Comments so far

Jim Fillman, Green Lane, Pennsylvania, USA
I see folk music as the mainstay of popular music. As we become more global in our thinking, I believe we will have to acknowledge that folk music is, in and of itself, the music of the people and, as such, influences much, of not all, popular musical production. Of critical importance to all of folk music in English is British folk music.

Tito - Bilbao, Spain
Kate Rusby´s music is great. many folk musicians get to spain every year so it´s easy to find a folk touring scene in Madrid, Bilbao or Galicia (the celtic area of Spain)

John - Bournemouth
I have been following folk music since the heyday of Fairport Convention and Lindisfarne. The most striking thing is that every generation finds something new to add. At present we have musicians ranging from the very rock orientated Damien Dempsey to the newly emerging Laura Marling. Folk music will never become completely mainstream, because on the whole folk artists are not prepared to sacrifice their musical integrity simply for the sake of fame and commercial success. By the way, has anybody noticed that good modern folk music is also being made in America. If you doubt it, check out the music of Anais Mitchell.

charlie - Ipswich
I think that with the ease of discovering new music now, more and more people are discovering the wealth of talent around on today's folk scene. check out Kerfuffle and Bellowhead if you fancy a listen. Just got back from the Shrewsbury folk festival

Anne - Liverpool
Thankfully - folk isn't stuck in the past. I've recently attended a few gigs organized by a young folk band THE RANDOM FAMILY. They have put on some great gigs by young local folk artists and even got Martin Carthy to play at one. There are a lots of young folk artists out there who need support and encouragement - the Random Family being one of the best.

Jon. Kingswinford
I have a band called "The Toads" in the midlands and we have found ourselves playing the local baggeridge folk festival for the last 4 years to some success. Are we therefore, folk? I play acoustic guitar and our songs are melody driven, does this make us a folk band? If anyone has the time to listen at www.thetoads.co.uk (it's free) and could let me know I would appreciate it. I guess what I'm getting at is-is folk music now sometimes pop/rock in a powercut?

Roger London
Not with such token coverage on BBC TV. I reckon this awards show could have been aired for about half the budget of KD Lang's concert but then we all know American music is far better than British music don't we?

Dan, Bristol
My parents used to run a folk night up in the Peak District in the 70s, and my early years were spent listening to Steeleye Span and the like. Those seemed to be the glory days for folk, as far as mainstream success is concerned, but acts like Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman, and Chris Wood are producing brilliant folk today. With such talented contemporary folk artists, and projects such as The Imagined Village fusing the old and new, folk is still at the heart of the British music scene. Does it get the respect it deserves? Well, it does from me!

Edina, Edinburgh
Hopefully not. Willy Mason aside most "folk" is pish.

n00j, Narch
Q: Is Folk The Future of Music?A: No.

Anthony, Northampton
I like Folk music, the more I listen to it the more I like it. There is such a range of sentiments and emomtions in it. It is good that there is currently a growth in interest in it, particulary with the student generation. However one question, why isn't this reflected with in the BBC by more having more TV and radio air time?

Mark - London
It's quite sad that British and especially English folk doesn't get the respect it deserves. Other countries and cultures are far more willing to acknowledge their cultural heritage whereas here it is looked down on and actively ridiculed. Things are slowly changing but I think the media (and especially TV because we now live in a TV led world) could do more to promote a positive image.

Sophie, Manchester
The folk scene has always been alive and vibrant. I believe it's just getting a little more exposure because many very young people who are more media friendly (Seth Lakeman immediately springs to mind) are at the forefront. I live in Manchester and there's been much talk of a 'folk boom.' This is all folk-influenced acoustica, it's rarely trad. folk. I've been writing about folk music for years and I must admit, it's suddenly becoming a bit more easy as there are so many gigs and resources to depend on!

Richie, London
Like many have already said this music genre needs no hype to turn it into the R&B of the future. Who wants factories churning out pretty white teethed stars playing folk music except the greedy corporate leeches. Folk music is what it is and just because many new artists have been influenced by it that doesn't mean it's 'the music of the future'. STOP THE HYPE!

Linda.Newcastle
No it's not the future of music and it already made a comeback 13 years ago with Beth Orton's Trailer Park,and it wen't underminded and KT Tunstell try to copy it.And Folk music is more for your Middle class people not your Working class lot so it won't work.But Folk music is still around you know Jack Jackson,Badly Drawn Boy,Turin Brakes the list go's on.

Mr Lee Hooker,Liverpool
Blues is better than Folk music but some might not agree on than.

Mikl, Hexham
Who cares!!?? its brilliant right now and that is all that matters, stop trying to stir up hypes! It'll only give it unnecessary overexposure and people will start picking holes in it only to the detriment of the scene. Just let it be!!!

