"young performers are more interested in writing their own songs "
Where the hell did I ever say that? - would that more young people made their own songs rather than having to wait till the industry decided what it was going to sell them
I have been talking about what passes for folk songs in today's clubs - I probably know and sing as many songs composed in the folk idiom as I do traditional ones

What a pity you have to "book" your singers - we ran clubs where the residents were quite capable of singing their way though an evening without having to buy them in - grass-roots clubs
People have claimed here that the oldies are dying off (hence the fall in sales) and the newbies aren't replacing them
The folk scene was started so we could all develop our singing,and along with it, our understanding of folk songs
That's what appears to have gone down the pan
Jacks take on the Willie Clancy Summer School sums up the reluctance to discuss this issue rationally
The School was first set up to honour one of Ireland's greatest traditional musicians, for as long as it could, it ran on the practice of involving the few remaining traditional musicians and singers who sand, plaed and taught their art and when they died away, their descendants and former pupils took over
This weekend we were treated to two talks on two local musicians - after the first talk, we spent a glorious hour or so listening to the playing of the children and grandchildren of the subject of the talk.
If you find that "smug" Jack - stay away - we really don't need people like you when we have thousands of kids who are playing as well as Tom McCarthy's kids
I always remember my greatest objection to Mary Whitehouse was her readiness in condemning things she refused to try for herself
It seems the U.K. is being haunted by a similar specte at the feast
Jim Carroll