Jim says:

"It's always struck me that those folkies who find folk song proper 'old and boring' and feel the need for 'something new, are not unlike, say, those who follow Classical Music saying, "we've got fed up with that old Beethoven and Mozart crap and have decided to introduce a bit of Heavy Metal onto the scene (still remember the embarrassing 'Classics Go Pop' campaign that fizzled out - not soon enough)"

But I don't think thats right, its more akin to those who follow classical music deciding to introduce a bit of Schoenberg. Which they do. So if those who follow folk wand to introduce a bit of Olivia Chaney, or Laura Marling, or in past times Fairport Convention, or, dare I say it, Mumford and Sons, whats the problem. Clearly some people do have a problem though.