Thanks for those comments Genevieve, and I am delighted to hear your local folk programme is going so well.

Henry Ayrton's programme had survived for sixteen years and was as good as ever. His programme had universal acclaim and that in itself is great. He often had new, good, innovative music on. He is being replaced by a programme that claims to do just that - but for pop music of course.

I shan't give up the fight - though they were careful not to announce it in advance (I got wind through one of the performers who had been on). It was a programme much as you describe yours to be.

However whilst I am annoyed at the BBC and I don't have a TV (!!) I am realistic enough to know it is a bit like an oil tanker and hard to turn around. I do know through here and through other message boards that people are emailing (and it is so much easier than putting pen to paper because they are not sure where you live like they are when you write a letter!)

Anyway - there is some consensus that the BBC might go for more folk on Radio 3 which is where I might try campaign next. (I may not be the only one doing that either!) There are two problems from where I sit.

The first will be getting a performing rights budget so that they can play records. And secondly I am not sure what sort of programme I could actually recommend that is put on. Let me take you through some of my personal quandaries:

Love English music;

Would love to hear stuff from the archives;

Love most quality Celtic Music;

Love innovative UK folk - probably the first major festival to book the Hush featuring Bob Fox.

Love some singers/songwriters so long as they are not displaying their personal angst. Conolly, Bogle, Graham Miles, etc. not Leonard Cohen is an easy way of putting it;

Love the tremendously innovative music coming from Spain, Finland and Sweden, some East European but not so much African music or elsewhere in the world.

Now - think of a word that encompasses all that!!

Any thoughts are most welcome. (And I can compromise - after all I have booked Chumbawamba for Holmfirth Festival!!)

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk
www.holmfirthfestival.com