Give me your definition than Dave - it really is as simple as that

The people that came up with the 1954 one were far better versed in folk music than I, spent years studying it and still did not agree it unanimously. Do your really expect a folk hobbyist such as me to come up with a quick definition on an internet chat forum in a few words? Over half a century has passed since then and with the introduction of such sub-genres as folk rock, folk metal, fusion with other world music, contemporary singer songwriters, traditional music with electronic enhancements, other genres done in the English folk style and a whole range of things that I have probably not even thought of.

As Raggy said some time back, we need to use our ears and, I would add, our common sense to decide what folk music is. If a large number of people believe it is folk music and then go on to fill the clubs and buy the MP3s then we do have a popular consensus. Not academic maybe but it works. Coming back to the thread topic, those clubs that use such the populist definition thrive. Those that adhere to old worn out rules fall by the wayside.

DtG