"If folk music is seen by the next generation of folk musicians as nothing more than a performance art then, to my mind, something is lost."

Sadly, it's already seen as that by some of the older generation (evidence a-plenty on this thread) who have either lost the real spirit of the music, or never understood it in the first place. They seem to forget that their be-pedestalled heroes were once inexperienced, nervous beginners trying out their first song on an audience for the first time (and who knows, maybe forgetting a word or two).

Anonymous GUEST - I seldom agree with anonymous GUESTs, but I'll make an exception this time. Well said.

wld - "I write and play trad material at home for fun, and to keep my playing technique together, but I just can't imagine anyone being entertained by it."

You should have heard the guy who came as a new visitor to our club on Friday night. He played a ship's harmonium and sang traditional songs, some of them being ones which, through over-exposure, have become a bit tedious, but his performance of them was like a breath of fresh air. Beautiful songs, beautifully sung and played. Magic!