"Your measure of success of the folk scene seems to be whether it provides an opportunity for young performers to make a living."

I think you've got it in one there, Snail.

"We need more who are prepared to take on the ground work. There are some; Laurel Swift and Anna Tabbush spring to mind. We need more like that."

I'd add Sam Lee to that list. Runs a hip young folk club in north London (with ex-Devil's Interval Lauren McCormick) and is doing lots of outreach and development work for EFDSS. Many young folk artists have done development work while getting their careers off the ground - Sam, I think, has a real and lasting commitment to development work and outreach.

And I can't not mention the fact that Damien Barber has, since January, been travelling from Yorkshire to Loughborough every week just to teach kids rapper dancing at an after-school club.

There are a fair few artists out there from the younger generation who are making a positive contribution to the traditional arts. That's worth celebrating.