How can a band be nominated for major British folk awards, make albums that sell in great numbers and attract sell out audiences up and down the country, if the band are adequate at best?

Face it MCA, you don't like them, fine but don't preach to us about what is adequate. It's the worst sort of criticism, which comes over as juvenile.

Can I also point out that EMI came on board AFTER the band made The Bairns, AFTER the band's own management worked tirelessly on all the publicity material, AFTER they were asked to play the main stage at Cambridge etc etc.

EMI are purely there to handle the distribution. the band maintain artistic control.

Robert Wyatt told me personally that he thinks they are, quote, 'Wonderful'. I would rather take his word for it than yours.
Allan