"Btw Banjiman "most people" would that be the same half dozen who criticise most of Jim Carrolls posts?"

I don't criticise his posts, usually. He has a point of view which is valid. I would maintain that most people have a broader interpretation of "folk" music than JC though.

GSS, I would suspect that one's route into folk music is pretty age dependent. I think R.A's would not be atypical for someone currently in their forties.