"large venues do not provide a positive folk experience. For Anyone!"

Unlike you, I can only speak for myself. I went to the Philadelphia Folk Festival once. I don't know about "folk experience,' but we learned that a) Cathy Fink will listen closely to advice given by an 8-year-old child, b) boomerangs are fun, c) Pennsylvania has lots of vultures, and d) young drunks can really, really, really be loud and mess up portapotties. We heard some great music (although my kids slept through half the evening concert). We had a good time. We never went back, mostly because of the drunks. Would any of that be a "folk experience?" It's true that my children did learn how NOT to behave when they started drinking, a useful lesson from the folk at the festival.

Is the Old Songs Festival large? Or expensive (3 days with camping, $105 each, my kids are older now)? Many workshops and small showcases. Our lessons tend to be more musical and less random. And if there are drunks, they are quieter and cleaner. They use a lot of volunteers. I just hope they can afford to continue. We have a wonderful time at Old Songs, but I really don't know what a "positive folk experience" means.


So....who are those jet-set touring folkies? We want NAMES!