What's a 'traditional singer'? This discussion is happening in a 'folk' bubble. 'Tradpiper' and 'Romany Man' would be a breath of fresh air if there wasn't the sense of them too being regarded as 'other. ('Your people'??) They are both dead right about the singing of songs though. Question is, if there had been no 'folk revival' would this debate take place? Essentially every family sang (sings) and swopped songs, Christmas was a special time for this. I learned songs from my grandparents and other relatives at many family gatherings – trouble is, they aren't 'folk' songs of the 'approved' type. They were songs from shows, opera and music-hall. So, when you've edited my life and discarded those of my family's songs that aren't about shepherds, knights and such, it must mean I'm not traditional? Alter songs? You betcha! Even write them if it suits! A good song will stand up and a bad song will die and that alone, in my opinion, is the 'tradition'.