The most fascinating phenomenon about the popularity of folk music to me(being in the trad English/Irish tradition) is that in terms of people listening to the music is never fails to be "liked". It ALWAYS hooks people even if they encounter it by chance. Shantey's for example. So in that sense it is intensely mainstream popular. Yet it has never been hugely COMMERCIALLY viable, even in the hootenanny days.

In my experience(since the '60's) the only demise I notice is in the number of venues in which to perform(though it depends on geography). Seattle(my original home) is very healthy on the folk music front. My current home in Dallas is much less so. Just got back from a trip to England where there are pub sings all over the place on a regular basis, both circle and guest singer types. And full of talented singers.

And there are goods and bads to the current Celtic wave. Good in some great talents getting some play(as happened in the blues) like Sharon Shannon. Bad in Celtic getting stuck on the front of any dreck and selling it as folk music. But truth is, folk music is LIVING tradition and so will weave and permutate and wander and mutate as it will. Kind of like these conversations:)

Anyhoo, long may we wave. Marc