A while back someone said a few things about 'real' folksingers and 'singers of folksongs'. They mentioned the Carthys as an example of the real thing. What puzzles me is quite a few of the other artists mentioned probably learned their music from family members, or down the pub but don't have the same cachet. Is it because the Carthys are more obviously handing the music on or for some other reason. Then there's the clannads of this world who come from a 'real' folk environment and go off and do their own thing. Are they 'real' folk musicians? Maybe they were but aren't anymore? They are sometimes: it depends what they're playing?

Anyway, as a thread to get recomendations this isn't bad, but there should be a reccomendations perma-thread I reckon.