Sam said. I think that some of the best performers are those who tend not to be taken seriously when in fact they have probably inputted more ideas then the performers who just keep floating on a happy medium with their audience, making no attempt to challenge their ears.

Well said indeed. I think a good example of this is Robin Williamson, ex Incredible String Band. Since the demise of the group, who I used to see fill venues like The Royal Festival and the Royal Albert Halls, I have seen him solo, performing in some rather smaller and less well attended places. This is due to no lessening of his talent, more to the fact that he always had the courage to attempt new things and in truth they didn't and still don't always come off. To his eternal credit he continues to try new things and not take the easy option..

The band were always viewed a little suspiciously by the 'folk' establishment and never found great acceptance there, except significantly by other performers. We do seem to have a tendency like our music to be safe and familiar, don't we?

This seems very strange in his case as now he clearly represents the modern day equivalent of the travelling harper, storyteller, minstrel, and troubadour. At a time when we seem to look back and value this stereotype so much, it seems strange to me that we do not recognise this great original talent and continue to over praise less adventurous individuals.

On another point, I feel sadly that if Robin Williamson, like poor Nick Drake had died young and we could neatly parcel him up and label him, he would have reached god-like status now. As it is, he and others continue to produce more wonderful and challenging music than Nick Drake, Tim Buckley and others ever produced in their short, but seemingly more valued careers. It appears that by continuing to try new things, they make it difficult for us to appreciate their true worth in their lifetimes. In this respect, It would seem that "the young die good".