Mr Happy
're the fringe...the fringe is for those folk who only want to play or get e freebie...and can be detrimental to ticket sales.'

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I strongly resent that remark, it really shows how out of touch with the underlying cultural forces, which are the raisons d'etre for the performance of live music & song in public, are some of the individuals associated with the organisational aspects of the festival
Furthermore, how would one expect to involve 'the community', other than by the often accidental ways in which many people 'discovered' folk & acoustic music in the first place, by hearing it performed in sessions in local hostelries.'

You are right Mr Happy unfortunately so am I....given the chance of free sessions versus ££ ticket for top class performers many people will take the free option. I love sessions myself and it has always been part of the whole folk festival ethos.I can take festival fliers to loads of sessions in advance and barely pick up a ticket sale...they all turn up for the free sessions though....maybe I just move in tight fisted circles !