I understand what you're saying, Jim. I just feel that the folk club debate has been hacked over so many times - with the same indeterminate outcomes - that it's possibly more interesting and refreshing to have a debate about the perception of the more polished and professional presenters of the music.

And I would agree with you that the clubs - and singarounds and sessions - are often the wellsprings from which the professionals rise. What's interesting to me is that many (not all) of the clubs I go to have an audience which is probably around 50+ in age group. The Bellowhead concert I attended several months ago in Lewes had an audience who were hugely diverse in age, with lots of much younger people - in their 20s - happily dancing away and enjoying what was a fine performance. Now, if Catherine Foster is criticising performers who are obviously attracting a much wider and younger fan base than, say, your average folk club, then what does she expect? Whether you like a band like Bellowhead or not - I do, as it happens - they bring people into the music in droves. So - what does Catherine prefer if she doesn't care for it?

It's worth pointing out that members of bands like Bellowhead play in smaller, offshoot groups which do play on the folk club circuit. I saw Faustus in Arundel some months ago - great performance, huge energy, great respect for the music - and the place was packed to the gills with all ages, and a huge number of young people. But Catherine's criticism of just these people has been made - so what should we expect in festivals and in clubs?