Livestreaming Folk Festivals: Rights, Latency, and Audience Etiquette

Introduction

Livestreaming folk festivals has quickly evolved from a novelty to a necessity, opening new possibilities for audience reach and engagement. In recent years, especially accelerated by the global pandemic, folk music events from intimate community gatherings to major international festivals have embraced live online broadcasts. This shift has enabled beloved events to carry on virtually and welcome viewers from around the world – for example, Scotland’s Celtic Connections 2021 digital festival drew audiences from over 60 countries (news.stv.tv). With these opportunities, however, come important responsibilities and challenges. Festival producers must navigate a host of considerations unique to livestreaming: clearing performance and image rights, managing technical latency and privacy, guiding audience behaviour online, ensuring accessibility, and handling recorded archives with care.

Organising a successful folk festival livestream means applying time-tested event management wisdom to a new medium. It requires meticulous planning and empathy for both performers and fans. The following guide draws on decades of festival production experience – from local folk club webcasts to global virtual folk celebrations – to provide practical, actionable advice. Each section tackles a key aspect of livestreaming folk festivals, complete with real examples and lessons learned from events around the world.

Clear Music and Image Rights for Every Act

Obtaining explicit music and image rights from each performing act is a non-negotiable first step before streaming a folk festival. Live music involves multiple layers of copyright and permissions. Festival organisers should proactively secure performance rights for all songs to be broadcast and make sure artists consent to being filmed and streamed. This involves:

• Artist Agreements: Update artist contracts to include clauses on livestreaming and recording. Never assume an artist is fine with broadcasting their set – some may have label restrictions or personal preferences. Communicate early and clearly. For example, when the Philadelphia Folk Festival shifted online in 2020, organisers had to negotiate new terms with 160+ artists to allow digital broadcast of their performances and archival footage (xpn.org). This meant sitting down with lawyers and artist representatives to hammer out agreements for each act’s content.

• Music Licensing: Check with your local performing rights organisation (PRO) about licenses for online streaming. A blanket live performance licence (from bodies like ASCAP or BMI in the US, PRS in the UK, SOCAN in Canada, APRA AMCOS in Australia, etc.) usually covers songs played to the on-site audience. However, broadcasting the music online may require additional digital rights licences to comply with copyright laws (en.music396.com). Many PROs introduced special online concert licences during the pandemic to ensure songwriters are compensated for streams (www.prsformusic.com). Contact these agencies well in advance to secure the proper coverage, especially if viewers from other countries can tune in (global streaming can trigger multi-territory licensing needs (en.music396.com)).

• Cover Songs & Traditionals: Folk artists often perform traditional songs or cover well-known folk tunes. Traditional folk songs may be public domain (no copyright), but modern arrangements or any non-public-domain tunes still need clearance. If an artist’s set includes a Bob Dylan cover, for instance, you must have the rights to stream that composition. Some streaming platforms will mute or flag your feed automatically if an uncleared song is played, disrupting the show. Prevent this by obtaining permissions or asking artists to provide set lists ahead of time so you can vet any tricky songs. In one festival’s virtual stream, an unlicensed cover triggered a Facebook algorithm that temporarily cut the audio – a scenario careful planning can avoid.

• Image and Likeness Rights: Besides music, get each performer’s consent to appear on camera. Most artists will gladly agree (since it increases their exposure), but they should sign a release allowing the festival to film and stream their likeness. This is especially vital if you plan to archive the videos. Similarly, announce to attendees (if you have an in-person audience on site) that filming is happening. Post signs at the venue entrances stating that attendees may be recorded or photographed for the livestream. This notification ensures audience members are aware and gives anyone uncomfortable on camera the chance to avoid front-row spots. Respect privacy even in a crowd – focus cameras mostly on the performers and wide crowd shots, and avoid zooming in on individuals in the audience without permission.

• Case Example – Archives Clearance: The Philadelphia Folksong Society discovered the importance of rights clearance when offering archival concert footage during its virtual festival. Decades of past performances were suddenly made available online for the first time, but “much of [the archive]had not been digitized before mostly because of licensing issues,” requiring extensive legal work to resolve (xpn.org). Thanks to those efforts, ticket holders in 2020 enjoyed 800+ archival videos from 1983–2019, a treasure trove that had never been accessible to the public until the rights were sorted out (thatmusicmag.com) (xpn.org). This underscores that even if you have old recordings in your vault, you must secure artists’ permissions (and possibly composer/publisher permissions) to stream or share them. Build time and budget for this clearance process; it can be lengthy, but it’s essential for a smooth, legal livestream.

