Well, I didn't realise what a wide-ranging, in depth, analytical discussion I was starting when I posted the original question.

Which was simply me wondering aloud roughly how many people in the UK, within the broad collective of 'folk performer' earned their living at it.

I actively didn't want to begin another "what is folk" thread. I just wondered whether it was a few hundred,a few thousand or more.

Having said that, lots of good postings and it's made interesting reading!

K/van