Of the artists listed by Joan, I wonder 1) What the average age of their AUDIENCE is and 2)(following from this) how many will still be making a good living in, say, 15 years time? Not a comment on their quality, just on the state of the folk scene. OK, so this supposedly thriving young festival scene boils down to about 5 festivals previously mentioned (I can only assume this to be the case 'cos it's certainly not true of any of the ones I've been to). Even if every artist listed got booked at all of these every summer, I hardly think that alone would provide a decent year's income...so I'd guess most of the rest must be coming from folk club bookings. Even Joan accepts the folk clubs are by and large failing to attract new blood, so what, realistically, are the prospects for (say) a 25-year old pro now still hoping to be doing it at 40 and beyond?

Though I sincerely hope I'm wrong, I can only say of the people listed, that I hope for their sake they have other strings to their bow/alternative careers lined up if they don't want to be facing poverty some time down the road. And, I repeat, what are we doing about it?