Rod exagerates about the "abandoment" of folk song by EFDSS, or maybe things have changed since his post over a year ago. The high profile ACE funding is for "new" music, which is an Arts Council rather than EFDSS failing, but across the board the society is covering all its bases although it should shout a bit louder about what it is doing on the education side both directly with young people and in supporting teachers.

I agree with both Jim that there are a lot of clubs where you are lucky to hear one or two traditional songs in a night. This isn't universal but I seldom go to my local club for that reason.

With regard to singing the big thing seems to be the proliferation of "folk choirs". As a listener I find the arrangements smoothed out and uninspiring but a lot of people seem to prefer the format to risking being the one standing out in a folk club chorus.