there's loads going on. community singing is important round me, on a load of different scales from carols in the pub at christmas to just singing with friends (often also in the pub, or at home). I learned songs from my dad and mum, from their friends and from my own friends. My grandad wasn't much of a singer but still has a good repertoire of stories/yarns which he shares with the rest of the younger family. Spent this weekend at the English country music weekend and there was plenty of evidence of people like Roger Hinchliffe who are part of an English tradition where songs have been passed down through families. Sheffield University are now doing a first degree in folk music, following on from the one at newcastle, and I understand there are others. both places are still in England, last time I checked. I'm 28 now, and have had friends of my own age who've been singing this stuff for at least the last ten years, there's a host of people younger than me doing it. I've heard at least half a dozen youngsters singing songs from "the voice of the people" CDs this year, so whether there's an unbroken fmaily link or not doesn't matter, people do care abotu traditional song and are doing it because they like it. There's plenty going on, at home and in pubs, or on commercial CDs and at festivals. Pessimism seems a bit of a waste of energy that could be spent enthusing and singing.