When I started this thread I wrote:
"It seemed an odd venue for a folkie but who am I to question such things. I'm a little out of touch. Maybe all of you guys are playing with your local pops orchestras backing you up. Besides, I'm not going to question any paying gig. And the audience seemed truly appreciative."

I was expressing an opinion that was not meant to be a negative opinion. In my world odd is good because it is not normal. And I made the point that questioning someone else's venue was not my role in the world.

I believe I have been misunderstood though the discussion engendered by that misunderstanding is interesting.

My opinion stands. When you take a form of music that people have gotten used to and change the way it is presented you have an odd mixture. AND THAT IS GOOD! The effort can be an adventure. It will certainly be an evolution. And as evolution works some of the offspring will not not survive. Others will prosper and grow.