I'm a little surprised at some of the negative comments here. As a reviewer for a local folk magazine I am not afraid to dole out criticism when I feel that recordings or live acts are not up to the mark musically or have particularly inane lyrics. Indeed I have been taken to task about my comments on one occasion. However everything I heard on Wednesday night was of a superb standard (even if not all of it was to my taste) and we should be delighted that young people are beginning to see being labelled as folk musicians is not an insult. The music we all love has spent long enough in the shadows without some of us trying to give the impression it is a closed members club where entry is only permitted by being able to sing tedious songs in reverent voices.

For God's sake let us celebrate the enthusiasm of these young people and welcome them with open arms - we need them to carry the music forward when we are gone. I for one would rather see any of them, or their pedecessors such as Jim, than some of the dated and moribund acts we have to avoid or unwittingly suffer on some evenings at a folk club.

(Though of course tonight's guest at the Topic in Bradford certainly does not fall into the latter catgory!)