Jim - sorry about the divisive comments. I don't know why I come into these threads. I guess because I want to learn. But I do not want to be scared away from something I have a passion for by academics. And I ceartainly do not want to be one who frightens new potential converts away.

Captain, - that is the kind of spine tingling beautiful I love hearing in sessions. It would be wonderful to attend sessions dedicated completely to "traditional folk". I hope I am naming it correctly. But it won't happen where I am.

I have to say that I also enjoy sessions which are mixed bag. And I fear that applying parameters to the label "folk" to only include the traditional song about the man of the field, ship, coalmine or woman at the loom, etc. limits the genre to a tiny blip that will eventually slip of the radar.

If "folk" were more inclusive, would it not draw more listeners and potetential performers who may delve deeper, learn more about its beginnings and keep the traditional stuff alive?