One point a fringe can happen without a main festival, we actually did that with the People's Voice a few year's ago and that became the blueprint for the 'official' festival taking the fringe seriously. As an organiser and a performer I see the value of a fringe. At Whitby Folk Week I can count on the finger of one hand how many official events i've attended in 10 years !!! However i sing every day at the 'fringe'. At Sheffield Folk Festival the fringe is an important part of the whole event it provides the pubs who support us with income and entertainment and provides a platform for the wide ranges and tastes in folk music. There are also people who don't want to pay for or sit in concerts they just want to perform