Well Celtic Connectionsis a bit of a curate's egg for me. I tend to agree with Auldtimer in that far too many of the younger performers come straight from academia and into making a CD. Now I know a few of the tutors at the RSAMD, for example and have enormous respect for them and in general trust their judgement with regard to how they pass on matters traditional but it still seems to me as if the course should be entitled "how to be a professional folksinger". What ever happened to gaining some understanding of the culture that nurtured the songs and music and not just acquiring technical expertise? Celtic connections can be excellent and I have certainly enjoyed some events in the past but it's a bit too glitzy and glamourous for me. I like to be able to talk with singers and musicians about what they've done, their influences and what drives them, not be segregated into "artists" and audience. That to me is part of what makes folk music different to other forms, that sense of intimacy and that I'm part of it- otherwise I may as well go to a stadium rock concert.
Unlike "Guest Pete" I have no problem with criticism, I think that criticism is healthy, it's not a case of "doing it down", it's intended to be constructive and hiopefully taken in that way. I do think there are elements of Celtic Connections that should be lauded- such as encouraging more people to listen to this music, but at the same time let's also accept that it has created problems with regard to new performers' expectations of what folk music has to offer , as Aultimer mentions. And let's be frank, it's a concert-hall driven money-spinner. Where is it's influence throughout the year? Why doesn't it liaise with folk clubs and Fetsivals to help nurture the folk scene in Scotland?
Having got that off my chest, I also take exception to the comments regarding the dearth of culture in the West coast of Scotland from "akenaton". We didn't all speak Gaelic (Irish or Scots) even when it was the majority language. The loss of a "traditional" culture is probably as a result of industrialisation and urbanisation (hence it's more recent survival in Aberdeenshire, Sussex, West Ireland, etc) and a lack of folk music and folk clubs can be seen to be a phenomenon across the UK. As for a lack of festivals in the West of Scotland, says who? How about Girvan- one of the best traditional festivals in Scotland; Portpatrick? Port William? Killin? Arran.? Lack of local music? We in Glasgow have several good sessions on the go each week. There are sessions in the surrounding area also. Whilst not as many as I would like, it's by no means the cultural desert that akenaton suggest. My suggestion would be get the facts right before commenting. Come along and join in with some of this, you'll be more than welcome.