Malcolm Douglas, the academics I refer to are the ones who instead of considering the community and the sub-culture from which these trad singers come have a vested interest in displaying their sometimes irrelevant knowledge about specific individual favorites. They claim knowledge of a culture without actually promoting that culture. They quote other academics as being important sources but often ignore the cultural-subgroup and community that fosters these singers. Academics usually have an axe to grind since they are part of an educational system that prizes a certain anal retentive kind of knowledge.

I would suggest that anyone really interested in English trad music go and live in that community from whence it originates and get to know the needs of the people there instead of commenting as an outsider to frame an agenda. Maybe then they will really know the music.

Frank Hamilton