Ron, I need obviously to clarify. When I said

"there is no overarching canon anymore. The folk world has become diversified and specialized"
"it seems that since the songwriting-with-acoustic-guitar revolution of the 60s and 70s, the scene grew so much as to become fragmented -- so we don't have a few key players that might be named by all."

that was not with any negative judgment, just to contrast what the original poster seemed to be looking for to where we've come to. As I said earlier, I'm not worried about the state of affairs at all.

I'm happy that Among the Oak and Ash are doing what they're doing (if a little miffed -- and only a little -- at their apparent dismissal of the revivals that have come before).

~ Becky