All these arguments always come down to the same thing.

There is an element in traditional English folk scene that sees itself aloof from the rest of us. Not a large large element perhaps - but an influential element. They held key positions as DJs and journalists in the bad old days before the internet introduced an element of democracy into the situation.

Their snobbishness had a deep and proud resonance within certain elements of our middle classes. And still they talk to us as though we are pieces of shit, to be excluded from the folk music movement and folk music radio whenever possible.

What is it the IRA say....... our day will come - or some such. Perhaps not in my lifetime, certainly many great writers and artists must have been lost to this bullshit. I can think of several. However I believe the role of these people in all this, will seen in history as shameful.

Big Al Whittle
(whose first guitar/banjo hero was Eddie Condon - guitar/banjo player to Bix Beiderbeck, Fats Waller, The Mound City Blues Blowers, Bud Freeman and others. Incidentally Eddie played a four string guitar - abit like Johnnie Handle and Seth Lakemen, and a Vega banjo - like folksinger and instrumentalists too numerous to mention)