The real answer, surely, is that the organisers of those disappearing festivals started them as a hobby. A passion for the genre.

In this day and age the vision is predominantly materialistic, and those that are interested in folk music are likely to be musicians rather than entrepreneurs.

Towersey was started by Steve Heap's father (et al) and he is handing over a large part of it to his son who is in his 30s. The headline acts reveal his taste in music and drive to grow the festival. But they ain't Folk. Joan Armatrading? Billy Bragg, if [politcal hectoring is more important than any musicality. Proclaimers?**
Singer songwriters are all good fare for Folk, but multi-Kw sound systems that need earplugs are Music Festival stuff. Folk is about people, clue's in the name. Anyone will tell you that the budget for ALL ceilidh bands there is less than that for the headline concert act. And the dance floor is never big enough. Full of Yoof.

At the end of the day, they have to make money, enough to cover a bad year. You can't sustain a loss every time. And the bigger they come, the more it is a full-time endeavour, which needs a stipend. Big risk.

The austerity and reduced disposable income we see, and predict for time to come will maybe generate small festivals that inevitably won't be visible. It doesn't mean they don't exist. And it doesn't mean they will be what we call Folk. Dylan was a shock to Folkies of the 60's, not to us. Was it ever thus?

Mr Happy - Denbigh is an example of small festivals that I mean.



** Richard Thompson is a bigger draw than. This year. IMNSHO