Bee is correct in her geographical "bit" - and from what I understand, distance is a completely different thing in the USA, in that, again( I understand ) that an American wouldn't think anything of driving say 50 miles to go to a folk club type of thing, whereas 50 miles to a Brit for a night out is a BIG BIG deal and it would need to be something extra special.
I think we also have strong dividing lines between the genres, Traditional mu& Singer songwriters in a traditional vein, and then, Country and Western ( we don't seem to differentiate between Country, and Country and Western ) which don't, for some reason make good bed fellows.
Just to keep you happy Jerry, and talk things American , I recently had the very great pleasure of meeting-up at my friends house and listening to a guy who was going to be playing in a small village in North Yorkshire over here.
A guy by the name of Pete Huttlinger - sensational guitarist , good good singer and a bloody nice guy.
O.K. now Jerry ? .

Cheers

Betsy .