Another depressingly ageist thread from grizzled old folkies who've lost touch with their own youth. I spend a lot of my time telling kids to keep away from folk: it's not clever, it's not healthy and it can ruin lives. Folk is the menacing old tramp lurking on the fringes of musical culture, it looks on at youth with envy and bitterness. Worry not, it will pass.

Seriously, I'd say there was nothing to worry about; people will listen to what they want to listen to regardless. And, even at a Folk Youthful 49, these days might I often find myself the OLDEST in a Folk Context (as on the recent Oak Ash Thorn CD and other Spleen related projects) but seldom a Folk Club, where I always feel (and very often am MADE to feel) young. I'm used to that. Back when I started going to folk clubs I was looked at as mad by my prog/punk peers (most of whom tried it once and vowed never to go again) and with suspicion by the (usually unwelcoming) folkies. That said, every Folk Club might still attract it's younger members who invariably have their own thing going on as well; I've noticed a lot of these have folk parents though so I don't suppose that counts.

Talking about Folk Paarents: both my kids (22 & 30) hate Folk with a passion and bombard me with all manner of drum & bass, hip-hop, dub step etc. etc. I am very proud of them.

I find that if you separate Old Folkies from the Pack, they're a lot more tolerant of other types of music. To paraphrase Pink Floyd: Hey, Folky, leave those kids alone.