Hiya Claudine. Dunno about Melbourne, but most Sydney folkies are white men with beards. However, I don't fit any of those descriptions and I still love folk music. (DOn't let 'em fool you: they call it World Music in music shops to sell more CDs.)

The youngest folkies I know are Chicky's children (3 and 5) who know "Three Drunken Maidens", "Walzing With Bears" and "Plastic Jesus".

I have been to some gatherings where younger people who give it a go at singing are (only just) tolerated by some of the older, harder core folkies who will only sing certain songs in certain ways.

Doesn't stop us, though!

Callie