good thoughts Ron. And yes, the best will always find room for both!

I believe the best singer/songwriters perform both. I could listen to Bill Staines or Aengus Finnan all night - and they play both (in fact Finnan plays one of mine, what a fine intelligent lad he must be!). So many of the trad performers I've worked or have seen with play both. Brian McNeill is a perfect example. He has a true love for trad, is a well versed folklorist and musician - and if you didn't hear him make the introductions, you couldn't always tell what was odl and what was new. That is true respect and love for the tradition - and excellent contribution to the tradition. Likewise Ed Miller - known as a fine singer of trad and contemporary Scottish folk, but writes some (or co-writes) in the style of the trad.

I have to admit I the songwhiners (good term) get under my skin pretty quick - but I realize that I am in the minority. On the other hand, I am certain that audiences generally respond to good music and don't care so much about it's origins.