It's a wee bit insulting to assume my perspective is based on Cambridge, Celtic Connections and Radio 2, Greg.

Chris Thile is a fantastic musician, but I still find it a weird choice. Why the occasional American nominee? There doesn't seem to be any logic.

I probably wasn't clear enough. I acknowledge that there are still traditions like those you describe, and like Sheffield Carols. I don't know how many "outsiders" will visit and take part in the Shepherd's meet, but certainly Sheffield Carols atracts many visitors from outside the community, which is lovely but also fudamentally alters the nature of the tradition. These traditions also seem to be quite collective in nature, which is also lovely, but we were talking about the folk awards, and singers who might be nominated for a traditional singer's award. Who are the individual living source singers who would be eligible for such an award today?

Happy to be enlightened,

Ruthie