Guest Hootenanny - you say the location lets the festival down. Are you referring to Gainsborough, or the school?
If Gainsborough, then it's pretty much in the middle of the UK. Our (FOAOTMAD) membership of around 400 is fairly evenly spread and comes from Penzance, Thurso (both represented at the latest festival)and a lot of places in between. It's not too far from the A1 and the main North-South railway line.
If the school (Castle Hills Community College) then maybe you can find us somewhere as central, as reasonably priced and with comparable facilities and a helpful staff. A similar event in a school in Matlock was forced to close a few years ago because the site cost 4 or 5 times what ours does. Most of our costs are used for air fares and fees for American artists, not for the school.

Next years festival may well be the last on the present site, as the school is to be replaced by another new building near by. We do not yet know whether this building will be available, what facilities it will have or how much we would be charged. You could find major differences in entry fee, and we could end up with no possibility of an equivalent festival. This would be a terrible loss for all Brits who love Old Time music.

The indoor camping is basic stuff but it means you get FREE accommodation for the weekend and the use of a shower. You aren't forced to use it - there are hotels and B&Bs in and around Gainsborough. The restaurant food is excellent as is the bar, and the music is the best Old Time in the UK without a shadow of doubt.

Ray