I'm sure the experience was very different for the booked acts than for those who pay for their tickets, but still like to sing or play themselves, since this is a festival that seems to be going firmly down the "only professionals are fit to listen to" route (rather like Towersey without the barn).

I don't know about 45 minute spots, there seemed to be booked guests on every 20 minutes or so at the club tent - and some of them, who could only be classed as 'folk' on the grounds that they probably weren't horses, really gave themselves airs (and the stewards a hard time) by wanting to be treated as superstars because of their 20 minute spot. Not like the "real" performers in the main tents, who were friendly and relaxed about the whole thing.

The publicity material said there would be "sessions and singarounds in various venues", which did happen, although without any support or organisation from the festival committee, but there were too few "various venues" for the many different groups of people wanting different things - tune sessions, loud 'thrashing' sessions of pub songs and quieter singarounds. A fight nearly started in the New Inn Saturday night because of one person who apparently thought he was the only one good enough to sing there, and couldn't understand that other people wanted to sing too. A singaround in the Victoria had to be abandoned when a tune session moved in from the courtyard - it seems they were driven in by a group competing to see who could break the most guitar strings doing The Dubliners' Greatest Hits. Nothing against either group, but things would be improved greatly by having enough places for everyone without cramping other people's enjoyment.

To the brashest and proudest, and those who shout loudest,
It appears that the power has been given,
To berate us, deride us, separate and divide us,
In hopes of their version of heaven.
(Sean Mone, Lovers and Friends)

There were many good things about Priddy - the campsite was one of the best organised we have seen at any festival - and for those who want to sit and listen to an eclectic mix of music in beautiful surroundings, it would be an excellent choice. It's not, however, what we would look for in a festival.

Andrew