I just think it would be nice if this thread were just about how good it is to see 'folky' stuff on telly. Whether it is to our taste or not (I personally am not a fan of Seth Lakeman, but enjoyed the programme nonetheless) is not the issue, it seems to me. This series is out there, it's freely available, and it's taking the music and people seriously. It may just attract a few casual viewers enough to be interested. Hurray.

Traditional music *is* a tradition: it lives, moves and evolves. If something is dead, does not move and remains static then it is of no use except as a museum piece. It therefore follows that 'authenticity' - what does that mean? what must we keep? what can we lose? how far can we stray? - is a judgement call and is, to a great extent, in the eye of the beholder.