well i don't agree.

Its the human dimension and the absence of 'standards' (sounds like a bloody OFSTED report!) that make it edgy and worthwhile and something dufferent from all those other middle class pools of iniquity and mediocrity that get all the arts council grants.

When someone's shite, they look for the escape clause in reality and sure enough they wash on the shores of the folk club. Then true enough you get the nightmare scenarios where you have ask them to piss off and torment someone else - eventually.

the whole bloody point of folkmusic though, is that its made by people who couldn't stick to four beats in a bar if their life depended on it.

And yes, I DO think that 'wanting to' is important. In fact I think if you don't wake up every morning wanting to do folkmusic (even if life has other activities mapped out for you) how the hell do you hope to hit the ground running when you do stand up there to sing.

And I love that bit:-

if we lose people ...tough!

We have lost people! - the entire population of england has pissed off whilst these clever sods dig up some rubbish from the library at Cecil Sharp house, run it up the flagpole and expect salutes all round.

Folk music without the folk is nonsense. And live with it - a lot of 'em can't sing for toffee! But its still worthwhile.