And why are you pretending these people have nothing to do with folk music, rather than being serious artists who have worked all their lives in the medium, Richard? These people deserve the kudos that the folk label would confer.

Why are you so anxious to deny their enormous influence? Why do you think they deserve exclusion.

Bout twenty years ago - I picked up a Guitarist magazine and Roy Harper was in there - flat broke, but spending the thirty grand or so his Dad left him promoting an album that he hoped would lead to some gigs. Since then, according to the article today, his house has been repossessed. Probably at 70 - a life gigging folk clubs would be a bit of a tall order. Particularly giving the kind of high intensity performances that his fans would expect.

I don't know the guy. I only saw him play one time in 1968 - but it was one of the most courageous spirited evenings of music I have ever seen. He's very talented. I really don't get it why he doesn't rate a place on the team.