Phil,
I don't know why you have a problem with my last posting. We ARE passing on the traditional material and the many many good songs that have been written in the last 60 years and those that are still being written. If new songs are not added to the general repertoire we are a museum and nothing else. I've just come from a final singaround at our local festival, and it is very local, not featuring for various reasons in the 'Folk Festival' calendar. I'd say the balance between trad and those written in the last 60 years was 50-50, and to my mind, someone steeped in traditional song, that's healthy!!!