"This isn't unique to Folk though - where's the 2011 equivalent to Captain Beefheart? I'm sure he's out there somewhere, just these days we're less likely to hear of him."

Not really the 2011 equivalent, but the nearest (and most influential) thing in recent history would probably have been Lee Dorian, of Napalm Death.

Or possibly Sizzla, the Jamaican roots/ragga toaster.

I know what you mean about Willie Scott, Harry Cox et al. Listening back to all those singers - some of whom were invited to perform alongside Ewan MacColl and others - makes you wonder how on earth The Folk Voice came to be. What exactly were they hearing there that they were trying to imitate?

I mean, when you listen to the Voice of People compilations, you hear a massive variety of vernacular voices, but you rarely hear anything even approaching that immediately recognisable MacColl/Bellamy/Frank Harte/Frankie Armstrong tonality.

I love much of the aforementioned dearly, but I'm glad The Folk Voice has disappeared. I'm a bit mystified by the suggestions that it's coming back. Unless they're referring to the popularity of Jon Boden, say, I can't imagine who they are referring to.