gee, amazing number of folk artists visiting the 'Cat today...uh, correct me if Im wrong, but when you put it in the context of Pete Seegar, etc...Thompson & Gaughin are both still young?

On the Country music side of things-because every now and then someone slips into the loop there that really CAN write songs:

Hal Ketcham-- he hasn't done much lately that has interested me, but his first CD 'Past the Point of Rescue' is worth a listen.

Steve Earle--a strange cat, but he really has a folkie soul...his newest CD with 'Galway Girl' is really nice, although I can't recall the title of it just now.

AS for the folk from across the pond,I'd put in a hearty second for anything by Richard Thompson, Dick Gaughan, Kate Rusby, and add(cos I didn't see him yet)Dougie Maclean!