While I agree with Hoot's observations to a certain extent, the same observation can be made with respect to labeling music as folk music. Labels have their usefulness as long as one also accepts the limitations of labels.

I'm remembering my first FSGW Getaway. I wandered into what I was told was an old time jam, expecting it to be mostly old time string band. Since I knew I was amongst, for the first time, a lot of folks from the mid-Atlantic and New England areas I was anticipating hearing some real differences from Appalachian string band music. It was, instead, old time country, lots of Carter Family material and mostly a song circle rather than a stringband jam. Enjoyed it thoroughly. It just wasn't what I expected.