First of all, tongue almost in cheek... but makes you think; Jim Carroll mentioned music as from centuries old ballads to Jumping Jack Flash and even later. Quite; as Jumping Jack Flash was released as a single 42 years ago. I suspect there are many songs people reckon are traditional, having heard them all their lives, that are younger than that song!

To try and say what I said earlier in the thread but to try and make it more coherent, (and not be berated by saying real ale fascists this time....)

The future of folk music is reasonably safe. The future of folk culture as experienced by most of the followers is not so safe, mainly because it is growing old with its followers. You can teach old dogs new tricks, and listening to Martin Carthy with Imagined Village is my way of proving it to myself, exciting, good to listen to and reaching out to interest a large number of people in music with folk roots.

However, the British folk tradition of sitting with a pint and singing away may not last as long as much older traditions such as Morris dancing or traditional arts & crafts. Why? Because those who enjoy sitting in the upstairs of a pub singing have a bloody good night and enjoy it to the full represent folk culture to most other people. Quite rightly so. But some of it is habit, some of it is nostalgia, all of it is a comfortable feeling for certain people. Younger people do get involved. I may be nearly 50 now, but a whippersnapper in the company of my friends over the years.   Not sure it can expand in the way it did in the '60s and '70s though.

Music = safe.
Lifestyle = as long as you can dodge coffins.