yes.

A further thought - aside from being a performer, I care deeply about traditional music as much as anyone else. I know that all of the students of the Newcastle course that I have met feel the same. I've always been told that the main defining feature of folk music is that you can do anything with it - it represents not just the past, but the present and (most importantly) the future too. Thats what the idea of an evolving tradition is. Belittling other people credentials as folk musicians is a little futile - you're either a good entertaining performer or you're not, and even then its a matter of opinion. I think anyone who accepts money in return for playing or singing owes it to their audience to be as knowledgeable about their material and subject matter as possible, but knowledge alone won't get you far.