The term Hootenanny was coined in the folk music world I believe by songwriter/publisher Bob Miller ("Rich Man Poor Man"). He has a song with Hootenanny in it dating back to I believe the early thirties. Maybe earlier. Pete Seeger did promote the term which in his view, and I'm almost quoting him, not quite, is a gathering of performers from different musical disciplines that bring the audience in as participants. We once talked about how you would lead an audience in singing a jazz descant line to How High The Moon.

Of course the word has had other meanings. We all know that. But it's association in the folk music world is pretty specific. it would be in my view just as appropriatly misleading to refer to the country barn dance as a concert.

Frank