Since I suspect some of my ramblings on the bluegrass thread are at least partly to blame for Shambles outstanding declaration, please let me try to convince you that I am fundamentally an includer as well.

At a folk festival jam or song circle (we used to call them hootenannys) I always want every one included, whatever they play or sing. At such events I tend to think that performing highly structured ensemble music in a jam detracts from the event and makes people feel shut out. I relish the chance to hear new things and new techniques and there is no music in any style from any country or region that would cause me to turn my back. (Oh wait, I forgot about Kenney G.) I love to hear a room full of voices raised in song and I love to hear what everyone is experimenting with. That's why I spend time on these forums, because Mudcat is like that too.

Any session-type event that is advertised and open to anyone shouldn't be surprised when people show up; I think a special effort should be made to make everyone feel welcome. That's the way people have treated me and it's the way I treat them. If someone wants to have a purely bluegrass jam around these parts, they usually take care to invite only experienced bluegrass players with bluegrass expectations and they don't advertise the session beyond the limited personal invitations.

"Now I don't want to get off on a rant here but..."     (lights fade to black)
The only time the exclusion issue comes up at all in bluegrass is at a public event like a bluegrass festival. It's not a folk festival, it's not a blues festival, it's not a country music festival, it's not a rock festival and it's not a marching band competition. Most people attending come with that expectation. I often attend festivals of all the types mentioned but I don't expect each type to include the musical content of the others. If someone wants to redefine bluegrass music, let them hire a band and hit the road; maybe it will catch on. I don't think it's exclusionary for our society to maintain and support many distinct types of music and I see no reason why they need all be blended into one all-inclusive genre. I know that's not what Shambles has in mind either but I don't see why folks who wish to play a certain type of music a certain way should have to defend that desire or be thought divisive.

"But that's just my opinion... I could be wrong."     (lights come back up, wild applause)

Cheers,

      - Mark