Yes indeed even in England.....where folkies have been assuring me ad nausium that the community is large and strong and expanding.....a folk program which was excellent is being canceled- Folkwaves- a very good program. They have sent me off to buy more cds than I have purchased in years. The reason- essential cuts in "minority programming" There are not very many BBC folk programs so the loss of two hours once a week is a big deal.

so there you have it- the concept that folk music is best when a small moribund small never expanding poltically selective community keeps the genre minority and then when cuts come the folkies narrow as they are get axed.

We have to expand. this means accessibility, lower costs, a living music, political diversity and less emphasis on performing as a business. it must be in the community living. it must grow.

Conrad