Jim you are trying my patience now, mate!

How can you put this:

"What subsequent definitions - so far we've had 'anything that is performed in a folk club' -are there more?"

And then follow it immediately by this:

"you allow modern songs written in a traditional style to be Folk" Didn't say that, nor do I believe it; I recognise it as being a not strictly accurate, but not importantly so, part of the Wiki definition that you put up."

If the 54 is definition (A) then we have:

B: New songs written in a traditional style

C: New songs heavily adapted from traditional songs

D: New songs that have become associated with some traditional activity such as football.

E: New songs that have become very popular and are starting to be adapted in small ways.

F: New songs that are not traditional but which people think are traditional in ignorance.

G: Songs which have been passed orally through a family or other community.

H: Anything sung in a folk club

I: Anything performed by artists who play at folk clubs and festivals.

J: Anything broadcast on a radio station that has a folk handle.

K: Protest songs

L: Songs played on acoustic or otherwise 'folky' instruments.

M: Songs performed with a solo guitar or similar instrument.

N: Songs with a certain brittle style.

O: Songs with big choruses that suit pub singing etc.

P: Story songs.

err, there are probably more.

ALL of these are called 'folk' by significant groups of people. Ergo they are all valid, correct and reasonable uses of the word.

You don't have to accept any of the definitions, but you have to accept that the people who use them are genuine in their beliefs and have as much right to the word as you and the book-writers do.