It is always good to hear of events that are becoming free however the piss instrument remark indicates exactly what I am talking about. Instrument quality is not important generally.

I would never ban mixing pros and ordinary people it is a good thing just so the ordinary people get their share of the time.

It is important to always ask yourself as a musicain- have I done all I can today to teach a song, find a song from the archive that no one has played or recorded. Not enough of it going on. Some, yes but we need to see it cranked up fully.

One can have a large festival which is effectively carved up into small units where people can experience much more than the mass entertainment which currently prevails. Little stages more of them.

What is your impact upon the folk world other than entertainment.

When you play at a venue that no one can afford but the wealthiest you arent doing enough.

If you discriminate against those who have instruments that you think are low quality you arent doing enough.

When you wont teach a song you arent doing enough.

Lots and lots of these barriers make it difficult for the ordinary person to bring folk music into their lives in an active way.

And I dont need any more examples of how occasionally here and there people have from time to time freed folk music. It needs to happen all the time.

Conrad