No, I don't mean traditionalists, and I do hate this almost racial stereotyping phrase used for songwriters. There are good and bad, but this constant reaching for the sneering put down and the easy cliche is depressing, but predictable. The in crowd I meant are the ones with their hands on the levers of power in the folk world. They set the agenda that is then followed by the media, and in this case they appear to have fallen flat on their faces even for Mudcatters.
I am not in the least suprised that the programme was boring, but it must have been absolutely dreadful to elicit the responses I've read. There is dynamic music available, both in the tradition and from songwriters, we have to ask ourselves why it was not presented to the nation. The folk world this series portrayed was moribund and totally unable to inspire anyone who dipped in to it. A great chance lost i'm afraid, but exactly what I expected.