I hope so too, EKanne! However I think there is a long way to go. There seems to be a prevalent attitude of inverse snobbery about ballads on the part of non-ballad singers (usually the ones running the sessions...), i.e that they are too long, too depressing, etc etc (I am told this week in week out; very saddening). Maybe it comes from reduced attention spans, an increase in singer/songwritery type songs being accepted as 'folk' at the expense of traditional songs, an increase in the 'intellectualisation' or 'academicisation' of ballads which can isolate people... Hard to say. This said, there are certainly many people around of all ages and backgrounds who continue to be inspired by ballads, and this is why events like the ballad workshop in Glasgow are so vitally important. Looking forward to the next one! Fair Ellender
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