Well I did know about the other festivals, and more. We have a large contingent here of ex-patriot British folkies. There are four Morris sides in the Vancouver area, three in Victoria, many in the US. We have a rapper side, an English clogging group, many traditional singers, and some of those people put on a Traditional English Christmas revue full of rapper, Molly dancing, Mumming play, and traditional village carols. Many of these people regularly visit the UK and go to various festivals, including Broadstairs and Whitby. But Sidmouth remains the festival par excellence. And for us, if you are going to spend a few thousand dollars on plane tickets and a weekend pass and accomodation and all your annual vacation, you go to the best. I would love to go to the other festivals, and I'm going to, as soon as I win the lottery.

I hear that some people think that losing Sidmouth won't be the end of the world, (It won't) That there are other festivals, other ways of encouraging young talent in the traditions of England. But why re-invent the wheel? You have it now, in the form that works, why let it die? It seems such a waste.

Anyway, cheers, from the colonies

Jood