Lots of votes for Sheffield. I've been to Liverpool and Leeds but never got over to Sheffield. It sounds like a hotbed--I will research it more. Lowden: depending on the results of our upcoming presidential election, I may very well flee the country anyway, so who knows.

Simon G: Your point about the "parallel young acoustic scene" is very interesting to me. I'd like to check out this vein of folk. Do you think most English cities/towns have some outlet for this scene? Do they directly reference the '50s-60s revival, or are they just similar in ideals?

Jack: The issue of professionalism (and its connotations of commercialism, profit, etc.) may end up being part of my research. What's the "Footstompin list"? I'd like to see the arguments.

Tim: You guys certainly have a packed local schedule. Thanks very much for the offer to help me get around. Yours will be another area I will do some more research on it.

Justin