Right now, if mostly-folk-based festivals want to survive, I reckon they have to diversify, get some artists that will appeal beyond the folkies and embark on publicity campaigns, perhaps jointly and severally to sell themselves outside of their traditional audience.
Nail. Head.
And potentially lose all the attendees they already have in the first place? There's a strong danger of oversimplification here, I think..
Not so long ago I was at The pre Cropredy Trad Aaar gig and a regular poster on here asked Peggy why Trad Aaar had not been on at Cropredy for a while . I must the say the response somewhat shocked me , it was along the lines of we dont book too many folk rock acts as folk rock fans will come anyway. I think they are reaping the rewards now of ignoring the core audience. I have seen Merry Hell twice in the last week and boy am I on a high ,
this is what gets me out not a load of self indulgent twiddling.