Hummm

"Folk songs" when they have been sung accompanied, have always been accompanied using whatever instruments were in vogue and available. Although we nowadays tend to dislike the "Victorian parlour"-type rendition of "folk" songs accompanied usually by piano, you have to acknowledge that as far as keeping songs in currency for many years - it worked. The renditions may have been stilted, and it's probaby taken a couple of decades to release some songs from the printed page.

Specifically talking about Irish, Scottish and English music, now... I have heard some really unworkable efforts to fuse jazz and traditional material, but also some others that work very very well. Then again, if you listen to the patterns of drumming in much pipe band music, you'll find no problem at all in making the connection with Samba/Latin or some African music, hence bands like Macumba etc.. So when Capercaillie or Shooglenifty play reels and the underlying rhythms are more like modern "dance" music,it does not trouble me at all.

As far as being turned on to folk music by Steeleye Span and the like - I'd have to say "Yes". Steeleye Span, the Corries, Fairport Convention, The Byrds, Five Hand Reel, The Dubliners...

Some influenced and inspired me more than others, but electric instruments and drum kits don't bother me in the slightest.

I'm willing to bet (but not a lot of money) that the musical instrument that was first invented was the "bones" closely followed by the drum. Amplification only determines how loud you can play.

You can't put the music in a box, label it and make it safe. Music is a language of sorts and like all languages, it's constantly evolving, changing, sprouting off in new directions. Some aspects will decay despite all efforts to support and encourage growth. Others will appear to wane and then reflower unexpectedly.

Keep doing what you enjoy, let others enjoy what they do, and encourage the diversity. It's an evolutionary thing. The more music we make, the more will survive. The more you try to restrain creativity, the less likely it is to live on.

Cheers

Steven