Well I have recorded two singers with "source " material and I would never have asked them to sing anywhere.

They were old and frail and would not have stood up to singing in public. That was the major reason. They had lost their style and technique but still had the words. The corollary to what you are saying seems to indicate that if the collector is not going to bring them (live) to a wider public then they should not be recorded. I cannot believe that you think that.

Some singers - Willie Scott is one who comes to mind - can be wonderful in front of any public because they are used to singing in public (hunt suppers and shepherds' meets in his case). Others - and there are some good singers here in Sheffield - are not used to singing in public but only in private or very tiny parties - like the family. The family is how songs get passed on. So you would hesitate to take them to a wider audience. You might do it but you would seriously think about it.

Some singers are hard work to listen to for the first time. The first time I heard Joe Heaney (possibly one of the finest sean-nos singers ever recorded) he was incredibly difficult to understand and I have been there when he has been booed by an Irish audience. Gate Theatre Dublin. He was not really a stage performer (IMHO) and should not have been booked as such. Even in a folk club he was hard work to listen to at first. To our eternal shame we only ever booked him once.

In fact of course the truth is that many folk festivals (remember I think they have in part replaced folk clubs) hesitate to book traditional singers.

Sheffield will host the 4th Bradfield Traditional Music Festival August 10th 2007 – August 12th 2007. Small, intimate and the perfect platform for traditional song.

I think Jim's track record in collecting and disseminating material is there for all to see and to criticise him and Pat as Victorian gentleman (and woman) collectors is plain wrong.

But I have no doubt Jim can defend himself. I hope he does.