Good point, Lead. I realize that not only is "folk" ridiculously hard to define, the definition is a little different over your way than it is here.

When this thread starts to unravel, I'll start one titled Get Harmony.
England and Scotland seem to have a much stronger group singing tradition than Amurica, and while I can't describe the difference musically, harmony and group singing is distinctly different between the two countries.

But then, I don't want to get started on that, yet. I do believe that you are right that "folk" music has a stronger instrumental history here than it does in England.

Jerry