"... or Gladys Swarthout singing songs by John Jacob Niles, ... are all experiences totally different from listening to folk songs in their natural habitat(s) (whatever those might be). "

You can also add John Jacob Niles singing songs - or Richard Dyer Bennett.   Great & unusual voices - but could you call that "authentic"?

I do agree with you Don - but frankly any artist standing on a stage singing a folk song is far removed from the natural environment.


"When I see the drum set and the brass section and the musicians themselves jumping up and down like fleas on a hot rock, well. . . . "

I guess you could say the same thing about a square dance, contra dance or those crazy Brits who love Morris dancing!!    Of course, the drum IS the original folk instrument!


"I don't think Bellowhead, despite the quite contageous exhuberance of their performances, or any of those I mention above, would have done it for me."

To everything there is a season. One man's ceiling is another mans floor. (Add additional cliche's here)

I agree with you again Don! For you it was Walt Robertson, each of us have our own inspiration that drew us to the music. I guess we can never tell what is going to inspire others but we can only encourage those that get there!