We seem obsessed in England with slagging off our tradition. I mean, it shows what a sad nation we are when we have to ask if the mass media condescends to feature some 'folk' music and would people listen. Do European countries or Balkan countries or even Scotland/Ireland/Wales have this same attitude, i suspect they don't or at least not on the scale we have here.

It seems that other countries seem to know instinctively what classes as their tradition and culture (and not just in music) but here we have to have long, catty, back-stabbing, and at times down-right ignorant debates on definitions, what is/is'nt traditional, who shoule sing/present it etc etc. This of course makes for some interesting discussions/threads which in which i have taken part but what the hell is wrong with us??

I wonder if its because England is still riddled with class difference and prejudice where ordinary (working class) people's 'culture/traditions' is and has been, throughout history, suppressed as much as possible by the media? Thus huge chunks of the population are brainwashed from birth into believing our 'folk' music tradition (which we don't even have a collective national definition of)is relegated to a kind of underground minority so-called 'finger-in-your-ear' movement. Even the likes of Kate Rusby are only give a kind of cursory attention by some parts of the media.

Sorry i seem to have gone off on one agin. Must be me age.