What I find really distressing is the folk establishment. The way it looks down on musicians who do other gigs than folk clubs.

Its okay for 'professional' folk musicians to have another job - preferably something identifiably midlle class - librarian, or teacher, say....doctor (perfect!).

Whereas when you suggest some people as guests to certain organisers and radio djs, you get a very snotty ....oh yes I've heard of them - they do pubs...as though they've sold their souls to the devil.

I'm often abused by various mudcatters of being more working class than thou, but the folk world really is a bastion of middle class creepiness - and the aspect I've just described REALLY does make my flesh crawl.