I don't think that contempt for one's audience is something that is found "a lot" among folkies, Guest. I can think of only one performer, a long-time household name on the Scottish folk scene (and a brilliant musician) , who irritates me by his off-hand attitude towards his audience. He probably reckons that because they are all disciples he can treat them like shit, or maybe he just doesn't realize how irritating his stage act is.

But other than that, I have never had the feeling that any performer I have seen was being condescending to the audience, neither in Britain nor in America.

Murray