'Nevertheless, if 'folk' is to mean anything as a genre, it must have traditional music at its core. Everything else is an addition which has grown up around this.'

Well put Howard, very similar to what I've said several times, that I'm happy to call it 'folk' if it shows a respect for and an influence from the tradition, and, only a few posts back I said this 'Without the tradition, there would be no new 'folk' music, so we should at least show a respect for the tradition, and as I said earlier, for those that wish to maintain it.'

Those that maintain that the tradition is now the preserve of aged men with poor dress sense puzzle me though, I know a good number of under 30's in my local area who a regularly performing traditional songs and tunes, and taking part in singarounds and sessions. So whilst I accept that folk is a minority music, I still see a fairly healthy interest in the tradition. The other thing I don't understand is those who have contributed to this thread, and appear from their posts to have a real dislike for the tradition, but still want to hang their music on the 'folk' peg. I've asked that question a couple of times now, but there has been no answer!

John