"The best networking opportunity by FAR is the awards night. Wine, laughter, suits aplenty including the DG and Arts ministers, with ears softened by alcohol, a small army of attractive (?) folk enthusiasts, all sorts of slebs coming out of the woodwork as closet folkies, and above all brilliant performances by some of our most talented artists."

Despite this though, it's just another awards ceremony. People in London clapping themselves on the back, drinking posh jollop and congratulating themselves on the fact they're hobnobbing with celebs. Which is fine, and raises the profile of the music (all of which I agree with utterly) etc . . . but is totally inauthentic. I'm not belittling the artists in the slightest - these are people I admire and I spend my hard-earned on their CD's and gigs, and I enjoy the awards as a show (and some of the performances have been memorable) but I'd rather watch Ceird an Cheiol and see the instruments involved, the people playing them and why they are important.

Show the music in it's natural environment, pubs, house etc. Follow the lead of The Transatlantic Sessions and show our musicians playing together and exchanging ideas in an less formal setting - along with artists from all over the Isles. Show pub sessions and folk club performances (the good thing about folk music is away from the rarefied atmosphere of London most of the musicians are in touch with the grass roots, and world class players are as frequent session players as the rest of us).

Explain why the music matters, and the people will embrace it as their own again. Ditch the Americana etc - let's see Kirkpatrick playing for his side at the weekend, McGoldrick in a Manchester pub setting the place alight or any one of the thousands of excellent singers, dancers or players doing their thing for the sheer pleasure of it.