In short, securing all necessary rights is foundational. It protects your festival from takedown risks and builds trust with artists. Folk festival producers from the UK to India reiterate this point – whether you’re livestreaming a local fiddle contest or a major folk music gala, handle the music rights properly so every song and image you broadcast is fully above board.

Use a Stream Buffer and Protect Backstage Privacy

Live streaming is live, but that doesn’t mean it should be absolutely real-time. Introducing a short broadcast delay (buffer) is a wise move to protect your festival and participants. Many experienced producers set a delay of around 20–60 seconds on the live video feed. This buffer acts as a safety net, allowing your technical team to react if something unexpected occurs before it reaches viewers.

• Preventing Mishaps On-Air: Mistakes and surprises are inevitable in live events. A performer might use strong profanity, a band might start the wrong song, or a stagehand might walk on stage at the wrong moment. With a buffer in place, your stream director can quickly cut to a standby screen or mute the audio before the wider audience notices. Major televised events (from the Grammy Awards to large festivals) routinely use a delay for this reason – it’s an industry standard for live broadcasts to avoid airing anything that shouldn’t be public. For a folk festival, where the atmosphere is usually relaxed and unscripted, a delay ensures one enthusiastic shanty singer’s off-color joke doesn’t accidentally violate streaming platform rules or offend viewers.

• Protecting Behind-the-Scenes Privacy: A buffer also helps shield the private moments that happen backstage or between sets. For example, imagine the stage crew’s microphones remain on as artists exit, and some candid remarks are picked up. With no delay, that audio could broadcast widely, potentially embarrassing the crew or artists. A delayed stream gives you time to censor those moments. Moreover, be intentional about camera placement and switching. Do not show backstage areas or dressing rooms on the live feed unless explicitly planned. When an act finishes their set, it’s best to cut away to a holding graphic, an interview segment, or a wide crowd shot rather than accidentally filming the artist in a vulnerable moment walking off stage. Coordinate with your camera operators: they should know which zones are “safe” to film. Some festivals create a “stream cue light” system to alert performers and crew when cameras are live, so everyone is aware of when they’re potentially on air.

• Technical Smoothing: Beyond content issues, a small time buffer can also help mitigate technical glitches. It gives your streaming software a chance to synchronize and stabilize the feed, reducing buffering for viewers. If one source fails (e.g. a camera feed drops), you have a few seconds to switch to another camera or a filler slide without dead air. Essentially, the stream delay is breathing room for your production team to ensure quality and appropriateness.

• Artist Dignity and Comfort: Always brief your performers on how the livestream will work, especially if it’s their first time being part of one. Let them know there’s a delay and explain that this is to protect them as much as the broadcast. Encourage artists to treat the show like a normal on-stage set (e.g. if something goes wrong, just carry on) and assure them that any truly problematic slip will be handled by the production team before it goes public. This builds artist confidence in the process. Similarly, remind all staff and volunteers that anything near the stage could end up on camera or mic – a little media training goes a long way in preventing incidents.

In summary, managing latency through a controlled delay and minding backstage privacy are key for a professional-grade livestream. Folk festivals, big and small, have learned that a few seconds of delay can save a lot of headaches. It demonstrates respect for the performers’ image and keeps the festival’s broadcast polished, even when live chaos is unfolding on the ground.

Engaging and Managing the Online Audience

One hallmark of folk festivals is the warm, communal atmosphere among attendees. When you move online, maintaining a positive audience experience is just as important as managing the stage. This means setting expectations for behavior in live chats and creatively fostering the community spirit in virtual spaces. An online audience might be thousands of people watching from living rooms across different countries, but they can feel as connected and valued as if they were on the festival grounds. Here’s how to promote good etiquette and engagement:

Chat Moderation and Community Etiquette

If your livestream is hosted on a platform with a chat feature (YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitch, etc.), establish clear chat guidelines and moderation practices from the outset. Just as you’d hire friendly security and emcees to keep things civil on-site, you need a team to manage the digital “crowd.”

