Are we in danger of becoming like the 'popular press' where every type of music, art, literature woman, man etc. has to have a LABEL.

Just look at the immigration that England alone has had. Leaving aside those who came before 1500 ish we have had Flemish, Dutch, German, French, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, various Easten Europeans, not to mention in more recent times Asian and African. Each of those people have brought their culture with them and parts have been assimilated in to 'English Traditional' music. The English have in their turn populated (mainly via the Army) vast tracts of the world (including the "Celtic Isles") taking ther culture with them .

Who knows where the bounderies lie, if in fact there are any at all. The whole of American popular music has its basis in English dance music form (the 8 bar AABB or AABA plus chorus) and African rhythms (a sweeping statement you may think). Let's forget the labels, we know what folk music is by its feel. Most of us have got a pretty good idea of its origin when we hear it. Fortunately we all want to sing, play and listen to it.

Melodeon (at length).