>>>>>'It is when it is used to cram in anything that takes any fancy - the 'singing horse' school of non-thought'<<<<<< Whilst this would be impossible to police, Jim's perception of this as a massive problem is way off the mark. Folk music, as more people have witnessed than have denied, is alive and well in England albeit not so much in the earlier format of the folk club. Festivals, singarounds, weekend gatherings, sessions, concerts, etc., are all very healthy in all of the places I visit. Here's a new suggestion, Jim, have a look at the website 'Mainly Norfolk' which deals mainly with recordings. This aspect looks very healthy to me. A wide range of young performers performing largely traditional material with a sprinkling of contemporary folk.