I don't drink beer but I love folk music.

The problem with getting out in front of a parade is that you never know who you are leading up "San Juan Hill".

Folk music has always and will continue to be free as long as it is practiced off the stage and media as well.

"Populist" gatherings can be phony. Consider the "Tea Party" in the US.

Conrad says: "This means proper food and proper consumption of alcohol which is necessary to awaken the muse."

The muse has little to do with alcohol and is also sometimes an impediment.
As to proper food, the jury is out on that one big time.

The working-class in the UK is different then the one here in the States. I hate to admit it but UK working-class is generally better informed. Even so, there is a tendency to glorify
"the people" in a Rousseauian manner that borders on pretension.

Essentially to try to force folk music down anyone's throat is self-defeating. Taking over malls or stadiums won't work because other people have taste and money that they want to spend for entertainment. There are those who would be bored with folk music that was limited and relegated to what the general consensus of what folk music is.

As to a socialist approach to making music, I am not opposed to this idea. It will not come from conservative Republicans however as much as they try to hide behind the mask of "the people". A socialist approach would be to share expenses as well as any profits that can be taken by such a gathering. I think that from what I've read and heard,
the pub in the UK serves this function in a way. It allows singers and musicians to gather for sessions on their own terms, at least that was my experience in Ireland.

Somebody has to spend money to make what Conrad suggests happen. In this way,
there is no "free" music as there is no "free market". An instrument has to be paid for as well as a facility to make music happen.

I would love to see another folk music revival wherein people would take up instruments and sing the old songs. This isn't going to happen because there are so many diversified tastes today. Being autocratic as to what people want to hear won't work.

Sorry to have to rain on your parade, Conrad. I share your enthusiasm for folk music, though.