Look up "flogging a dead horse"...
The support should be coming from local businesses. Maybe a few years without a festival are needed for them to wake up to what they are missing.

I'm not convinced that Sidmouth is the best place for a big folk festival. Having been to some others recently I can see the benefit in having a really large indoor hall for the big-name events that make the money that's needed to finance the rest of the festival. The weather-dependency of Sidmouth's outside arena is its big problem, and the Arts Theatre isn't big enough.

I wouldn't mind being proved wrong, but I suspect if Steve Heap couldn't do it, nobody else will.

There, now you can hate me too, Lizzie!

Anahata