The nearest parallel to Cropredy that I can think of is Beautiful Days (no corporate sponsorship, the leveller’s festival, etc). From my recent attendances, I’d guess that their average audience age is c10 years or so younger than Cropredy. I think their numbers are capped at 10,000. In my opinion, their line-up is streets ahead of Cropredy this year, with something for everyone (as a side-note, we were amongst the oldest at a sold-out and heaving Longest Johns gig of c600; brilliant band!). Im pretty sure that their ticket sales are v healthy from what I’ve heard. I think my point is that once your unique selling point (for Cropredy it is/was the band, the fantastic location and a great chance to catch up with old friends) is no longer the main draw, lineup is everything.
That's true, but BD is a multistage event on a bigger site, so they are able to cover a wider range of music, more choice and attract a wider demographic.
The Levellers came to prominence a good 20-30 years after Fairport, and actually had enough top 40 hits to make a bona fide Greatest Hits album.
Most of the acts tend to be 80's, 90's and 00's, give or take the odd Hawkwind or Van Der Graf, so they have that advantage too.
The year Cropredy had Supergrass on did not go too well on the feral yoof front.
Excellent point, Mike, re: multiple stages, which I hadn’t considered. Is Cropredy the only festival with one stage?
That depends on the size of the festival, generally.
The bigger festivals tend to have multi-stages, dance tents, cabaret tents and so on.
Smaller, folky type fests will have one or two.
Cropredy, as David pointed out, used to be mostly FC off shoots with Fairport as the climax to the weekend.
The 'fringe' used to be pub bands in the two, well, pubs, if you weren't interested in the act on the main stage.
That has now took on a surrogate alternative role to the actual event, with bigger names to draw you away from the main stage.
The Thursday headliner now has more importance than Fairport, and that's sad.
I can't see a new generation of Fairport fans coming in to replace us, - instead, new attendees are coming to hear top 40 hits from some Eighties act. Get Boy George or Bananananananarama on and it will probably sell loads.
They aren't Cropredy music.
Since the onset of the sea of chairs, I find myself with the choice of either being at the front or the back.
Obviously, people at the front are there to enjoy the music.
If I am at the back, there is hardly anybody engaged in the music at all.
They are having a picnic or chatting or whatever.
They only pay attention when there's a 'hit.'
'Oh, I know this one !'
It doesn't even have to be the original artist.
'Two Tribes' and 'Relax' may get them excited, but Frankie Goes To Hollywood have never been near the stage.
Maybe Trev will bring Holly on this year.
(I have Frankie, Culture Club and 'Nana records b.t.w, but this is Fairport's gig.)
(As another b.t.w, I have yet to see the Levellers at Beautiful Days..one year I watched Alison Moyet in the Big Top instead.)
) you shop around and pay what you have to or opt out. 
