"Guardians of Folk Songs?"

I can buy the notion of almost anything as a form of 'portal' to an alternate state - especially song and dance, being as they are universal methods for getting out of ones normal space.

Don't know that I buy song gaurdians exactly (though I wouldn't deny it as a possibility), maybe you're err 'sensitive' to dead residents of folk club, who will be interested in the songs *they* loved to sing (ie "OWNED" as indeed living residents seem to sometimes...) - and just like most folk on Mudcat, won't approve of any rendering which isn't exactly like their own!

Of course when *I* sing 'When I Was in My Prime', I only get lovely warm-heart feelings.. So maybe the ghosties approve? Hehe!