Well, due to work I've only been able to get to Sidders in the past for the opening weekend, a couple of times, and I've thoroughly enjoyed both, and found it mostly very welcoming.

I did have an experience in one session of trying 5 times to start a song (one with a relatively quiet guitar introduction) and being played or sung over every time. The 6th time the organiser appeared to be chatting to his friends so I went ahead anyway - only to have him accuse me of playing over his performance of a funny story. Harsh words were said.

But that was FAR better than a session in a different county when a totally conceited tenor banjo player simply played over everyone.

Mostly, in my experience, folkies are a considerate lot. Certainly at Tenterden, where I was last weekend, in the sessions the chairs were diligent to make sure they asked several times if there were people who wanted to sing but had not yet done so. Singers ages ranged from (at a guess) early 20s to mid 70s. The major source of inconsiderate noise comes from the people in pubs who are not really participants and talk very loudly.