It has long been my opinion that "folk music" depends on participation and emotion to show its magical properties.
Alex Campbell and Jez Lowe both had/have the ability to connect instantaneously with their audience on an emotional level. They were first and foremost entertainers for whom the emotion packed genre of "folk" was perfect.
I have seen Alex bring a rowdy drunken crowd of hundreds to order by simply striking gently on the strings of his old Gibson.He had what used to be known as a "presence".....the black open necked shirt, the black denims, the cowboy boots, the thin figure with the timeworn pale face and a voice,which though flawed, had the mark of truth all over it.
Jez Lowe is one of the few performers I have seen lately with that great gift......