"but it still leaves us with the same problem. What do we call the songs that you say 'that I would like to be folk songs because I like them or because the audience applauds them when I sing them in a "folk club"?" (Bounty Hound : 29 Sep 14 - 04:05 PM)
Would it be misinterpreted if I suggested "Unpopular songs" – just to distinguish them from "Pop music" of course? (See also below)

"It appears from your post that you perform a mix yourself, so how would you answer that question when talking to someone who did not know what you do?" (Bounty Hound : 29 Sep 14 - 04:05 PM)
The amazing thing is this never seems to come up in the conversation elsewhere!! (I do sometimes tell people that I "go down to the pub and sing a few songs" but that's about as far as it ever gets before they lose interest.)

"It just seems to me the best available pragmatic compromise is still: TRAD FOLK & CONTEMPORARY FOLK" (GUEST,punkfolkrocker : 29 Sep 14 - 07:58 PM)
I'm also a pragmatist and, although I tend to look on the traditional (1954) folk as "real folk", the term Contemporary Folk has been around for as long as I've been singing "folk" and I'm comfortable enough with its use – so long as it isn't abbreviated. It's the abbreviation of both terms to just "Folk" that breeds confusion. Much "contemporary folk" has more in common with Pop music than traditional folk and probably about as much in common with "traditional (idiom) folk" as it does with classical music or Trad. Jazz.

I wonder if this discussion is about a world that's already moved on though. I've noticed that the term "Acoustic Music" is becoming much more popular and I think it's replacing "folk" in clubs and pubs. It's probably only persons of a certain age and the recording industry that hasn't yet moved away from the term folk completely – and the latter's as likely to use the term "World Music" as anything else.

To pick up another issue that's been raised here; like a few others I would be upset – if I took this aspect of Mudcat seriously – by the hyperbole that seeks to ridicule the older song carriers and their songs. My personal principle is that I only insult friends, only to their face and only those that I know will not be offended and will be able to respond with suitable repartee.   To insult those, mostly dead and certainly not present, who kept songs alive, not because they wanted to be "folk stars" or even specifically for us to rediscover the songs but simply because they enjoyed those songs, seems ungrateful to say the least. I also don't think it's justifiable to blame cliques for not allowing one entry, that's the nature of cliques. It may be the "traddies" not wanting to hear contemporary players or vice versa: it may musicians resenting singers in their sessions or singers complaining about too many tunes. These things tend to be gatherings of like minded individuals, if you don't fit in, find somewhere else but don't blame those already there. Not wishing to blame my own failures on terminal unpopularity I usually blame it on my lack of talent.