Why go to Sidmouth at all - I always found it overpowering and very selective so far as the sessions were concerened. I also witnessed some pretty nasty suggetsions to people who even walked through the middle bar carrying instrument cases. Suggest if you really want to join in some really good music and song sessions to suit all tastes and without prejudice then try Broadstairs Folk Week from 9th to 16th August. Sidmouth is after all really only the warm up for the best festival in Southern England bar none.