As far as material goes, there are certain songs that people come to expect from me as a performer, and they will be there, of course. Some songs have a lasting impact on audience and singer. I look at most of the material as my musical babies but a few of them have been very, very good to me. In hard economic times, Tyson agrees wholeheartedly with the approach Ottawa Folk Festival organizers are taking by running a series of high-profile fundraisers to help defray their costs. Personally, as a member of the advisory board for the Mariposa Folk Festival I applaud anything that can be done to make sure the festivals stay alive.
Festivals are important just on the face of things for their entertainment value.