To be clear, we have not scrapped a Big Band workshop. John Kirkpatrick has always run the festival band workshop, and he still will. The workshop series you refer to is actually meant to be a Ceilidh Band Workshop. But as is evident from your post, it has morphed over the years into another big band workshop. Last year, several people remarked in their feedback that they would like a ceilidh band workshop that is more like the experience of playing in a real ceilidh band - ie, smaller ensembles developed over the week. As we have a new ceilidh coordinator on board in the form of Cat Kelly, who is also running her popular Callers' Academy at this year's festival, we decided it was an opportunity to create something new. So this year's Ceilidh Band workshop will have guest tuition from some of the leading ceilidh bands in the country, and will work in conjunction with the Calling Academy - and might even result in some real life ceilidh ensembles being formed.
So, you may ask, why are we not running the "Big Band" workshop as well as the new Ceilidh Band workshop? Two reasons: first of all, we already have a band workshop with JK's daily session; secondly, one of the biggest challenges at Sidmouth is venues - particularly during the day, and particularly for workshops that require a fair bit of space and with floors appropriate for dancing. Unfortunately we simply can't fit in every single workshop and event that every single visitor would like, much as we might wish to.
Every festival has to grow and change if it is to develop and not stagnate. We have to listen to the views and take into consideration the needs of visitors who feel they are not being particularly well catered for, in addition to those that are perfectly happy with the way things are. Sometimes, that means making difficult choices.
I'm afraid that I am not involved in decisions around catering, so I have absolutely no idea if or why a decision has been taken not to have Sal's lemonade this year. I do know that we have had a lot more catering applications this year, and there is someone new to the festival team who is managing the applications. If Sal would like to discuss the situation privately I am happy to do so.