Technically, the organizer of the house concert series wasn't putting on a directly-sponsored Philadelphia Folk Song Society event, but the head of the PFSS and other prominent board members were in attendance. The folk scene here is larger than the PFSS and it is a very close knit community.

But, getting back to my point, which Jerry has once again managed to prompt this poster to sharpen, I'm trying to understand what, given the initial responses to my question, may turn out to be unique to the Philadelphia microcosm. We have a thriving old-time community here, but it is only minimally represented in the "folk" events. There are excellent, broadly talented acts (instrumental and vocal) both local and within the greater regional northeast US that could be playing in the "folk" venues but aren't.

This has led to the formation of a small number of organizations in the area that cater to the old-time community, most prominent of which is the Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music, who has a very vital concert series of old-time and bluegrass in the area. Another organization has recently formed to bring even more old-time music to the area. For example, this new organization is sponsoring a concert by "Jawbone", a new group featuring Tony Trishka, Bruce Molsky and Paula Bradley this upcoming weekend. Major headliners, to be sure, but not sponsored by the folkies, but rather by a grass-roots old-time group. Don't get me wrong, I'm SO grateful for the BFOTM and this new organization's efforts to support old-time...because I'm so much a student and fan of old-time music, I consider myself lucky to live where I do.

Getting back to my original question, rephrased a bit softer, or otherwise embellished...why isn't old time music more warmly embraced as American folk music by the folk community? Why do singer-songwriters dominate "folk" when old-time IS American folk music? Is old-time too grass-roots to be accepted?

-Greg