There was a great deal of fine music to be had at no cost beyond that of a drink. For example, all of the performers were encouraged to drop into pub singing sessions and some of the singers I neither knew nor recognised were simply excellent. While buying single event tickets could mean disappointment when venues filled up with season ticket holders, a person who needed to stay on a budget could've have a really good time buying only 1 event ticket daily and pubbing, paddling and exploring the rest of the day. My train ticket, by the way, was 15 quid Birmingham-Exeter-Birmingham!