Sorry, not been following this thread, hence not reading it fully -
"The ordinary people don't have a voice in folk music, it's been taken over by 'academics' Jim"
Having mixed with agricultural labourers, Travellers, small farmers, carpenters and fishermen for my music - not sure I can altogether agree with this.
Can't speak for the scene today, but if you mean the clubs, MacColl' Singers Club was frequented by a mix of manual and clerical workers, students, teachers, unemployed... true we didn't get many company directors or newspaper proprietors, but you can't win 'em all.
Don't know who the bums on seats are today, but don't know where all the folk songs disappeared to either,
Jim Carroll