It’s not just a new crop of festivals that are cleaning up (Secret garden parties, G2, 26 July). Some of these “boutique” festivals have been around a long time (well before “boutique” became the way to describe them).
Stainsby Festival has just celebrated its 51st event with no years out. It’s a family-friendly, volunteer-run event that works on a not-for-profit basis with very affordable tickets. While our lineup wouldn’t present a bandwidth problem to Spotify, a number of alumni from folk and world music royalty have passed through its tent flaps over the years, from Steeleye Span and Barbara Dixon to hip-hop folk performers like Dizraeli and the Small Gods. Rumours that Bob Dylan once appeared incognito in the early years seem, however, to be unreliable (but we’re not denying it – this is the age of post-truth after all). So, we’re glad to see that newer festivals are beginning to catch on to this way of working. Long may they run.
Tony Trafford
Chair of trustees, Stainsby Festival
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