The future of folk music relies on many things. The dwindling folk club scene has its role, and so do the festivals. And the open mike cafes, and the centres of excellence, and the arts centres, and parents singing songs to their kids, and the existence of the EFDSS and the V.Williams library, and C# House. I feel no need to single out the "most important" factor in ensuring a future for folk music because a) I don't know it and b) I am pretty certain that no single factor can ever be sufficient. Folk music is/should be pervasive, turning up at all sort of moments in one's life and all sorts of place - hence, many avenues required for it to travel freely.

In a flowing river, the water molecules go this way and that, individually; some hit obstacles, some backtrack, some never make it to the sea. But the river moves forward. And so does folk music, I believe.

(PS: Ruth, regarding the raised hand: I knew it, I was behind the one-way mirror!)