How sad that people, including folkies, have to have heroes.

I've heard KR on BBC folk programmes, along with many others who they want us to look up to. I've thought; fine, a distinctive voice.

But a number of singers locally have distinctive voices. I was in a room full of distinctive and unique singers tonight who deserve to be heard on the same platforms as the hyped favourites. And at least six were songrwiters as good as any you'll hear at a folk festival or on any folkie CD, bar a tiny number of truly great folk songwriters.

Why should I have to suffer sycophantic dribble from media sources and media indoctrinated saddoes about how marvelous one particular singer is when I know hundreds, perhaps thousands of singers who are equally distinctive.

Here's the key bit - I've nothing against those who are famous who, like KR, have genuine talent - (and those with barely adequate talent who are unjustly parachuted in to fame over the heads of the talented people without contacts/the right sort of Daddy etc.? That's different).

Indeed KR's name could be supplanted by any other hyped folk star and the point would remain the same. There is a wealth of talent in our domestic folk scene but theres a media (commecial and club organizer sectors included) telling us that those they have booked to perform are somehow the best - and all the rest of us are rubbish - fit only to serve as bums on seats.

There's nothing new in this of course - showbiz has been pulling the same old money spinning stunt for centuries. But its incredibly sad to see good singers and songwriters I know talking themselves down, whilst looking up to people that are no better than themselves; purely because some promoter or bunch of pricks running a folk club have manufactured a lucrative pecking order from that huge pool of people of equal worth.
But isn't that what "hype" all about?

Ian Fyvie