olddude said:"See we all , myself included need to give encouragement to any young performer who is writing folk and performing... There are many great young writers and performers but I don't think they get the chance i clubs or otherwise."

There are lots of young performers who are given lots of chances in the clubs - if the clubs can afford to book them! But that's another subject perhaps.

Personally, I have listened to plenty of young performers that ask me for bookings, but the vast majority are singer-songwriters who, to me, all sound much the same - and bore me silly! I'm looking for good musicians and singers that are capable of *entertaining* my audience, and if those good musicians and singers are young, that's even better! It seems that many song writers, particularly the young ones, are what we always called 'navel gazers' - they're not interested in interacting and engaging their audiences, And if they're not, audiences aren't going to be interested in listening to them. There are exceptions amongst the writers, of course, but they seem to be few and far between.

Tom B., tell us more about this Arts Council survey - how do we know they're asking the 'right' people? It has long been a concern that all the funding seemed to be going through only two organisations, and no-one else seemed to be getting a look in, particularly since funding was withdrawn from all but one of the folk development agencies.

Bryan, shame on you - have you never read 'Living Tradition'? - Pete Heywood's the editor.

Barbara