I am a VERY happy attender at Green Man. Lots of good stuff including Shirley Collins who was lovely. It was great this year. It's the only festival I go to. I've been put off all the rest by what I read here. Sidmouth- why bother? It's all crap according to you lot. If you love music that much why do you constantly use it as a way of giving each other a kicking all the time. Some of you are a like a bunch of muttering old sods who talk exclusivly to each other in a room with the curtains closed convinced that the world has shrunk to the dimensions of your imaginations and understanding, seemingly unaware that a whole world exists happly outside the curtains making music, singing songs, having children, teaching them songs and having a good time.

Folk music is something you do. It's not a scene. It's what you ARE. It's not hard to do or clever. YOU JUST SING TO SOMEONE ELSE SONGS THAT SOMEONE SANG TO YOU OR YOU HEARD AND WERE MOVED BY. You don't need to buy books or records OR ANYTHING ELSE you already own it. It's yours. And mine. Its the songs- little capsuls of understanding down the years, waiting to come to life when someone sings them, no matter how badly or well.

The threads coming out on this forum from Britain have got very boring. It is very difficult to learn anything from them, except people's pseudonames and low opinion of each other. I used to learn a great deal on Mudcat, but I don't now. I think you must all know each other. Why don't you start talking to other people outside your little group and stop kicking each other. I know you won't 'cos that's how you get your jollies.