What the hell is a "whinger"?   Something from a hockey team?

I think the last few months has seen an incredible amount of conversation in the U.S. about our election. This is not a Mudcat phenomenon, it happened all over.   Hobbies such as folk music became secondary to most people.

I do think that there is less interest in conversation about American folk music. I just attended NERFA (North East Regional Folk Alliance) where the singer-songwriters outnumbered the traditionalists. Good thing? Bad thing? It may not be a question that can be answered. I feel there is room for both.   I don't want to drift into that seemlingly endless discussion of what can be done to make traditional music more appealing.   Frankly, if it happens it will happen.

One more sidenote - I did hear one great "label" this weekend. There was an amazing group called The Wiyos who do a really nice Americana presentation. Sort of old-timey, sort of vaudeville, sort of old-fashioned, sort of contemporary. They call their music "oldternative".

Maybe the answer to Martins original quesiton is we should spend a little less time talking and more time playing!