First of all, 'GUEST Stan', bo....cks to you, you ageist bastard! The only reason I hope that you don't die young is that you grow up to find out what it's like to be older. I hope you end up with arthritis, cataracts and piles!

As to whether English Folk Music is dead, or not, I had a bit of a 'Road to Damascus' experience earlier this year. I had sort of avoided Eliza Carthy because I expected hip hop versions of my favourite songs and it didn't appeal really (I am, after all, a self-confessed purist - and proud of it). How wrong I was! I heard Ms. Carthy at a festival and I could hardly believe my ears - here was an artist who got closer to the emotional core of English trad. song than anyone I can think of. Her versions of Walter Pardon's 'Still Growing' and 'The Raggle Taggle Gypsies' were just fabulous - I just wish that Walter were still around to hear what she did with the songs that she learned from him.
English trad. song is powerful stuff to those of all ages ('Guest Stan', please note!)who have the ears to hear it and just occasionally an artist like Ms Carthy will come along who can do it justice.