Steppping aside from the more argumentative aspects of this thread, the acts that have impressed me most in last couple of years have been:

Serious Kitchen
Howden, Jones & Taffinder
Jiggerypipery (sp?)
FOS Brothers Band
Paul Buckley
Kate Rusby

And of course one Julie Ellison, who impressed me so much that I became involved in her album production, sound engineering etc.

None are really "traditional". Most are not singer/songwriters. All are simply superb!

Best regards
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk