A serious answer to this thread would be Brian Dawson but I know that all the cognecenti will say "We know him". Yes I know he's known in Lincolnshire and a few other places but as a link to the tradition and as someone who can charm almost any audience and who has a scholarly, informed knowledge of his subject but who can make "folk music " seem real and interesting and alive he's the best I've seen.

The other answer to this thread is that half the replies show what I most dislike about Mudcat, the sneering, knowing condesention to a serious question, fortunately there's enough of the others to make it worth coming back.

Steve Ogden

PS why don't people put their real names to their comments?