I play and sing Irish, English and Scots traditional songs and tunes with my band. I arrange them in non-traditional ways which reflect the musics I grew up with, and those I've been exposed to since. I do this to please first myself, second the audience.

I think it can be said that both I and the audience are infinitely more entertained by our contemporary arrangements than we would be if I stood there in an Aran sweater with a finger in my ear.

There are those (quite a few around this forum) who will claim that they're better than me, or that I'm doing it wrong, or that I commit sacrilege. I do not care.

It's too arbitrary. Should Irish trad tunes be played the way they were in Michael Coleman's day? In 1850? In 1790? The whole concept is ridiculous, and contrary to folk music as a continually evolving form.

I wish I knew whose quote this is:
"Folk music is not a pickle. It doesn't need to be preserved."

Cheers,
Michael