Tootler....that's bad isn't it! When are we going to realise that the music of ALL of us is important and that the English come under World/Roots music right alongside everyone else.

Absolutely. Especially as the traditional music scene is particularly vibrant here in North East England and there is a distinctive local repertoire of both songs and traditional dance tunes plus there are probably more people than ever playing Northumbrian Pipes (not me, unfortunately - I have enough on coping with my Anglo ).

We also have Folkworks encouraging and supporting traditional music and running classes and workshops plus an excellent set of summer schools.

If that's not Roots music what is?