Ian - an influence to check out is my all time favourite rocking folk band HORSLIPS.
They did very interesting musical things with a mixture of heavy rock and traditional instruments. Unfortunately they were musically different from what people expected and never got the popular acclaim they deserved (folkies thought they were too rocky, and rockers too folkie). Their "Folk Rock Operas" The Tain (1973) and The Book of Invasions (1976) are amongst my all time favourite works.
Frontman, Charles O'Connor (Fiddle/mandoline and lead vocals), currently has a shop in Whitby http://www.thestonehouse.co.uk and is still involved with things musical. His Resolution suite (Angel on the Mantlepiece) was background music at my wedding. I didn't actually meet Charles until about a year later, but found him to be a really nice bloke, and very helpful.
Try getting in touch via his websites for a different slant on your topic.
Quack!
Geoff!