That's better 'Bud' in Cleveland, Ohio! The point your missing is that IT IS all this arguing which is making The Sidmouth Folk Week 2005 and the subsequent Sidmouth Folk Festivals SO intriguing!!

Ask yourself just WHY are so many people getting their blood pressure up (or down!) about it!!

I'll bet you're just jealous 'cos you don't have a Sidmouth Folk Festival to argue about, over there!! But Hey! We're very civilised over here, we don't mind if you join in with us at all! Please feel extremely welcome! Do you live down by the banks of the Ohio, Bud?

You see, I guess it's like Chris Smither, a fellow countryman of yours, said at this year's Sidmouth.....He talked about the fact that in America a folk festival is often in the middle of nowhere with very few facilities, but what he loved about Sidmouth is that there's a beautiful beach, shops, post office, hotels, parks, incredible Regency houses,breath-takingly stunning scenery, beautiful air and The Sidmouth Fiddler!!!

Also, he loved the fact that it attracts people of ALL ages, from toddlers who can hardly walk to seriously elderly people who again can hardly walk and all the ages in between. From all backgrounds and from all over the world.

SIDMOUTH? THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING LIKE IT! And THAT'S why there is so much Passion and Anger on this thread!

Leave Ohio, Bud, and come and live here!! ;-) AND Sidmouth has 'possibly' the largest and most scrummiest cakes in all the world! AND next year we're going to have SHOW OF HANDS at the Folk Week! Yeeeyyyyyyy! Get Show of Hands over to Ohio Bud and life will take on a WHOLE NEW MEANING.....ECSTASY!! :-) :-) AND they've got this brilliant song called 'Crooked Man' which I think is all about Mr.Blair and Mr. Bush. It's just DIVINE!!!! You'll love it!!!

By the way Bud, you really don't have to call me MS, just plain old Lizzie will do! Leave the MS to stand for Major Stars, all those who have turned up for the last 50 years, are going to turn up next year and will continue into the future to turn up for The Sidmouth Folk Festivals to come!

And trust me, until you've seen Sidmouth Churchyard, you just haven't lived! It is one of the most beautiful, tranquil, spiritual places in this country! Put it on your 'travel' list Bud! Go On! :-) :-)

Oh! And one more thing! As you may be aware, we 'Brits' very rarely air our views, we're all brought up with the old 'stiff upper lip' and 'musn't grumble' attitude, but every now and then 'Something' comes along which lights a fire in us, that just won't be put out by anyone or anybody! And THAT is what THIS thread and it's 'sister' one is all about.

Don't Suffocate The Flame, Bud! Light it! Leave Ohio Bud! Move to Sidmouth! Whooppppeeeeeee! :-)

Lizzie