"please give them credit for knowing their craft, being effective performers beyond the narrow scope of folk snobs and creating much better popularized music than you hear on the airwaves today."

Well said Frank!!!

It has always amazed me how narrow-minded many folkies really are - but very few admit to it. Folk music has evolved to touch, and change, popular music which I think is the most overlooked "victory" to come out of the folk revival.   I happened to catch a portion of American Idol and was amazed to see one of the contestants playing acoustic guitar with Graham Nash - clearly the influence of folk music that made the acoustic guitar a prevelant instrument and altered the way songs were written for public consumption.

I'm not a big fan of the "Celtic Women" show, but I have heard and played some of the individuals - and there is a lot of talent there. It is not a sin to entertain people.