Ian and Indrani, I can see you have some local and personal reasons for feeling as you do. I'm trying to address a wide view, so can only reiterate all my points above, and ask you to see them on that scale.

I had massive support from the clubs around West Yorkshire from my very first visit, but certainly it's hard to get work if you can't visit to present your songs in person (I'm not sure if that's actually what you want or not), and you do have to knock on some doors for a long time before they're opened (and I have the raw knuckles to prove it).

I actually have much the same musical background as you, but when I dived into folk from pop (knowing no-one) I did two things: First, I listened to what was going down in clubs, and learned how the scene worked, then honed my 'product' to fit (call it marketing or just plain good manners - I was still writing from the heart), and second, I worked very very very hard (any 'hype' has been the fruit of my own effort - as it usually is), I made friends with everyone I met, and finally I did my best to wow at every opportunity (even if I only got one song).

If you can't see what UK guest artists bring to UK culture so be it. I just hope you don't manage to convert too many people to your anarchist creed, because too many good people (artists, organisers and more) would be up against the wall.

Tom

PS Beefeater - I'm not sure to what extent, if any, you're being ironic.