Thomas Yorke

You obviously don't know much about past Sidmouth Folk festivals, before Steve Heap dropped the word "folk" from the title. The international element began in 1963 with the Rory O'Connor Dancers, followed in 1964 by a team from Israel, long before there were any displays in the Arena. It became an international festival in 1968, with dance teams from Bavaria and Holland, and Polish dancers from Southampton. There were 6 international dance groups in 1969, including Orlyk, the Ukrainian dancers from Manchester. The Punjab Bhangra dancers from Wolverhampton arrived in 1970, which was the first year of displays at the Knowle Arena.

Yes, it got bigger and better, but it was Steve Heap who decided the Arena wasn't financially viable, before the 2005 organisers came to the same conclusion. The people now organising Sidmouth Folk Week 2005 did in fact run the festival before Steve Heap, so they know how to run a festival without the Knowle Arena.

Kitty