I'm 33 and have been performing Celtic realm folk music on and off for 10 or so years. Most of my friends in the folk music circle are a decade and more older than me.

When I perform at open-mike nights, my music is often completely novel to much of the audience but they often enjoy it. I know little of American folk music myself - I've lived in Southern California, Colorado & Florida - but missed most of the folk music that was around during my youth and young adulthood. I only dicovered Celtic/Irish because of a Sunday afternoon program on the local University public radio station. It was/is an hour long show hosted by Jack Friel who has an extensive collection of Irish (mostly) music. I was hooked after the first program.

Since then I've struggled to find people in the Orlando, FL area to connect with. I don't play guitar and mostly just sing a cappella. I play a bit of tin whistle and jews harp and the spoons. I was in a Contra dance band for awhile but that's strictly dance music and they had no interest in songs.

I have a friend who I've done some stuff with who plays guitar and has similar music interests, but he's a proffessional pilot and is often out of town. It's been quite frustrating, being "alone in the wilderness"

pax yall,