So, Lizzie, tell us what you suggest. Please. It sounds very much like what you are saying is that, because one or two people have had a bad experience with one or two club organisers, the whole of the English Folk tradition needs to be replaced with something else. Something that the one or two who have had the bad experience, and yourself maybe, dictate? Because someone of your acquaintance could not get a gig at a club that may or may not have a policy that is outdated, then everyone who loves and enjoys Traditional English Folk, as well as modern folk, has to be subjected to nothing but the music that you like? What sort of world would that be?

Don't even try to suggest that the traditional folk world already operates that kind of policy because for every example you, or anyone else, may cite about a club in 1969, or in the back end of Little Boring on the Knob, booing a Bob Dylan cover, then people like Will, above or myself or any one of the hundreds of good club organisers out there, will cite the thousands of times that a Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen or Joni Mitchell or Paul McCartney song has been cheered.

This thread may be contentious in that it introduces something that some people may not consider folk music. That is fine - let us have a bit of contention. We already know that a definition of folk music cannot be agreed here on Mudcat. I, for one, find that the 1954 definition is fine - but I would not for a single instance suggest that the only music played at my club has to fit this definition. Nor does it seem would Will. Nor would the dozens on here that have already disagreed with you and the hundreds that feel that your contention is so ludicrous it cannot be addressed at all. Yet still you persist in these malicious and damaging rumours of some sort of Folk Gestapo. You don't need to explain why you do it. We all know why - There is history between yourself and some members on here who like Traditional Folk music.

Again, that is fine. But why don't you just be honest about it and say that you do not like Dave Eyre or Joanie Crump or Diane Easby or me. Why must you try to justify that dislike by suggesting that the whole of the traditional English folk culture is rotten to the core. I would be quite happy if just said 'Dave Polshaw is an arsehole and I don't like him.'. Honestly, I can take it and, besides, your opinion is of little consequence to me. What I cannot sit by and let you do is try to justify your dislike of the few by trying your best to discredit the hundreds and thousands of good people out there who make up the English Folk 'world'.

Now, please carry on singing the praises of whoever you like. Your enthusiasm does you credit. But try to understand that your tastes are not always everyones tastes. They are perfectly valid. They may be contovertial in terms of folk music. But not one single person will punish you for them. Please stop trying to punish everyone who enjoys traditional musuc by suggesting it should be replaced with your own likes.

Cheers

DtG