Strange one this .............
George I hope you're not turning into a sort of Folkie Simon Cowell!!!!!
Seriously though - I've discussed "London" with Vin many times. It's its' own clique. When you think of how many top accolades and performances that Vin has put in over these many years - London's doors have remained if not locked , then not warmly open - which (for me) partly reflects the way London organisers think about things. Of course there are knowledgable clubs like Herga and the Cabbage Patch at Twickenham for example and there's one or two more , who understand what most of us mean by Folk ( don't go there !!) but the London scene has (if I can put it rather clumsily) seems to cater for a more cosmoplolitan audience in that humour and humourus verbal interludes are not part of the parcel due to many attendees not understanding the English tongue and slang. When I mention Vin I must also include people like Jez Lowe , Tom McConville and their respective bands ,the Wilsons, the Doonans, etc etc., and it's excellent to see that Bob Fox didn't have to go through the type of showcase that you envisage - as his already recognised qualities (i.e. outside London) took him straight the to the West End in War Horse where he is a big success.
Keep an eye out for a youngish lady Wendy Arrowsmith who I admire - for only not having a great performance, but she has had no influential strings to pull, and has consequently spent a good many hours doing floor spots ,which have turned into gigs,and has spent a lot of time on motorways putting in the hard miles.
It seems to me that in general terms that London regards Cambridge Festival as its' Folk Festival whereas the rest of the country prefers smaller Folk Festivals albiet slightly more parochial in that we all know each other to some sort of degree or other.
Good luck George with your endeavours , some shiny-eyed individuals will apply and maybe you'll get a jewel - and I look forward to having a pint with you again as you are undoubtedly the best thing that has come out of the London Scene for many a year - in fact I can't think of any others .
Thank God for this Greek.
Regards
Betsy