WLD - maybe it's because I'm not part of this little folk world (I don't attend clubs or go to festivals or have friends who share my musical taste - which is why I end up on these godawful forums where the only sensible posts seem to be from Diane Easby... but I do buy records), but the point you're somewhat elliptically half-making kind of eludes me. You see, I have most the Voice of The People series and CDs by Harry Cox, Walter Pardon, Davie Stewart, Copper Family, Willie Scott, etc, etc, but reading your post, apparently I'm supposed to dismiss them as shit. Well, if that's what proper folkies want to do, be my guest. Us non-folkies will continue to enjoy them as seminal recordings of fantastic songs. If that's ok...

Maybe in the folk world you just want 'crowd pleasers'. Personally, just as I did with punk, jazz and 'world' music, I want a bit more than that from my music. I've never felt that the lowest common denominator can be good enough. Apparently in some folk circles it is. God forbid music actually challenges us...

Meanwhile, thank god there are young performers like Jackie Oates, Jim Causley, Lisa Knapp etc around who are happy to embrace tradtional music and do somnething exciting and dynamic with it. I believe a lot of these young artists have studied the old field recordings we're all supposed to dismiss. I'd rather have them than some mewling singer songwriter or stand-up comedian with a guitar anyday.

Mind you, this is just my personal opinion. I wouldn't want to try to make it the law...

Cheers,

Nigel