There are plenty of uses of piano in folk music - from dance groups such as occasional line-ups of Scan Tester's to the Scottish country dance bands. T

he North East of England had lots of pianos (there was a boost in miners' wages in the 19th century when various wars caused coalfields on mainland Europe to temporarily close) and people (ie the folk) would clearly sing to them. Tommy Armstrong, the pitman poet, certainly sang with pianists. And so many NE folk songs were set to piano accompaniments by local music hall performer Catcheside-Warrington - and his books became so popular - that in many senses piano was the default instrument for many of these songs for many years. Hence, I guess, Johnny Handle ...