I think that the constant references to "This is not a folk festival" rather miss the point.

It was intended to be a celebration of the hop, held at hop harvest time. I was meant to include all aspects of hopping, from the Pearly Kngs and Queens, to the hopper steam train. Some may be true to life, some might be more fanciful. But folk singing was certainly a PART of the hopping tradition.

No, the festival is not a folk festival, but it should include folk music in the same way that it includes all the other musical genre.

It would be good to find somewhere where a folk singing session could be held, no performers need get paid, there are enough people interested in singing for the pure pleasure of it. But the venue needs to be advertised so that folk know that it's available.

If, after that, there is insufficient support to make it viable for a landlord to give over a quiet area for the purpose then so be it.

The singers have been given a chance and it ends there.

If anyone can think of a potentially suitable space then it would be good to hear about it and the landlord could then be approached.