Where are they?Try Fylde Folk Festival - they encourage young people - as for working for free tickets - it was better than the free beer I got when I was starting out!
Take a look sometime as the artists that are now (young) household names that started by entering the Fylde Folk Festival Talent competition - or were encouraged to start performing by attending one of the workshops.
Becoming "famous" takes talent and hard work and many will fall by the wayside - but there's more help and friendship within the folk world that the dog eat dog pop business.
get to the Fylde Folk Web site and sign up for the competition - you may win...... and be in the final concert - centre stage.
http://www.fyldefolk.freeserve.co.uk
Good Luck
Pete (Clansfolk)