The first 7 years of my life we had no electricity. This was up the West end of P.E.I. near Tignish. Stompin Tom country. In fact Mum use to baby sit him. But that's another story.
Dad played the fiddle and piano and Mum use to sing ballads (folk songs)of tragady and so on. Most were of fishing saga's and lumbering tales. Then it was a move to N.S. and electricity with radio. 1954 I was 7 but I had 5 brothers and sisters older than me and the early rock and roll was starting. However the house music was still Hank Williams, Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton, Hank Locklin and lots of Maritime ballads.
Folk influence didn't hit me till Gordon Lightfoot came along. Dylan I never cared for until much later. Then it was Kris Krostofferson, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Wlaker, Guy Clarke, Ray Materick, Brent Titcomb, Bruce Murdock, C.C.R.

For the past 20 years I would say that I continue to look for the rare find for some inspiration.
When you can't write songs then what do you do. Well in my case I get bored unless I find the unusual out there. And when I say the unusual I mean someone who has something to say. John Prine is still up there in my book. But so are David Massengill, Guy Clarke, Iris DeMent,and so on.

However depending on the audience I would prefer to stay with downeast (Maritime) or Irish music.

So to answer your question ...... I'm still looking.
Beer