From what I can tell, the New Folk Movement is all about singer/songwriter types (the above mentioned John Gorka being a good example) who happen to play their stuff on acoustic instruments. Possibly there's a consideration for topical/political content in there somewhere, too. I've also seen and heard reference to Dar Williams, Tom Russell, John Wesley Harding and several others as new folk singers.

Mostly I enjoy their stuff. Some of it even resonates with me enough that I want to learn it and play it. But in my opinion, folk music it isn't.

Of course, then we get into the whole mess of defining exactly what is and what isn't folk music - - a question that has been argued fruitlessly for just about ever. And I'm not sure that's a debate I want to get into here.

- Sean