A lot of very good points raised in this thread , but the big problem for me in Richard's initial post is the 'Traditional' tag ! As jacqic
said , raised on 50's/60's pop , WHERE is the tradition ?? I am mostly Irish with a lot of English , brought up in the suburbs of Birmingham - I dont HAVE a tradition - Irish or Morris , Blues or Bluegrass , Jazz or Contra dance , are all muisc forms that I have absorbed SINCE adulthood ! Very few of us actually have ANY real tradition to keep up , only the traditions we adopt .