No Dick I don't know it is impossible to come up with evidence.

Lizzie wants to run her own festival and put on artists she wants thinks deserve to headline festivals.

I pointed out to two succesful festivals from over the past three years. so it is not impossible to do. She suggested venues where this might happen. I am happy to encourage her in this venture as would virtually all folk artists it would mean work for them after all.

I always find it quite amusing to see so many performers networking at folk festivals,

I am not sure what you mean by this Dick. Because I have a radio show and sell books on folk music I talk to artists at festvals. I talk to a lot of other people. I might be talking about books, about interviews, about forthcoming records, about past records, about what is happening where and when. I recently talked to an artist about some comments on a message board. I am not sure what else you want us to talk about. I was with a well-known folk artist yesterday: we talked football, and family. And folk music. Those are interests we share.

What would you like us to talk about so it wouldn't look as if people were networking?

lets stop pretending that the folk scene is the home of free music

I don't know anyone who does pretend. Some artists found in the sixties they were being asked to perform so they gave up a day job and took to the life of an itinerant singer. Some were succesful some weren't. That carries on. Some singers make a good living. Most have other jobs in my experience.

I am very lucky - here in Sheffield I can hear top class artists who people pay money to see and hear in my local pubs. So it is free. If I pay to go to a festival it isn't. That's it.

the folkscene is rife with little cliques

So let's hear some examples.

I do so dislike people who make wild statements with no evidence. You and Lizzie make a fine pair.