The persona I present here is one of fierce intelligence. I am trying to engage with other people who say they are interested in folk music as an artform.

Theres no bluff. I am a nice person and I have given help and assistance to everyone I've ever met whenever I can. Even if their view of stuff is diametrically opposite to my own beliefs. My Quaker upbringing - I realise I don't have a monopoly on the truth.

if I can help you Ross in any way, let me.

However somewhere folkmusic has gone wrong. Eliot called it disociated sensibility when it camto English poetry. poems in the 1890's were being written in this grossly sentimental way -poems about Highwaymen and dark Angels in age of atheism and railways. A bit like this 'in the tradition' mush, that we're being force fed as folk music. Its nowt to do with us earth folk.

Ground Control to Planet Folk Music.....! the circuits all gone dead! Can you hear me Major Martin?