"If he [Martin Carthy] had played an anglo concertina instead of a guitar, would he have achieved the eminence (and made the comfortable living) he's enjoyed these past forty years and more? I think the answer might well be no."

It's true that there are many more players and afficionados of the guitar than of the concertina, but taking up the anglo doesn't seem to have done John Kirkpatrick any harm. However, Peter's concertina playing - whilst very effective as song accompaniment - was not at a level of virtuosity that would attract hardline fans of the instrument, in the way that guitar wannabees have followed Martin around.

Lovely post from Lisa Null. Hello there!