Alan Surtees: I would dispute the contention that, without PA, it would have to be a very small festival. You just need to organise smaller concerts, or use rooms with good acoustics. And as for losing balance and subtlety, on many occasions, I have found the opposite to be true - that the amplification has completely destroyed both. I'm not blaming the festival organisers for the incompetence of sound engineers, by the way, and would hasten to add that I, as a performer, have been known to thank the sound engineer -from the stage - for the quality of the sound. Some of them do know what they are about.
I would also bet - from personal experience - that there were more than three people who had a problem with the sound. Not everybody who has a problem with amplified sound seeks out an official to complain to; they will, however, retail their experiences to others who weren't there. Not good publicity.
John Kelly.