• Publish Conduct Guidelines: Before the festival stream begins, post a brief code of conduct on the streaming page or your festival website. Encourage viewers to celebrate the music and interact, but outline what is not acceptable. Common rules include no harassment, hate speech, or spamming, respect for all artists and viewers, and keeping discussion on-topic (e.g. music and festival experiences). By setting the tone officially, you empower the community to follow suit. Many folk events have family-friendly environments, so make it known that the chat is meant to emulate that welcoming vibe.

• Active Moderation: Assign moderators to watch the chat in real time. These could be festival volunteers, staff, or even trusted community members. Equip them with moderator privileges to delete inappropriate messages or mute users who violate rules. The moderators should also positively engage – answering questions (“What song is this?” or “When is the next set?”), dropping useful links (like artist bios or the festival merch store), and generally being the friendly hosts of the online space. For example, during one virtual folk festival in New Zealand, organisers noticed that having a moderator greet viewers by name as they joined the stream created a warm, inclusive atmosphere, much like arriving at a village hall folk night where the host says hello at the door.

• Encourage Respectful Interaction: The charm of folk festivals often lies in the personal connections – an artist telling stories on stage, or fans singing along together. In chat, you can spur positive interaction by prompting viewers in fun ways. Consider occasional chat prompts like “Where is everyone tuning in from?” or “Share your favourite memory of this festival!” This not only keeps people engaged (reducing the chance they post something negative out of boredom) but also reinforces the sense of global community. During the Cambridge Folk Festival’s online “at home” stream, for instance, viewers from different countries were invited to shout out their location and favorite folk instrument – resulting in a lively, friendly scroll of bagpipe, sitar, and fiddle emojis.

• Tackle Trolls and Problems Quietly: Despite best efforts, you might get the occasional disruptive individual. Train moderators to handle issues calmly and without grand fanfare. Remove offensive content quickly, issue a warning or block as needed, and move on. It’s usually best not to feed the trolls with too much attention. The goal is for genuine fans to feel safe and focused on the music, not on any drama. In most folk festival streams so far, audiences have been wonderfully well-behaved – folk fans tend to be polite – but vigilance early ensures it stays that way even as your viewer numbers grow.

• No-Unauthorized-Streaming Reminders: It’s also part of etiquette to remind viewers that the festival owns the content. A simple occasional message (from a moderator or scrolling text) can say: “Enjoy the show! Please remember not to rebroadcast or record this stream without permission, to respect the artists’ rights.” Most true fans will understand and comply. This gentle nudge helps reduce instances of people trying to “restream” your content on their own pages. It also communicates that you value the intellectual property in the same way you’d ask attendees not to sell bootleg recordings of a live concert.

Creative Virtual Community Spaces

Beyond chat, think of innovative ways to replicate the community engagement that folk festivals thrive on. Streaming technology allows more than just watching performances – you can build interactive experiences that mirror the camaraderie of a festival campground or workshop tent.

• Virtual “Campfire” Rooms: One successful idea tried by the Philadelphia Folk Festival was setting up Zoom-based “campfire” rooms for attendees (xpn.org). Each room was like a virtual campsite or session tent where festival-goers could drop in to play music together, share stories, or just socialize in between watching the official performances. Longtime attendee groups that normally camp together on-site hosted their own Zoom sessions, complete with acoustic jam sessions. The result was wonderfully chaotic and heartwarming – people who hadn’t seen each other in person all year laughed and sang together online, keeping the community spirit alive. As an organiser, you can facilitate this by providing an official schedule or links for community meetups (and basic ground rules for them), while letting fans take the lead in making the magic happen.

• Workshops, Q&As, and More: Consider supplementing performance streams with interactive side sessions. For example, host a live Q&A chat with an artist after their set, or a short Zoom workshop where a folk dancer teaches a routine. At Mexico’s Caja de Música Folklore Festival, organisers introduced a live cooking demonstration of local cuisine streamed during a stage intermission – viewers could chat and ask the cook questions, almost like being at a cultural workshop tent. These kinds of extras enrich the online festival and give viewers a chance to actively participate, not just consume content.

