"I can recall Robin Hall and Jimmie McGregor playing folk music every night of the week in Tonight on prime time TV: later Jake Thackeray. The Spinners had their own series.... Perhaps more 60s than 70s, true."

Yes, all pretty much before my time. However, I was answering speicifically your use of the phrase "laughing stock". This was certainly the case during the 1908s and 90s - I well remember Gregson and Collister (leading purveyors at the time of very contemporary acoustic music) being introduced on The Late Show with the words: "Now we're going to hear some folk music, so get out those Arran jumpers...." I suspect that that kind of stereotype was nurtured by precisely the kind of 60s performers you mention, whatever their musical merits at the time.

In recent years, by contrast, I have heard traditional music treated with respect in many corners of the mainstream media. I could have mentioned Folk Britannia, Norma W. or Seth Lakeman on the Mercury Awards, sympathetic coverage in The Culture Show and national newspapers, various specialist programmes on Radio 4, Late Junction, etc. etc. And Jools Holland, like him or not, is pretty much the only TV outlet these days for non-mainstream pop music, so for our people to be on there alongside the Kaiser Chiefs is a not insignificant achievement.

"these guys aren't buying it. As far as they're concerned they've done nothing wrong"

Weelittledrummer, I thought I'd actually agreed with you a little way up this thread, but if you keep on coming out with this absurd stuff about the "traddies" having spoilt the party then people are going keep coming back at you.