I just wanted to reassure Bonecruncher that many of the people posting here do have considerable experience of organising folk festivals and folk venues. Blowzabella for one if you read his comments above.

It is precisely because we do know what is involved that we question the arrangements for Sidmouth this year and, specifically, whether the tented venues will ever get licensed.

Others can deride the postings on licensing issues as much as they like but no licence means no venue means no concerts.

Blowzabella is half-right in saying those planning to attend Sidmouth come-what-may won't worry about when tickets are going on sale but many others look at all the festival line-ups around this time of year and then decide which to attend.

I fear Sidmouth will lose a lot of these casual visitors this year due to the lack of confirmed detail on tickets, camp sites, venues and so on, also due to the lack of a season ticket.

However the real danger is that huge crowds still turn-up expecting the usual professional organisation only to then find the well-meaning but amateur set-up this year can't cope.