That'd be the "Dave" that gave up his radio show to a couple of your mates two years ago and told them they could pick and choose the music to their heart's content.

I am still waiting for their thank you letter. But don't worry the complaints slowed to a trickle after a month or so.

Let's just assume there is such a thing as a folk mafia for a moment.

One thing is for certain they are not making a living at it because all the organisers I know have other jobs. Apart from a couple of larger folk festivals people give up their free time to run festivals, and folk clubs. There is no fortune to be made that's for sure.

What you are saying is that what they do voluntarily is refuse to choose people who (according to you) know how to put a song over, have great stage presence and can sing and play. Instead they choose (again according to you) a bunch of lesser talented people.

They "bet" the success of their folk clubs, folk festivals and so on on a bunch of lesser talents. For the life of me I cannot see why people would want to do that.

And if that isn't what you are saying - precisely how does this "folk establishment" (or as someone else called it "Folk Family Mafia") work?