I tend to agree with that last bit.

I was totally knocked out by a number of artists on hearing them for the first time. Martin Carthy was not amongst them - loved the sound but hating the constant tuning up. As a non-guitarist and pretty un-musical person I never realised he was changing the tunings and thought it was an irritating affection!

If anyone wants to hear another way that folk music can be treated innovatingly I reckon the Guichen Quartet are as good as anything - though they are Breton/Irish.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk