Frank Lee wrote; 'Made me feel grateful to the concert-going public who buy tickets to watch 'Big Names' , allowing the festival to happen, and thus have a fringe where, from where I stand, real folk music happens. '
It's a fallacy Frank. The festival will happen whether any 'big names' are booked or not. Remember when Sidmouth wasn't going to happen? Remember when Beverley wasn't going to happen? This years Hull Shanty Festival was brilliant, one of the best we went to in 2011 despite its having been cancelled by the HUll Council.
Its not 'big names' that make a festival, in fact they are one reason why festivals don't happen as they leech more and more money out of a very small pot. Its the fringe and the small names who work for bugger all who make a festival coupled with very hard working dance teams giving the event a public face for next to no reward.