Wow! I've been away from Mudcat a mere 16 years and all sorts of stuff is kicking off. I also moved to the U.S. 18 months ago but whilst in England I always watched what snippets of Celtic Connections was broadcast on BBC Alba.

Saw some brilliant bands from all over the world. If it wasn't for that festival/show I would never have come across Le Vent du Nord from Quebec who are brilliant. Likewise BBC Alba's coverage of the Trad Awards.

I am not aware of the Mr. Bennett being either vilified or applauded here in this thread, but festivals like Celtic Connections and the Scottish Trad Awards plus the countless shows in Ireland I used to be able to get on Tara TV when I had Sky, are the only ones keeping traditional music alive. In England for the most part they seem only too willing to discount their musical heritage in favour of transatlantic crap.

At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves this question. What is folk/traditional music? I can't give a definitive answer, I'm not qualified to do so. As a starting point I would suggest that it is music/songs that celebrate the cultural history of whatever country it refers to. I would also suggest it does not include any kind of fusion but that's just me being nationalistic, which since coming to the U.S. I'm allowed to be.

As a post it, I am hoping sometime soon to resurrect Prof's Music Website for thise of you who remember it.