We will have to agree to disagree on that Jim - you have your views and I have mine. I have been attending folk clubs for 43 years, promoted many gigs (almost all at cost to myself), been involved in running festivals and generally supporting folk music for the whole of my adult life. I, like most others here, do not support your narrow view of what folk music is so we are never going to agree.

Folk rock and other, non traditional, forms of folk music have brought pleasure to many thousands of people - it is not about money except in a very, very few cases - it is about artists fulfilling themselves and bringing enjoyment to their audiences.