Some great suggestions in there!

But, when is the festival next year?

Apologies for the delay with these suggestions. Some have played at MFAB recently. Some may be too expensive. I've heard all but one of them live. Contact links available if you need them.

In no particular order:
3 Daft Monkeys
Martha Tilston
Tiny Tin Lady
Waking the Witch
Oysterband
Peggy and PJ
Fairport Convention (the full set if you can get them at that time of year)
Jacqui McShee's Pentangle
Peatbog Fairies
David Hughes ("recognised")
Songs From The Blue House
wRants
Mostly Autumn
While and Mathews
Spiers and Bowden
Circulus
Show of Hands
The Levellers
The Fold
annA rydeR
Lucy Kitt
Odin Dragonfly
Karine Polwart
Uiscedwr 
Kerfuffle 
Flook
Thea Gilmore
George Papavgeris
Ellie Skinner
ColvinQuarmby
Rory McLeod
Daughters of Elvin
Spire
Abbie Lathe
Helen Watson
Seize the Day
Jethro Tull
Richard Thompson

Thanks for another wonderful festival. Hugely enjoyable.

The small gripe: I attended several upstairs performances in the Boars Head. Marvellous music. Tiny audiences. With so much else happening on the ground floor, I got the impression that people didn't know that there was music above. Maybe a sign on the stair wall?

thank you for you kind words glad your spot went so well i hope you left some guinness in the town for me have as good of a time in ireland as you did here  thanks again   julie   

I played my 3rd Middlewich festival fringe yesterday kicking off in The Golden Lion
at 4-00pm there was 15 people in at 3-40 then it seemed as if the coach had arrived.
one local shopkeeper even closed his shop early to be there, and what I didn't realise was that they had all come to see me play by 3-50 the place was packed. I had a storming gig and going off the reaction no one was disappointed, At night time The Narrow Boat turned out to be hard work but the very large crowd was won over in the end and once again a top night was had by all, And many thanks to Dave Dove and Joe Roberts for helping out by doing a spot it was greatly appreciated, on a personal level I had a brilliant day and It was great as always to see old friends, generations of families turning out, and  loads of new friends, I left Middlewich last night around 12-30 with most of your Guinness inside me ( I was practicing for Ireland ) CD sales on the day were spectacular and I know I left leaving a smile on your faces and for me that was a very very successful day.

In the last few weeks we have reported on two major events in the canal and Waterworld, we, Boats and Canals are a brand new website and forum, and we will be at the Folk and Boat Festival on the Sunday for pics and a report. If anyone could meet me there or give me a few details that would be great.

John.

Thanks Lizzie,
       I understand your reticence to recommend one place over another, I will phone a couple of the pubs and enquire about access etc.  I wont be buying tickets for gigs in advance as it all depends on the weather as to whether we can come down or not. But from what is posted on this site it looks like quite a lot goes on outside of the main gigs as well.
                    Cheers
                            Chris

Hi Chris, I don't want to cause a problem and would like your mum to come and enjoy the festival, so I will say that MOST venues have disabled access but you might do well to check before you come, if you click on any of the fringe venues, if they have a contact you could call them. The main marquee is flat and if you get in touch with us in the box office we can arrange side access if required. Lunch - well all the pubs will be very busy and I don't want to recommend one over another, but the Narrowboat is good - not sure about access, Kings Lock do nice food, there will be stalls with yummy food etc...
Liz

Hi Lizzie
    I'm new to this site, but it all looks very exciting. I'm looking after my Mum over the festival weekend, she is in a wheelchair. Does the main site or any of the fringe venues have disabled access? I would love to bring her over for some lunch maybe and then checkout whats on over one of the afternoons. Would you suggest anywhere in particular?
                       Cheers
                             Chris

I would also like to invite anyone who feels like playing a couple of songs at a couple of the fring events please feel free to visit The Golden Lion on Sat Evening or The Narrow Boat on Sat night
After all it is a festival so come and enjoy yourselfs