• Leverage Social Media Groups: Encourage viewers to join your festival’s Facebook group or hashtag conversation on Twitter/Instagram to share their at-home celebration photos. Some festivals ran “best living-room festival setup” contests, where fans posted photos of their TV streaming the festival while they wore festival T-shirts or decorated their space with string lights. This generated excitement and free publicity, and helped people feel part of a collective event. It’s all about bridging the gap between physical and virtual – reminding folks that they’re not watching alone, but joining thousands of others in a shared experience.

• Local Community Tie-ins: Folk festivals often have strong local community roots. Just because the audience is online doesn’t mean you can’t involve the local community. For instance, the National Folk Festival in Australia (which went virtual during lockdowns) partnered with local radio to broadcast the stream audio and urged people in town to hang festival flags on their porches. This kind of community engagement blurs the line between online and offline – those nearby felt the collective pride, and those far away saw the images of the town supporting the festival, enhancing the sense of place and tradition that folk events cherish.

By combining strict etiquette enforcement in chats with creative community-building, you ensure that your livestream isn’t a cold, one-way broadcast. Instead, it becomes a living gathering – almost as good as being there in person. Seasoned festival producers know that the heart of folk festivals lies in community, so carrying that heart into cyberspace is just as important as the technical stream itself.

Prioritize Accessibility – Captions and Inclusive Features

A truly inclusive festival experience means making your livestream accessible to as many people as possible. Accessibility isn’t an afterthought; it’s a core part of reaching diverse audiences, including those with disabilities and those who speak different languages. Folk music, with its storytelling and lyrical importance, should be enjoyed by everyone. Here are ways to ensure no one misses out due to the format:

• Live Captions/Subtitles: Providing captions (subtitles) for your livestream can greatly assist viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those who simply prefer reading along. Many platforms now offer automatic captioning – for example, YouTube Live can auto-generate captions in English and other languages. While auto-captions for live music are not perfect (song lyrics can confuse the algorithms), they still offer a baseline of comprehension for speech (like when artists introduce songs or when hosts speak). Where possible, invest in professional live captioners for crucial spoken segments (such as interviews or emcee portions). You could enable captions just during those parts if doing it for full concerts is challenging. Another tactic is to display the song lyrics on screen for well-known numbers (with the artist’s permission), effectively a “sing-along” caption that benefits everyone.

• Sign Language Interpretation: If your festival has the resources, consider adding a sign language interpreter to the broadcast for at least some of the performances or presentations. On-ground folk festivals often provide ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters or other local sign language interpreters for main stage acts – for example, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in Canada regularly offers ASL interpretation for select concerts (thefestival.bc.ca). On a livestream, you can achieve this by having a video feed of the interpreter in a picture-in-picture overlay, or switching to the interpreter view during speaking segments. This lets deaf viewers appreciate not just the lyrics but also the tone and emotion conveyed through sign. It’s a powerful inclusion gesture and is often appreciated by the wider audience as well, as it highlights the festival’s commitment to accessibility.

• Multi-Language Support: Folk festivals can attract an international online audience, especially if you feature artists from various countries or traditions. Consider providing subtitles or interpretation in the major languages of your expected viewers. For example, if you have a big following in France or Spain, could you recruit a bilingual volunteer to translate key announcements in chat or provide a summary in those languages? Some festivals simulcast a secondary audio stream with commentary in another language. While not every event can do this, even small steps like bilingual on-screen text (e.g. “Welcome/Bienvenido”) can make international guests feel seen.

• Audio Accessibility: Accessibility isn’t only about hearing – think of visually impaired viewers too. Simple practices like having hosts or moderators describe what’s happening (“Next on stage is a trio of fiddlers, performing a lively reel.”) can provide context that a person relying on audio might miss if the video shows something unspoken. Also ensure that any on-screen text (like schedules or lower-thirds with artist names) is read aloud by hosts at some point for those who can’t read the screen.

• Technology Aids: Leverage technology designed for accessibility. For instance, some festivals have recommended an app like Bettear (used at Vancouver’s festival on-site) which streams high-quality audio to hearing aids or personal devices with low latency (thefestival.bc.ca). In a virtual setting, a similar concept is to provide an audio-only stream option (lower bandwidth, easier for those with limited internet or who only want audio), or ensure your stream player is compatible with screen reader software.

