Jim , I had never had any doubt that your opinions are not based on solid experience.

I just have real reservations about those who write about folk music. And when I look at the general thrust of those university and polytech courses I have seen on folk music. they give me the same misgivings.

As for the Beatles evenings in a folk club - I think many organisers are just doing their damndest to keep afloat. Somewhere in there the folk revival lost the common touch.

As we struggle to get it back - you're going to see some odd things.

As far as the national identity thing I'm always reminded of a series of long conversations I had with Ian Campbell back in the 70's. He said to me - Alan, we had to get rid of the 'coffee bar cowboys'.

As we were both running half empty clubs at the time, I thought...... we could have done with a few of them in tonight!