"they replied well it is saturday evening mainstream entertainment.I am not sure radio 2 on a sat night is that mainstream?"

Dick - your friend has a healthier perspective than a lot of folkies...

By UK radio standards, Radio 2 is about the most mainstream station still on air..

Considering radio overall is a slow death media..

There was a recent [BBC] news report about how BBC radio is struggling to attract new younger listeners,
whilst retaining any the Beeb already had..

Too much competition from mobile phone social media..

It's a long time since a mass audience of my generation of 1970s teenagers
tuned in enthusiastically every night to John Peel..
[but then, TV shut down around 10 or 11...???}
or the weekend live gig broadcasts,
cassette tape recorders at the ready..
Or cared about anything produced by Radio 1.

WE are now the main target demographic for Radio 2,
if we can ever be arsed listening to any of it's predominantly MOR shows...

I'd guess Radio 3 or 4 would be a more appropriate home
for the kind of serious well researched Folk programs over critical disgruntled mudcatters dream of...???

But as I'm a bloke who still occasionally buys Seth Lakeman CDs,
I'd give him fair benefit of the doubt
if I remember to listen to the shows he is now presenting.
Is he writing the scripts, or just reading what he's handed down...??