I'm not so sure jim its the people you say who are responsible for the continuance and such popularity of folk music as there is. In this day of mass communication - isn't it the stars and popularisers who capture peoples imaginations the Lunnys, the riverdancers, interviews with the Pogues - talking about their influences. That sort of thing.

as any clarinet teacher - when the parents take the kids for their first lesson - its always - how long til he can play stranger on the shore - not some piece by Mozart.

I can remember people sneering at Swarbrick - saying there are ten year olds in Ireland who play better fiddle than that.

the trouble with the traditionalists - is we're never traditional enough for them.