I watched 'The Culture Show' last night on BBC2 which had a piece about folk music. In the bit I saw, it compared 'English' folk and 'Scottish' folk and suggested that Scottish folk music was much more a part of the heritage and culture etc etc From the english side they had Billy Bragg and Eliza Carthy + band discussing

One of the points that was made about the strength of the Scottish folk scene was that 'it was always there in the pubs' and it then came more to prominence as devolution happened and became increasingly linked to the pride that Scots have in their heritage and culture. When they chatted to Eliza and co where did they play and talk? In a pub, of course. They also talked about 'a folk revival' etc etc

Where are these people going to play? Where are the next generation going to even think about playing?

Apart from going occasionally to Pocklington Arts Centre to see the likes of Eliza, Fairport, Kate Rusby etc I see, do and hear all the music in pubs - including some fantastic people (saw Amanda & Jane Threlfall & Co in Mickleby the other week for example).

Do you reckon that we could get some more publicity by attempting to gain the help of some of these better known people - most of whom I would guess have played in smaller venues as they were on the way up. They may, of course, already be involved. Celebrities are likely to pull a lot more media interest than people like me.

Whether or not the Samuel Smiths thing ever sorts the way we would like it, there is very little awareness of these issues generally I would guess. A little more awareness would do no harm at all. Perhaps some people here know (or are!) some of these famous people - who knows?

In addition do people here have links to jazz, pop etc music which is also going to be affected. There must be lots of pubs on the 1960's/1970's "cover-the-singles" circuit who are also potentially at risk?

I have thought of writing to Verity Sharp at the Culture Show as she seemed quite a mean fiddler herself to see if there is potential for them to further look at the area - if we are currently in a folk revival it would be nice to think there was somewhere it could be revived to.