I have to say that I never usually have time to read or take part in these kind of discussions - I prefer to have discussions face to face or atleast where I can hear the tone of someone's voice because so much can be misinterpreted.

I have to say that the comments re Reg Meuross by DE I find both misinformed (or maybe she misunderstood his comments?) and rather misguided. Reg is, like Chris Wood, entirely professional in his conduct (and believe me there are plenty of misogynist promoters / radio presenters and journalists out there - both male and female) and both guys are brave enough to comment when they feel injustice has been done. Others don't as they are afraid that they may never get a decent review again....

Popular to contrary belief, many of us in the professional music network don't take reviews too seriously or we would pack it all in. It's only one opinion and totally subjective, even if it is from an informed viewpoint. One persons meat is anothers poison. Thank God.

What is maddening though is that there are remits that cannot be sustainable - world music has never meant world music and I just wish there were no categories so that we could walk into record stores and everything would be filed A-Z with someone behind the desk who knew as much as Andrew Cronshaw about all types of music.

Discussions like these can get entirely out of hand. We are all in favour of tradition, quality and integrity. Why can't we all just live and let live?

Because human condition is to criticize and compete.

But what do I know? I'm just an accordion player from Willesden.

No need to reply - this is just an observation and I shall resume my state of non participation in these discussions.

I think that everyone is doing as best they can to keep good music and tradition alive.

There is no best.... or as Martin Hayes says,

'The best (music) is yet to come...."

Karen Tweed