Jim, Flamenco is folk music. It comes from the Andulusian (sp?) Gypsies in Spain who live in caves.

The future of folk music is what it has always been, an international and intercultural
mode of expression by untrained musicians who come from traditions based on
sub-cultural and national groups of people around the world. Of course, "training" might
be construed to be absorbing the musical traditions of these sub-cultures.

It will always be with us though not necessarily found in the urban centers.

The world is rich with folk traditions that remain alive with the cultural and national sub-groups that preserve it.

It is a "well" that musical people can go to. Composers, songwriters, every kind of
singer can visit and be nourished.