"Instead of sticking pins in small effigies of one another, why not simply celebrate all that's great and good in the musical world?"

Couldn't agree more leveller and backwoodsman..

And THAT is *exactly* what I've been trying to get 'them' to think about for the past five years or so. This continuous hatred for various artists, in the English folk world has always puzzled, upset and eventually...pissed me off!

I love ALL kinds of folk music, be it traditional, folk rock, acappella, vibrant folk, or orgasmic folk...What the f*lk does it matter? Why this constant group of people who want to hurt and wound, put down, belittle and denigrate...?

I don't have rules, I don't have boundaries, I simply love great music! And *if* I come across music that doesn't do a great deal for me, as in the musicians who are performing it, then I'd rather keep my mouth shut and not mention it, instead of the vitriol that gets poured out over SoH, Kate and Seth.

I can assure people that The Oysterband have fans who are *anything* BUT 'Daily Mail' readers...yet many, MANY of them now love the music of Steve and Phil..and love it even more when The Oysterband and Show of Hands team up at gigs. I've seen them all performing together, jumped up and down with The Oyster fans to the combined music of the two bands and I know that people of all ages, all walks of life, love it all!

Include, never Exclude..

And...if you can't say anything nice about musicians, then best not to say anything at all, particularly if you're in the Festival Business, and choose to visit messageboards in your Festival Organiser hat.