. When I saw the title of your post I was fully prepared to be eaten up with jealousy, but it would seem to have been not all that might have been hoped for!

I've seen Martin Carthy several times and been absolutely mesmerised by him; most notably in an extremely small venue when we were literally about a yard from him. Maybe that's what makes the difference.

Sorry you were disappointed; at least it was free(wasn't it?)!