Why do you assume they are more ethnic and pure than the poor sod trying to tell his eternal truth with a Mumford song

No-one is. It's not about 'ethnic' or 'pure'. It's just that you always seem to have a problem with foreign music, Al - you go on and on about it and seem to think the fact fRoots covers it has singlehandedly destroyed the folk scene, as you've implied on another thread. You seem not to accept that there are types of folk music all over the world, not just in the UK and America. You also seem to think that if someone has broad enough tastes to like some folk music (and other music - about McDonalds or whatever) from overseas this is somehow to the detriment of Britsish folk singers and singer songwriters. Can't someone like both?

Personally I think the Mumfords are as dull as fuck, so they are a bad example for me. Though if someone else enjoys them good luck to them. But taking some artists I do like - Michael Chapman, Bill Fay, Roy Harper, Hiss Golden Messenger, Adam Leonard, for example, they're great songwriters all. I have no need to worry if they are folk or not, I just like their music, and if someone wants to cover their songs,that's their business - though I'd rather hear the originals. I also have no need to disparage foreign folk music because I like their music.