Speaking as one ofthose who does tend to think in terms of bands, it's due to the fact that my father and I arethe only musically inclined people in our household - and he met the music through his girlfriend introducing him to Steeleye. And though Til and I sing/play together as much as we can (given classes and work) the only place that we find the music that we love is through bands. I know the songs I do from Steeleye & Silly Wizard and Fairport and Co. Unfortunately outside of family, there is no other way to really learn the songs.. At least in the areas I've lived in, the serious folk music interests are not there. People don't want to sing songs written in the 15th c. (except for us wierdos..)Though I live in a highly Irish area when I'm in NJ, all that people want to hear are the rebellion/drinking songs. The old ballads, and the really beautiful songs, the interest isn't there, becuase they only want to hear it when they're in a pub drinking.

I understand why some look down on us becuase we do think in terms of bands, but its' the only access we have to the music. And though some songs cross every single band (Who hasn't done a cover of Tam Lin? > it's still AFTER you've attached it to one band that another band does it . We learn the songs by band, there are no gatherings (that I've ever heard of!) to go and learn from other people. If it were not for the folk/international section of my music store (and the web!) I would never have learned these songs..

So don't put us down too badly becuase we learn by band, at least we learn them. At least there are a few of us out here who, even if it's only by buying a CD, learn and play and sing the songs, and then will teach them to our children the way they should be taught.

Petra Defenderette of the Young Band Based Folkies.. :)

:) I'm glad that I started this thread too, lots of interesting viewpoints to read.