"It's becoming clear the only people who expect to hear a performance of exclusively traditional material are the six individuals who hang around Mudcat's 1954 threads."

In case I'm one of those this comment is aimed at, it's certainly not true in my case. Whilst my preference is for traditional material, I include in my repertoire many songs and tunes by modern writers. There are plenty of traditional songs which leave me cold, and some non-traditional songs which inspire me.

I certainly don't expect to hear only traditional music at a folk event (although I would be disappointed to hear none). I don't mind hearing music which is not traditional being performed, and I perform some myself, and all I ask is that if this is to be described as "folk" it should show some affinity with traditional forms (although not necessarily imitating them). I don't even mind music which clearly comes from another genre, provided it is performed in a style which is appropriate to a folk venue. I just disagree that this last category should be called "folk".