At the risk of steering this thread on to dangerous ground, i.e., a serious beating of that old dead horse, this thread began with "Folk is music that does not rely entirely on commercial media for its distribution"

When it was new folk music WAS the commercial media! Consider that people like O'Carolan and his ilk wandered the countryside carrying the local news (gossip and actual news) as part of their stock in trade. Consider how many old street calls have come down through the ages as folk music. Consider how many are stories, embellished to entertain.

I apologise if I am repeating what someone wrote earlier in this thread. I considered reading the whole thread but I have to fight with my daughter for computer access and can't read everything I'd like too. For those following the "Milestones" thread, this is the part of parenting where you look forward to the imminent departure of the kid. But not very much!