• Testing and Feedback: Before the event, run tests of captioning and other features. Try muting the sound and see if you can still follow what’s going on via captions; try turning off the screen and see if announcements make sense from audio alone. Reach out to any known audience members who have disabilities for their input or do a small trial run. For instance, the Newport Folk Festival community online includes some hard-of-hearing fans who offered feedback on their virtual broadcast’s caption timing in 2021, leading the organisers to adjust text size and contrast for readability. Being receptive to such feedback and making improvements will significantly enhance the viewing experience for many.

Making your livestream accessible expands your festival’s reach and upholds its inclusive values. Folk music often carries messages of community, justice, and humanity – reflecting those values in how you present your event is only fitting. Plus, when you provide captions or sign language, you’re likely to get appreciative messages and thanks on social media, which boosts the festival’s reputation. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s a genuinely rewarding aspect of production when you see all kinds of people enjoying the music together.

Archive Streams with Permissions and Context

One advantage of digital events is the ability to archive performances – allowing fans to re-watch their favorite moments or catch sets they missed due to time zone differences. Archived videos can also become valuable promotional material or historical records for the festival. However, handling archives requires careful permission management and contextualization so that they remain a benefit, not a liability.

• Secure Artist Permissions for Archives: Just because an artist agreed to a live broadcast does not automatically mean they approve an on-demand video afterward. In fact, some performers only consent to the ephemeral nature of live streaming and may object to their performance living online indefinitely. Always clarify this in advance when booking artists for the livestream. If you intend to record and archive a set, make sure the artist (and their record label/publisher if applicable) signs off on it. It might involve an extra fee or revenue share for the artist, which should be budgeted. Many festivals compromise by offering archives for a limited time window – for example, viewers can replay the event for a week after the live dates, and then the videos are taken down. This approach was used by Philadelphia Folk Festival’s 2020 edition: ticket holders had access to archived festival footage until about two weeks after the event (xpn.org). After that, the videos went offline, in line with agreements made with the performers. Such time-limited archives give flexibility to the audience without essentially “publishing” the content permanently.

• Contextualize Archive Content: When you do make performances available for replay, provide context and protective measures. Each video or audio file should be clearly labeled with the festival name, year, artist, and any relevant credits (for example, “All songs © the artists” or “Used with permission”). Including a pre-roll or on-screen watermark of your festival logo and a reminder not to re-upload the footage elsewhere is a good practice. Some festivals even embed metadata or visible watermarks into the video – subtle enough not to detract from viewing, but present if someone tries to rip and re-post the content. Context is also historical: for instance, if you share an archive of a 1985 folk festival performance, consider adding a short intro about the significance of that concert. This enriches the viewer’s experience and underscores the cultural value, transforming a simple video into an educational piece of festival heritage.

• Quality Control: Ensure your archived videos meet a decent quality standard. Edit out any dead air, tuning breaks, or technical interruptions that might have occurred live. Since viewers can fast-forward or rewind in an archive, you want the content to be as tight and enjoyable as possible. It might be worth top-and-tailing each clip (cutting unnecessary footage at the start or end) and adjusting audio levels. This is where your crew’s work after the festival pays off – a minor editing pass can make these replays much more polished.

• Privacy in Archives: Be mindful that privacy concerns extend to archives as well. If an artist said something during a live stream that was fine in the moment but they don’t want kept on record (for example, they announced a new song informally that isn’t released yet), you might edit that out in the archived version with their blessing. Likewise, if there were moments where fans’ faces were shown close-up on the live stream, consider whether those should be blurred or removed in an archived video, since an archive is more permanent. Always respect any requests from artists to remove or alter archived content involving them – maintaining goodwill with performers is more important than preserving a single video.

• Use Archives to Build Legacy (With Permission): When handled right, archives can become part of your festival’s legacy and even a revenue stream. Some festivals have created subscription-based archives or “festival vault” websites where fans pay a small fee to watch classic performances from years past (with artists receiving royalties for those views). If you go this route, it absolutely requires airtight agreements – essentially a licensing deal with the artists featured. On a simpler scale, you can use snippets of archived footage in marketing materials or social media to promote future events, again provided you have the rights. One renowned example is the Newport Folk Festival in the US: clips of iconic collaborations (like surprise duets on stage) from their archives circulate widely on YouTube and keep the festival’s brand in music fans’ minds year-round. Newport’s team works closely with artists to allow these moments to be shared, benefiting everyone.

