That's closer to something I'd like to see, leveller. I have never been a folksinger. I've done a few folk songs, but they appealed to me and I arranged a few to suit sets I did. Today, I'm just another singer-songwriter whose influences include but are not limited to people like Tom Paxton, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, Kingston Trio, Mitchell Trio, Lonnie Johnson, Joan Baez, Kytrad, Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, PP and M, Pat Sky, Stan Rogers, Dave Edmunds, The Kinks, JS Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Glenn Miller, Miles Davis, The Double Six of Paris, Bikel, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain, Richie Havens, Country Joe, The Incredible String Band, Bill Garrett, Noah Zacharin, Ron Bankley, The Ville Emard Blues Band, Bill Staines, Maddy Prior, Steeleye, Whittle, Papavgeris, Moorhouse, McKeever--dang. I could go on for another five hundred people I've listened to closely to learn techniques, phrasings, etc.

For me, music is not about categories--and I think it isn't to most folks. But the traditionalists have a good point. Whether the 1954 declaration still holds true is really beyond my scope/knowledge. There are people on this site who talk and I listen. Malcolm Douglas, Q, Azizi, Jim Dixon, Jack Campin, Kytrad, Nerd. They are serious researchers/scholars in their chosen areas of expertise. There are wonderful areas of music that MUST be preserved, imo, and they in their ways cause that to happen. I would never call myself a folksinger. I'm not. I neither put myself in that category (nor do I wish to be spoken of as if I belonged in that category).

The world of music does not start or stop with the UK. But the people doing collecting and preserving of folk songs are entitled to the same respect we would give other serious experts in fields of study. Whether I agree with their conclusions to do with Seth Lakeman is another matter. I like the guy's work. I've listened numerous times to him and I like his work.

I would love to go to some trad clubs in England/Scotland/Ireland and be part of the audience. I would also love to go to a performance by Lakeman. I simply like to listen to people who are good at what they do. We are all of us composites of our influences. I doubt that will ever change. I hope not, anyway.

Best wishes to all of you.

BM