Having come back from a folk festival recently feeling slightly depressed, I thought I would share my thoughts. I'm talking mainly about English Folk here, as I get the impression that the relationship with folk music is very different in Ireland and Scotland.

I'm in my early 30s, my girlfriend is in her mid-20s, and we felt the odd ones out a lot of the time. Firstly- age wise there is undeniably a big dip in the 20-40 age group at most events (20-50 is probably more like it) - the exception being the Ceilidhs.

Secondly (and I don't think this issue is discussed enough); neither of us come from "folkie" backgrounds but have discovered and come to love the music independently as young adults. I know a lot of people, including some of the most influential performers, came to traditional music this way in the 60-70s but in my experience it is very rare now. It seems to me that the majority of younger people who are around at the festivals (including as performers) have been raised in folk families and grown up with it- a look at a cross section of the younger performers shows this is overwhelmingly the case. It's good that they are carrying on with it, but if English traditional music can't engage a wider audience then it's doomed to a slow decline.

I think one of the issues here is that because there was such a huge revival of interest in traditional music in the 60s it has to some extent become attached to a particular generation. That generation are on the whole still the ones running folk clubs, festivals etc. Given that they are often old enough to be their parents or even grandparents, it's not surprising that they struggle to attract people in their 20s, and as many of the clubs and festivals have an audience that goes back year after year, they really have little incentive to do so.

I think the established "folk scene" has a role to play and can help by sharing knowledge, by being welcoming, non-judgemental and open to people dipping their toes in the water (ie not scoffing at people just for having learnt a song from Leige and Leif). Ultimately though I think it's up to younger people to discover the music for themselves and make their own scene and events, I doubt if Trad Folk will ever have another revival as big as it the 60s, but there is hope.

On the positive side, I know of a number of younger people (not all from "folk" backgrounds) that are interested in and out performing traditional music; friends of mine who aren't big folk fans are intrigued when I sing a traditional song or play a tune. I also think there is a genuine interest in "Folk" amongst young people (and the wider population as a whole) but an ignorance of what it actually is, or how to go about finding out. I'd also like to say I've met some wonderfully welcoming and helpful older people around folk music who have done much to nurture my interest.