I agree with a lot of what you say, Ray, but I do think there are rock bands who could broaden the horizons of folk festivals. I cited New Model Army earlier. They are a rockband and fans do wave their arms about, but Justin Sullivan's lyrics are certainly not meaningless drivel. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they are far more thoughtful, powerful, poetical and relevant than a lot of folk songs.

Can't we like a wide spectrum of music and have this reflected in the festivals we go to? For instance, I'm going to the new Pickering Festival because I like the line-up and the fact that it is all on one site - ideal if you have young children, rather than Sandsend, which is spread out and which I have the (probably wrong) perception of being more for the 'finger in the ear' old brigade.