"It does seem that folk music is far more alive in the UK than in the U.S., but I can't imagine it's healthy enough to survive all these battles."

Joe, the battles aren't enacted 'live', just on forums (fora?) like Mudcat. It's only because so many of us are so passionate about the music - trad. or contemporary - that we verbally battle about it. When we do it face to face, it's called "putting the (folk) world to rights", and doesn't get anything like as nasty as it sometimes does on Mudcat.

As to where the essence of the conflict is, i.e. between "traditional singers and singer-songwriters, between folk and "folk rock," or between young and old", the answer is probably 'All of the above' and none exactly. Sorry, I know that's not helpful, but I can see why Americans find it difficult to understand if their concept of 'traditional' is "songwriters... over the age of 50"!

I think sometimes you worry too much about the battles - don't panic. Most of it's down to very few people, and there will always be those who cannot see any other point of view but their own.

Barbara