It seems to me, reading many of the threads here, that there is some sort of big cultural divide or different approach, understanding and mentality between the folk scene in the U.S and the U.K!

If this is so it could explain much about the different and obviously diverse conceptions and attitudes expressed here.

OK, I know I could be tossing a hot potato here, but I don't care, because I am hungry to learn, even if it makes me appear like a naive and ignorant bupmkin or I've had a 'brain fart'.

This topic could have been covered a thousand times over but I have not come across it very much at all in ten years posting on Mudcat.

So I know that I could be accused of diverging or drifting off from the original subject of this thread, or being blind to many previous threads but I also sort of have an instinct or gut feeling that this could be a root cause for many of the many heart-felt ,very well considered and presented; but still conflicting opinions expressed here.

For a start I am intrigued and fascinated by the use in the U.S (mentioned many times on this thread already) of the 'hymnal' book 'Rise Up Singing' (RUS).
It would seem from comments here that it's use is dwindling in the U.S but that it is still considered to be some sort of 'Bible' of collected folk songs by many people.
So how does that work?

I repeat again that I am not wishing to be contentious or contraversial but I am genuinely interested in the very well stated and obvious traditions in the U.S and what we in the U.K should be aware of and understand about your own cultural and unique traditions so that we both understand you better and appreciate your uptake on us when you visit the folk scene in the U.K.

So what does the RUS mean to you and how could we in the U.K undertand it better?

Chris