In essence, treat archived livestream content with the same respect and planning as the live show. When you have all permissions squared away and add the proper context, archives amplify the impact of your festival far beyond the live dates. They let folk music reverberate through time and reach new audiences, all while honouring the artists’ rights and intentions.

Conclusion

Livestreaming a folk festival is a rewarding endeavor that can carry the spirit of folk music to far-flung places and new generations of fans. As demonstrated throughout this guide, it requires a careful blend of artistry, technical skill, and legal savvy. From the smallest village folk gathering to the largest international folk extravaganza, the core principles remain the same: respect the music and those who make it, respect the audience and their experience, and never lose sight of the community at the heart of it all.

Veteran festival organisers emphasise that digital streams are not a replacement for in-person connection, but rather an extension of it. Done thoughtfully, a livestream can capture the magic spark of a live folk performance – the intimacy, the storytelling, the collective joy – and share it with someone watching quietly from their home hundreds of miles away. It can also add new dimensions, like interactive chats and global participation, that enrich the festival’s tapestry.

By securing rights diligently, building in technical safeguards, setting a positive tone for audience interaction, ensuring accessibility, and archiving responsibly, you set the stage for a smooth and successful online festival. There will inevitably be hiccups and learning moments along the way (just as there are with any live event), but each challenge is surmountable with preparation and a bit of flexibility. Remember that folk festivals have a long history of improvisation and cooperation – livestreaming is just the newest arena for those age-old skills.

The next wave of festival producers can take these lessons and continue to innovate. The world is eager to tune in and celebrate folk music, whether in a field under the summer sun or on a screen in their living room. With the right approach, your livestream can do justice to the music and the community, upholding traditions while embracing technology. Here’s to keeping the folk festival spirit alive and flourishing in every format!

Key Takeaways

• Clear all performance and image rights upfront: Obtain each artist’s permission to stream their set and handle music licensing (through PROs or direct agreements) so that every song and video frame is legally cleared for broadcast. Early communication and explicit contracts are essential.
• Implement a broadcast delay for safety: Use a short time buffer (e.g. 30 seconds) on your live stream to filter out any unexpected incidents or profanity. This protects artists and the festival from accidental slips reaching the audience, and helps manage technical glitches smoothly.
• Protect privacy and define camera limits: Be mindful of what the cameras and mics pick up. Avoid streaming backstage or off-stage moments unless intended, and educate crew and artists about “on-air” awareness. A controlled stream ensures only the show – not the private chatter – is shared with the world.
• Set chat rules and moderate actively: Treat your online audience space like part of the event. Publish chat etiquette guidelines (be respectful, stay on topic, no spoilers/harassment) and have moderators engage and enforce them. A well-managed chat keeps the virtual crowd positive and closely knit, mirroring the friendly atmosphere of a folk festival.
• Discourage unauthorized restreaming: Remind viewers that the content is copyrighted and should not be recorded or rebroadcast without permission. Use secure streaming platforms or ticket gated systems (such as Ticket Fairy’s streaming integration) to control access. Swiftly issue takedowns for any pirated copies to protect your and the artists’ rights.
• Engage the community in creative ways: Don’t let the livestream be a one-way broadcast. Create interactive opportunities – live Q&As, virtual jam sessions, social media challenges – to involve fans. Facilitating these connections preserves the communal soul of a folk festival and amplifies audience enjoyment.
• Prioritize accessibility: Provide live captions or subtitles to make the stream inclusive for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers, and consider sign language interpretation or multilingual support if applicable. An accessible stream broadens your audience and reflects the inclusive values of folk music.
• Archive content with care: If you offer performance replays or highlight videos, secure permission from artists for on-demand use and respect any limitations they request. Present archived videos with proper context (credits, festival branding, etc.) and possibly time-limit their availability according to your agreements. This maximizes the archive’s value while honouring the artists’ control over their work.
• Learn and adapt continuously: Just as every festival on the ground teaches new lessons, be prepared to adjust your online approach through feedback. Embrace the experimentation – whether it’s improving streaming quality, adding new interactive features, or tweaking your content based on viewer responses. Over time, your team will build a strong playbook for livestreaming folk events successfully.
• Keep the folk spirit alive online: Above all, ensure that the warmth, authenticity, and community of folk festivals shine through your livestream. Technology is simply a tool – it’s the human touch in your planning and interaction that will make the virtual festival experience truly memorable for everyone involved.