I've been a Mudcat member for a very long time but used to post for ages even before that as a guest under my own name. My Mudcat name was invented on the spot because of slightly amusing at the time Child 68 implications as well as to act as an umbrella because my purpose was to defend an artist who was on the sharp end of even more flak than I get from people who had not the slightest understanding of his musical direction nor knowledge of his background and previous experience. I think most people are perfectly aware of who I am and the episode to which I refer.

This present wrangle about Sidmouth arises from pretty much the same mindset. People who on their own admission have no interest in large-scale, spectacular displays or an international element: (never went anyway', 'good riddance' being typical, hugely balanced comments) bristle and square up to those who think the absence of such elements is a loss, in the apparent hope that ridiculing them and administering a good kicking will deter them from ever again attending: ('go somewhere else'we don't want your sort at our festival' etc, blah, blah, sneer, sneer). Whose festival? Most such posters have only rolled up in the past couple of years, and because 'folkweek' was just like any other festival and didn't exactly fall flat on its face, think it was OK and shouldn't be criticised. I'm sure it was OK . . . more than, probably. But it wasn't what rather a lot of other people really want, based on past glories. If it happens to float your boat to hang out in a fringe pub all the time, so be it. Other people wanting to establish a way achieve other things won't affect you in the slightest, so why such a whingeing fuss? I don't think anyone's intending to frogmarch you out of the pub to an Arena (covered or not), or any other venue whatsoever or even make you pay to either watch ot take part in stuff you don't want to.

I'm a 'sad fiddler' too (what the fuck's a 'fiddlist'?) though for entirely extraneous reasons, unconnected with narrow-minded, blinkered 'good enough for f*lk' saddos with unbelievably limited vision. What's that blanket term I'm searching for? Ah yes, 'f*lkie'. Don't ever call me one of those. This terminally damaged word needs binning along with the tie-dies, tankards, out-of-tune stringed things and out-of-time bodhráns. No Giok, I've not yet dropped the 'attack is the best form of defence' school of writing. It's obviously not safe to do so.