The awards illustrate what is wrong with the uk folk revival.
in my opinion a more important priority should be increased funding at grass roots performerlevel, funding similiar to CCE funding from the irish government, to be allocated to organstions such as EFDSS and newcastle degree course and other tuition courses and workshops.
These awards might bring in new people[ how many we do not know] ok that is not a bad thing.
But in my opinion there are more important issues to be adressed,that would help the uk folk revival in a more positive community participatory way.
The awards are only of little importance in increasing the standard and number of participating creative musicians and singers, which is in my opinion one of the aspects of the uk folk revival which needs further development.
the awards are not bad, and congratulations to all who got awarded, but how much difference do they make, none of us know