GUEST,pattyClink, agreed, the corporate control of the music being shared on radio has limited a lot of options for general listening. That said, this medium, the internet, has been a heavenly gift for the personalized exploration of music of every sort. This and the convenience of being able to carry around your personal playlist everywhere you go via those wonderful handheld devices that the majority of us already have in our pockets, smart phones, has opened a new means of getting music into everyone's ears. So, folks clubs, as a source for discovering or enjoying folk music have become antiquated. Blame tech if you must but there's no stopping the future. There are but three choices to adhere to, adapt to the future, migrate to a place that hasn't been influenced by the future (a bit challenging to do in this modern connected world we live in), or die. This forum is means of adapting to the future, connecting all who venture here to explore a common interest in music. And just look at the way it has succeeded. Marvel at the thousands of posts we each have made to endless conversations here. Change is not something to be feared but rather, embraced.

I also agree with PHJim's comment above. The type of instrument (acoustic or electric) cannot be the dividing line of what defines a musical genre, especially folk music. The only reason that much of the early folk music was played on acoustic instruments was simply because electrically amplified instruments had not yet been invented or popularized.

Roots, Americana... It seems like every time I click the drop down menu, that houses the ever expanding list of genres to choose from, when describing my musical endeavors, I'm stunned by just how many new genres of music are being invented to describe someone's approach. The names are mind-boggling. I have no clue what 95% of them even mean but there they are being touted as something so unique that they demand their own genre title. I don't ever even see a description listed for the way I describe my music (Folk Blues). I am continuously forced to choose something that, to me, doesn't fit as well. Perhaps that's the future telling me to adapt, to choose from among the choices that are available. Or perhaps just invent a completely new genre, which seems to be what everyone else is doing. Perhaps the answer to where interest in folk music has gone is being willing to adapt to the ever changing future of folk music.

I also agree with with the notion that's been expressed about inclusion of younger players. A local coffeehouse started advertising about their open stage in the area high school's music department. It soon became so inundated with younger players, all wanting to share their talents, that I found myself to be among the eldest in attendance. I often couldn't even get on the list, or find a seat. Because there were so many other younger players vying for a chance to strut their stuff. Again, children are the future. We have to embrace what they wish to share.

Many of the folk songs that so many love to share again and again were written long ago. They represent traditions of the past. That past is quickly being buried under the weight of so many other contemporary musical genres being recognized and invented. Instead of disputing what a folk song or folk music is, maybe we should be considering how to better bring it from the past to the present.

I liked reading about how well funded certain traditional music has become. That sort of cultural investment is important and needed. It's a shame that more music can't find the same level of respect and funding to invest in its future.

The longer I live, the more that I recognize that we are all connected by this love of music. More than anything that I can think of, our shared interest in music has managed to cross all cultural and demographic limitations. It crosses all lines on any map, differences in language, racial heritage, spiritual beliefs, political stands, gender roles... It because of this that all of us have found our way here and why we keep coming back to share our mutual love of music.