RichD: Why are the angriest, most agitated posts on Mudcat always from people telling those having the online version of a pub discussion how angry and agitated they sound?

Green Man is my favourite festival too. A nice mixture of folk, low key rock, experimenting etc in a lovely setting with a great atmosphere. And in a lot of ways, I'd rather have the opportunity to see folk in that kind of setting than at a festival that is exclusively about folk - it also combats the tendency towards insularity.

I understand what you're saying about singing other people's songs being 'folk'. Whilst it's a commendably inclusive approach it does have the unfortunate implication of making 'Stars In Their Eyes' the most popular folk TV programme. It also means when my little boy and I are singing along to the Wiggles we are having some kind of 'folk' moment. We're not. We're just singing. The two aren't always the same.

WLD- Fair point about Joe Cocker. I actually quite like Rod the Mod's take on 'Man of Constant Sorrow' too, even if the recording credits try to make out he wrote it... another downside of the big boys doing folk material, possibly.

Cheers

Nigel