Heather was singing fine a couple of Xmases ago when she came to the Sheffield Carols but she doesn't sing much in this country working in New York as she does.

that it's the lack of the young that is the problem,

Let us just get this clear. There are plenty of young people in folk music, and I would guess that there are more now than there ever were.

If you mean lacking at at folk clubs I agree. Who wants to go and pay for a seat in a pub where anyone can just turn up and sing - I certainly don't and only visit clubs now where I can be assured that there is a good artist that I either know, or have heard of or have had recommended to me. We can hardly blame the young if they feel the same.

If you mean as artists - you should really take a look around at a festival these days, plenty of young people as artists. I was at a festival last weekend and the bill was chokker with young artists. onesomes, twosomes, threesomes, and foursomes, singers and instumentalists.

If you mean as participants - then there are plenty at festivals, at ceilidhs and at sessions.

A number are dancing morris and clog (my own morris team has just recruited a 21 year old lad, many morris teams are now recruiting young members). Unfortunately the majority of our offspring were daughters. As SCIORR (Irish dance) they have been appearing at festivals all over the world (South America and most European countries) for the past ten years. They have also done many UK festivals. They have developed their own routines and costumes.

http://www.sciorr.force9.co.uk/

Lack of young the problem? Sorry but I just do not see it.