I have to agree with some of 'guests' comments and with that in mind I feel I must add my comments. I was there with a dance team (My first time @ Beverley) and could only go to evening events.
Much of this thread has been about the fringe. I go to a fest to see the artists and maybe do a bit of singing and playing.
I would not have bought tickets to see the Line up at this years fest. On Fri I managed 10 mins of Chumbawumba, Then came out to wait for the late night event with Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain etc (Wonderful). The main Sat night 'World Music' concert was a big turn off for me, I went on a pub tour following a rapper side.
Late on, I went into a session in the food tent and having plucked up courage to have a go, I waited for a lull in the proceedings (there was a a couple of guitars being thrashed at the other end of the tent by people completely oblivious to what was going on), and started a tune, only to be told off for not waiting until the they ( The guitar thrashers) had finished. This from someone who had dominated the proceedings up until then

Les