No mention of pay to play on the "play at the Acoustic Cafe" page, guest, but the list of instruments at the bottom suggests a more varied menu than you seem to, including, as it does, Acapella, bodrhan, melodion,etc.

Certainly during Sidmouth 2005 it was very folk oriented, and I played several spots, as did a number of the professionals appearing at the main venues.

I think the future of Sidmouth sessions, is less endangered by Dukes than it is by uninformed negative comment.

Don T.