its that thing about being civil again isn't it?

Some of the people who think they know exactly what folksong and folkmusic is, are so lacking in understanding as to what constitutes a living artform that they are very hard to respect.

The stupider and narrower the view of a person - the harder they will find it to respect things outside of their vision.

It is hard to respect someone who sneers at what you have done with your life. I suspect we all need an extra neutral gear of civility, when we encounter these people at festivals, clubs, and on mudcat.

Willy Russell is a very folk based songwriter _ I knew a guy who was in the orchestra in Blood Brothers - the original production. Apparently some of the band felt a bit peeved that their orchestration from the noises produced by some bearded git with his finger in his ear, did not constitute a writing credit. Still I suppose Roberta Flack's group could perhaps say that about MacColl.

It is entirely understandable that the interpretative skills that Barbara Dickson learned from performing folk ballads should be seized on as a great showstopping power to harness by someone like Russell. And its a two way exchange - would we have had those extraordinary performances in folk clubs by Ewan - if he had not done years in theatre. Theatre and folksong have been inextricably linked from the start of the revival. The Clancy Bros had done acting and knew about stagecraft.

folksong is not in some sort of sealed capsule - it must have contact with the outside world. I suspect some of it may have to do with with old fashioned English class predjudice. Theatrical types generally talkling posh, and having exotic sexual lifestyles.