I can appreciate your points regarding commercialism, but appart from the 1960 or 70s folk was never really commercial was it - well certainly not in England I dont think. The audience on Friday evening didnt come along due to recomendation from any radio or other medias recomendation - it was largely due to word of mouth and the fact that Ewan sang Traditional Scottish Scottish folk songs so well that people in Yorkshire understood and enjoyed them so much you could have heard a pin drop while he was singing them, and many people would have went home and tried to learn the songs themselves afterwards - ie passing on "The Living Tradition". which for me and many others im sure is what makes Folk music so interesting and enjoyable.