For my first trip to Sidmouth I took a melodeon, concertina, sveral whistles, tent, cooking equipment, sleeping bag and a weeks worth of clothes. I travelled by train with most the of stuff in my backpack and the melodeon in a hardcase.

For rough weekends I've taken a large accordion case, packed the clothes around the melodeon and carreid the sleeping bag in a spare hand.

Can you arrange for friends to take some equipment for you?