From the mid 1960's we have been riven by factionalism - almost to the point of extinction.
correct.
there was a meeting in 1969? with
AL Lloyd Ewan MacColl Alex Campbell Bob Davenport to discuss the uk folk revival.. it ended acrimoniously.
i have seen organisers try to dictate to performers what they should sing from remarks like, no politics here, to asking a singer songwriter to only sing traditional material.
Peter Bellamy was not helped by Southern Rag describing him as elmer p bleaty.
Was Southern Rag ,an example of factional folk journalism, did they too have an agenda?
I also heard a professional performer make disparaging remarks about peter bellamy and alistair anderson, on stage when he was doing a gig. none of that is positive.
negativitity about other performers is not helpful to the uk folk revival in general
if i could provide an analogy. the UK folk revival has been rather like half a dozen people trying to grab the rudder of a ship and steer it in completely different directions. result the boat goes round in circles and comes back to where it started from
However if you just get on and play music and sing you can have a lot of fun