"I am sorry that Barry and others feel they cannot support the Boston Folk Festival, and I do understand why. I may be wrong, but I don't think this years lineup is any different from offerings at previous Boston Folk Festivals"

Hi Ron,
below I've posted the past partical line ups since the festival started, do note that I left off many whom I consider singer/songwriters & not folk but there was plenty of room for all, including contemporary & trad artists. Please note the difference also that there are no representives of foriegn cultures anymore.
Also note as the yrs move ahead the decline in what's folk lessens.

2006: Richie Havens, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, Kim & Reggie Harris,Jesse Winchester,Jennifer Kimball

2005: Matapat, Guy Davis, Ruthie Foster, Chris Smither,Lori McKenna and Janis Ian.

2004: David Bromberg, Natalie MacMaster, Sam Bush, Geoff Muldaur, Ollabelle, Tom Paxton, Chanty Boat Singers

2003: Joel Mabus, Tarbox Ramblers, Carol Noonan, Luther "Guitar Jr" Johnson, Tom Rush, Koko Taylor, Tony Trischka, Danú, Paul Brady,   Emmylou Harris, Capt. Stan and Daisy Nell, Koko Taylor, Scott Alarik

2002: Waifs, C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Guy Clark Richard Thompson, Nanci Griffith, Iris Dement, Southern Rail, Barachois, Bill Staines, Janice Allen, Barry Finn, Ken Schatz, Ken Sweeney, Patty Larkin, Utah Phillips,

2001: Rosie Flores, Chris Smither, Jimmie LaFave, Aoife Clancy, Altan, Eddie From Ohio, The Kennedys, Shirley Lewis, The Sevens, Chris & Meredith Thompson, Freddie White, Chris Smither, The Spirit of Africa with Mohamed Kafifa Kamara, Bill Morrissey, Mustard's Retreat, Laura Love Duo

2000: Garnet Rogers, Paperboys, Seamus Connolly, Robbie O'Connell, The Bagboys, Geoff Bartley, Ibrahima Camara & Safal Band, Magnolia, Djembe Safara, Lynn Noel, Barry Finn, Cuchullan, Kim & Reggie Harris,
Richie Havens, Tish Hinojosa, Jim Kweskin with Samoa and the Swinging Tenants, Jimmy LaFave, Late Bloomers, Christine Lavin,
Magnolia, Magpie, Roger McGuinn, Peter Rowan's Texas Trio with Tony Rice, Steeleye Span, Josh White, Jr.

1999 An Cre, The Barra MacNeils, Ibrahima Camara, Capoeira Camara,
Michael Cooney, Daragee Drum Ensemble, Jeff Davis, Stacey Earle,   
Eddie From Ohio, Kat Eggleston, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, The Eileen Ivers Band, The Kennedys, Louis Killen, Kate MacLeod, Murray MacLeod, Mustard's Retreat, Kelly Joe Phelps, Silver Leaf Gospel Singers

1998 Odetta, J.D.Crowe, Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson, the Tannahill Weavers, Tom Paxton, Lui Collins & Dana Robinson, Susan Werner, The Swinging Steaks, Devonsquare, Turgay Erturk, Tolino, The Tarbox Ramblers, The Freighthoppers with Sara Smith, Eddie From Ohio, The Silver Leaf Gospel Singers, Brooks Williams, Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong, Guy Davis, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, Happy Traum, Josh White Junior, Skip Gorman, Tony Cuffe, Taproot, Murray MacLeod

Thanks to all (so far anyway) that's posted their thoughts.
My gripe is that this festival has EXCLUDED not only trad but by the looks of the line up all BUT singersongwriters. Also, WUMB, the festival sponser has done the same with their station programing with a few exceptions (like Sandy's Saturday night Traditions show & a Celtic program). WUMB was a driving force in Boston's folk community along with Passim's Coffeehouse. Passim's has follow suit & many of the other venues are doing the same. Boston has become THE singer songwriter captail of the country & it's to the exclusion to all other geners of folk.

I don't want to force Trad or even contemporary folk on any festival, venue or person BUT I don't want the SS to force the others into hiding so that they can premote themselves at the cost to those that allowed them the breathing room in the 1st place to grow & prosper. UNGREATFUL kids!

Lastly, these SS cover almost exclusivly themselves or one another. Is that the new folk mantra? That's gaul.

Barry