I'm definitely a born-again folkist.

Aged 71 now, I am really enjoying the fringe folk scene around North and East Yorkshire, while I still have a voice of sorts.

I do miss the times when I had my own folk programme on Chiltern/Horizon Radio (Herts, Beds, Bucks, Northants, Cambs, and North Middlesex), was running folk clubs, concerts and the odd (very odd) festival, and performing solo and in groups for cash. But all that was more than 25 years ago and it could become a bit of a chore fitting it all in around a hectic day job. I gave it all up for about 20 years.

Now it's just 'nice' to be able to go out and sing and listen without any pressure whatsoever, rediscovering an old repertoire including some songs from the 60s that folks around here have never heard before.

What I am finding is that the standard of performance in the fringe folk scene is amazingly good nowadays.

The DIY folk scene is alive and well, at least in Yorkshire and yes, there are many very good oldie performers in it, but also some up and coming younger ones too, I'm very glad to say.

Tone