I don't think this phenomenon is just restricted to folk. Until recently, as well as being a folkie performer, I also played and sang in a band doing late-50's R&R. Often, despite the fact that our average age in the band was about 57, we would be besieged at the end of a gig by young people (i.e. teenagers) telling us how fantastic we were (we weren't that good, but it's nice that someone thought we were!).

I asked a few of them why they were so enthused by a bunch of B.O.Fs playing music that's 30 years before their time, and the reply was invariably "Because all we ever get to hear are discos and boy/girl bands miming". My kids didn't want to play rock like their Old Man, they wanted to be DJs.

Anybody else been in this situation?