Seems we are on an identical track Brian!

I quite agree also that there is nothing at all wrong with the "roots" tag for the reasons you mention (although it doesn't seem to be a popular term on Mudcat for some reason). There however appears to be something of a mismatch between the title of the said magazine and some of the views it expounds. Perhaps it should go back to being the "Southern Rag" (no offence to Southerners intended, indeed I was born in London myself!)

I have seen so many young musicians over the past few months (and from a "roots" perspective as they have been from countries/regions as diverse as Benin, Mauritania, Galicia, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Brittany, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Morocco, Belgium, India, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, Armenia, Canada, USA, etc., etc.). Besides the technical brilliance referred to, a very large majority of them have shown an astonishing maturity towards their traditions as well as often an innovative and fresh perspective (and excellent stagecraft).

I don't think age has anything to do with it IMHO...it's more to do with attitude and commitment and a love of the music.

mooman