I sort of agree with most of what you say, CS. There are, certainly, some very creative young people around now - as there have been in every generation. Those creative young people deserve our support - but not necessarily our slavish adulation or unthinking acceptance. There's nothing like robust criticism, in a supportive atmosphere, to sharpen talent. And, before anyone starts, I'm NOT talking about petty and childish 'slagging off' by the envious which Ms Archer claims is happening in some circles (although I've never encountered it). To adopt a critical approach to any art form is, IMO, a perfectly reasonable thing to do. It is rarely a sign of 'moral turpitude' as so many contributors to this board seem to think. Nor does it have anything to do with authoritarianism or coercion (a similarly widespread view). Anyone is free to do, say or think anything they like, but I, equally, have a right to disagree with them and to defend my own views robustly.

But young people are peculiarly susceptible to fashion, and what I've been hearing for most of my 40 year association with the folk world is: "Let's throw out all these fusty old songs and singing styles and replace them with something more fashionable (involving rock-n-roll/electric guitars/rap/acid house/hip hop etc.)!" A moment's thought would show that this would be 'throwing-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater' and all we would be left with would be 'something vaguely fashionable' - which would soon go out of fashion. The fact is you can't remove the traditional from the folk world - it's at the heart of everything that we do - and if you can't live with that, please go and do something else (and I wish you well!).

Finally, where we do part company, CS, is your statement: "The job of any artist -IMO- is simply to please their *audience*."

IMO the "job of any artist" is to be true to their muse - and if the expression of that muse pleases an audience, so much the better.