IN reply to you Matthew, there's actually been a lot of research done by me into Cumbrian music and song: it's just that not a lot of it has been published. I have, over the years, published a bit in local publications including Cumbria Life magazine and a local folkie publication, plus the odd article in English Dance & Song and other national folk mags ... but none of those recently. Bands such as Greg Stephens' Boat Band (and his former band Crookfinger Jack) have also kept alive the tunes by playing and recording them, as have the late-lamented Ellen Valley Band, Cumbrian band Striding Edge ... and undoubtedly others too.

It is my intention to pull all my thirty years worth of research together within the next few years in order to publish a book on Cumbrian folk music, dance, song, folk plays etc. There's certainly more than enough material, it's just that I have to spend so much time earning my living as well!