Lizzie, you have a personal axe to grind. Why bring it to this thread, apart from the fact that you see anyone who enjoys traditional music as the enemy?

Out of interest, which folk clubs have you actually visited? I'd be willing to hazard a guess you've been to maybe one club, one time, if that. Folk is a broad church. You don't like clubs? fine - there are lots of other ways to enjoy the music: diverse venues, festivals, etc. Why come in having a pop at people who put their life and soul, often at their own expense, into creating something for other people to enjoy, just to score points?

For the record, you can listen to whomever you like. It's when you obsessively shove your own musical taste down other people's throats on thread after thread that they become impatient with you. There is no vendetta against you or the artists you enjoy, except in your head.



Back OT:

"It has nothing whatever to do with elitism or exclusion or banning or auditions – the question seems to be, to me at least, 'TO DUMB DOWN OR NOT TO DUMB DOWN'."

I agree, Jim.