How strange - I had such a wonderful time at Shrewsbury (it was my first visit)! I thought they had the set-up just right - there's no way you can please everyone, but I'm sure the majority had as good a time as I did. I was in the 'mosh-pit' for some things, near the front of the seating area for others (bobbing heads didn't annoy me at all - people were just enjoying themselves!) - it certainly worked a lot better than the other folk feativals I regularly go to (Cambridge, Leigh-on-Sea, Cropredy). I really do think that the organisers got it spot on at Shrewsbury - well done them! If you go to a large festival expecting perfect sound you are just setting yourself up for disappoinment, but on the whole it was great. I think the thing to do is to just enter into the spirit of things and you're guaranteed to have a good time (beer helps!). Roll on Shrewsbury 2009!