Chris:

I suppose a word or two about about the 'People's Voice' Festival in Beverley may help. In 2002 the organisers of Beverley and East Riding Folk Festival weren't able to get the funding they needed and so were having a year off. Partly to keep that weekend focussed on Beverley a number of us got together to organise a mainly fringe festival.

We were supported by the publicans of Beverley who coughed up enough money for the publicity, including a free programme. Pubs who booked live acts were given a short list of inexpensive 'folky' people to book. The Town Council paid for a ceildh band and provided a hall, and there was some funding for a shanty concert/session featuring John Conolly and others. We got a campsite organised and some dance teams offered their services (they could keep their collection money). There wer sesions and singarounds of various types throughout the weekend.

click here
and here

Les