"I'm intrigued. I'd love to know which festivals you feel fall into each category. I can think of very few festivals which aren't run by people with an absolute passion for folk. God knows they're not in it for the money."

"They" are probably not, but the Agents and Artists are! I would say any Festival which accepts sponsership or grants is on the "slippery slope" They have taken the Thirty Peices of silver and must dance to the Sponsers tune which is inevitably Bums on Seats and lots of them! I was amazed at the Front cover of Sidmouths program last year. All logos! not a morris dancer in sight! and inside the chairman talking about "Mission Statements" Surely they have lost the plot!
      

            Jim