all the 'names' quoted above are individuals who're also recording artists.

my gut feeling about 'folk' is that its not necessarily to do with 'folk icons' who've had 'big hit' 'folk' records.

when cecil sharp et al were going about 'collecting' vestiges of 'traditional' songs & music in britain, america & all over the place, there weren't really any 'folk icons'- just ordinary joe in the street, in the country, on the farm etc, who may well have liked to sing/perform their 'traditional' popsongs of the day.

as well as attending 'folk' do's, i also sometimes go to just ordinary sinarounds round the piano/organ in pubs.

the kinds of sogs joe pubic likes are the ones EVERYBODY knows- not just the inner circle of exclusive 'folkies'.

increasingly- these populist renditions are forming a big part of the repertoire performed in Mr Happy's weekly do & its very evident by the increasing numbers of participants & audience that in reality- these are the true folk songs, cos there the ones everybody can join in with & enjoy.