I would be happy to see a smaller festival - if only becouse it would reduce the number of horrible decisions you had to make about whom to miss as there was so MUCH to choose from! (e.g. last year the Steeleye Span 30th anniversary concert was on at the same time as Danu - I went to the former in the hope that Danu would be around a bit longer, and eventually caught up with them at Girvan this year)
I shall miss the opportunities to learn the international dances if we have no international teams.
We have my in-laws in the town, who kindly put up with me coming in after the Bedford turns out every night. We live over 400 miles away, and maybe if we didn't have the rels there and had to pay for accommodation(2 mms please!) we might not come every year, as there is the "Common Ground" festival (Much, much younger than Sidmouth) in Ayrshire at the same time.
I am very much looking forward to this year's folk week as it looks as if most of my interests are going to be included - concerts, sessions, singing, dancing. Can I give a further verdicy after the week is over? - or during, or at the above-mentioned meeting.
TB