I think I have got most of the points. Very unusual for me - Took me ages to read the thread and I do have a very low boredom threshold so I suppose there must be something interesting in there.

I must say that, following some recent discussions on the etiquette of making disparaging remarks about other peoples likes or dislikes, I am keen to stay possitive. I am no big fan of Kate Rusby for a few reasons but I am perfectly happy to accept that other people love the stuff she does. I happen to like some stuff that other describe as crap but what the heck. Without the ability to produce crap we would all be in a sorry state:-) I did like her version of 'Village Green Preservation Society' but it doesn't hold a candle to Ray Davis' original version. That brings me to the point I realy do not understand -

If we are no longer to use the term folk as it has become meaningless and if we can't call any music from England but traditional dance music 'English Music' (Ref "And it's even worse to try and con people into thinking MOR mainstream shit is English music too") then what can we call music performed by any other English musician? Take the afore mentioned Mr Davis for instance. He is English. His music is recognisably English and it seems, to me, far from 'MOR mainstream shit'. What phrase do we use for it? Seriously?

To call it simply "Music" would work but, unfortunately, people, including me, do need some sort of guidance as to what we may or may not like. There are surprises in all styles but, generaly speaking, I will not go out of my way for an Opera or Jazz concert. I need to know in advance what I am letting myself in for, sad as it may sound. Generaly I will enjoy most of what is on offer at a folk festival but will only find a few enjoyable moments at a rave.

So, seeing as we have discussed everything from dialects to the oppression of women on a music thread how about we now find out just what categories of music are acceptable. Apart from English dance and MOR crap of course.

BTW - Diane is indeed knowledgeable and often witty but you can always tell when she is winding someone up. Her keyboard is clicking...

Cheers

Dave