"One aspect that has been mentioned that I do find really bizzarre is the Critic's Circle. Who were the critics and what were their credentials for being critics? Were they elected or self-appointed? Did they criticise personal style, content, or what? How does this fit in with the whole point of folk music; that any performance is relevant because it is the music of the people, not of some elitist group?"

Oh dear! Here we go again! I believe that Folkiedave and Bryn Pugh have dealt with this point more than adequately - but I do find this sort of thing really, really, really irritating!!

"Any performance" is NOT adequate if it does not do justice to the genius of the people. This was a central point of Ewan's teaching. To suggest that any old shite will do for the people's music is patronising in the extreme and, I contend, ELITIST!