Seconded, everything Ruth Archer posted.
Every (would-be) performer in the folk world finds it hard to get gigs. Older ones say it's because they're too old, younger ones think they're fighting against entrenched attitudes of middle aged folkies, songwriters think they're ostracised by the traddies and vice versa. It's a broad church with many opposites and when it gets hard it's easy to blame everybody who doesn't do things that way you do or isn't the same age. The reality is it's hard work for nearly everyone. There's a few lucky ones who get a lot of publicity, but there's thousands who don't.

I keep remembering Jacey Bedford's advice: overnight success takes far longer than you expect.

(By the way, Diane Easby is 100 years old. It official, on her myspace profile, so it must be true. She hides it well)

Anahata