Some interesting comments.

I became involved in playing folk music about 3 years ago and what struck me about many folk musicians was their infectious enthusiasm for their music, something I had not met to the same degree in over 15 years playing recorder in a more classical environment. Yes recorder players love their instrument and the music commonly associated with it, but it is not displayed in such an overt way.

When the lady I mentioned at the top of the thread approached me, what she said somehow struck a chord. She had been to a couple of folk clubs and had encountered singers who fitted bublyrat's category of "very serious,finger-in-ear EFDSS- type bastions of tradition". She felt these people took themselves too seriously and didn't seem to be enjoying themselves and her comment was something to the effect "I thought folk music was supposed to be fun"

This made me think back over the past three years and I realised I have learnt a lot, my playing has been re-energised and I have been enjoying myself enormously in the process.

In short, I have been having fun!