Not my coinage - an apt term formed elsewhere.

Indeed, it was a term apt for a concern that grew as the festival approached and was realised at it.

It should not be the chavs festival but everyone's: shame they seem to be winning.

I thought Skynflynt were pretty good last year - but they could hardly compete with the racket in the Wine Vaults then and although I'm pretty loud when I want to be (see FloraG's remark about "loud and nasal" above) nor could I. Indeed I thought I heard them regretting the fact that since they were loud they got put in the worst venues.

Also while Skynflynt can often carry a venue, there are other would be leaders who can't, and regrettably the landlord of the Wine Vaults (above) found they were not a profitable expenditure.

I'm not sure that I agree with your assessment that longer songs or quieter songs or less "popular" songs should be avoided - either as a matter of practicality or indeed as one of principal.

As to principal, the electric blues bands are not barracked by oafs to play "Dust my Broom" (probably the only 12-bar traditional-ish blues most of the oafs have heard of) so why should folk singers succumb to yells for the Wild Rover etc?

As to practicality, maybe the crowd in the Elephant Saturday night last year were exceptionally forgiving, but that evening last year, without a PA, with quiet songs as well as belters, and including (a short version of) Sir Patrick Spens, (a short version of) Famous Flower of Serving Men, the 22-verse version of Matty Groves, and Knight William seemed to go well so some people must be prepared to listen and dumbing down is not always necessary.   

Me? I'm on the side of the folkie. We deserve as much consideration as other aspects of society (particularly since folk dancers make up much of the free street displays for the festival). Was there any doubt about that?