Liz osman twyford
Folk is the one genre that isnt written and performed for money or fame if the folk awards had as much recognition as the brits you wouldnt find winners selling their cds between sets themselves but that is what i love about it

Eleanor White, Reading
In response to David Mark's comment below "uptight, middle-class, pottery teachers, librarians", may I let him know that I know a number of librarians (myself among them) who enjoy dancing away to all kinds of music, including folk music. Please don't use such stereotypes when they have no basis in reality.As to folk being the future of music - surely it is both the future and the past? It's not going to disappear because of where it's roots are. So in that sense, yes it is the future. As for becoming 'the next big thing', I selfishly hope not, because I love the folk scene as it is now, much as I would love the rest of the country to appreciate these fabulous musicians as much as I do!

Keith Cunningham. Sunderland.
Folk music is music which is in the public domain. If a piece is someone's copyright then it doesn't belong to the people and therefore shouldn't be claaified as folk.

Dave Sheffield
The fact is that every now and again the media discover folk. Comes around every five years ago.

Bob Templeman Aylesbury
Folk music is not trendy, does not get art council grants or lottery fundingTHANK GOD.The joy is that the broad house of “folk music” refuses to be put in a box. Artistes can come to the peak of their career in their 50’s and work into their?????. (How old is Roy Bailey).I believe Folk can grow and that it would benefit from better coverage, especially to target audiences under 21 (not in the fashion of the dreadful Folk Britannia). Folk Music is about the club scene, not about Cambridge and Sidmouth Festivals, 1000 seat venues and commercially run concert clubs like Nettlebed!To survive Folk’s roots need to remain planted in a healthy local club, pub and session scene and with support from local radio and press (which is sadly lacking) A healthy club scene will allow aspiring artistes to learn, fail and get back on their feet again and to eventually grow and develop is the antidote to the X Factor Culture.

Martyn Gnawfowlt Middx
For the love of grud Nooooo, Won't somebody think of the children?

Simon F. Hitchin.
Is folk the future of music? It had better not be otherwise we're all in trouble...

Jo Heatley, Cheltenham
Folk music is most definitely not stuck in the past, with the younger generation introducing many new technilogical elements to their songs but they still have a respect for the older more traditional elements and encorporate them all together.It's only folk music where you will see the biggest stars playing on a huge stage one minute and then an hour later they are playing tunes in the bar with musicians of all levels but encouraging them all the way.There is nothing flase about folkies - they are some of the most down to earth people around.I run Cheltenham Folk Festival, which takes place next week (15-17 Feb) and we have the best ticket sales in the festival's 12 year history - it is definitely edging its way on to people's radar, even if they don't realise it!

Sam, Oxford
I'm not convinced that the Folk Awards are truly representative of British Folk - where is the folk fusion of bands like the Peatbog Faeries or Shooglenifty? Moreover, where is the line between folk and other forms of music? Folk music can be exciting and different and often is, but from listening to the Folk Awards CDs I've not seen more than a glimmer of that.

George Hunter./Tyneside.
Folk music will always be a minority taste, but it will always be there, thank goodness,as a welcome relief from the dross which is served up as pop music for todays kids.

Anne in Cardiff
Folk music has the potential to outstrip the current commercial side of the industry as it is promoting and developing musicians on the merit of their music rather than image. There is no hysterical hype about finding the latest new act and a far more mature approach to listen and promoting it's genre. If anything it's what the conventional music industry should be looking at as a model of growth generation in the industry.

Greg, Edinburgh
Folk is definately the future of music, it is the spark which has ultimately led to the many genres of music we have. The real question is whether traditional music is being embraced by younger generations - artists like Kris Drever and Kate Rusby have made a massive impact as well as new media shows such as The Garden Sessions which makes folk as accessable as Radio One does pop.

Arfon Gwilym, Gwynedd
I've been involved in Welsh folk music all my life, but there's more life in it now than at any other time I remember, and it's attracting an increasing number of young people. The 'gwerin' - the ordinary folk -invariably love it, but that is certainly not reflected in the Welsh media. The Welsh language media is even worse than the English language media within Wales - at least Radio Wales have a two-hour long weekly programme. Radio Cymru has nothing at all.

chris, souuth cave
people laugh at my folk interest.I tried to engage friends in morris dancing to bellowhead this weekend. no takers

Alan Squires derby
I have had an enduring affinity with folk music since my 20's , both playing semi professionally and listening and some of the best music talent ever is out there. I am also so pleased and appreciate greatly, the fabulous new young talent that is and has emerged over recent years from the likes of Kathryn Tickell, Sharon Shannon through to Andy Cutting and Lau - where do you stop. There is just something in the British psyche that prevents them, seemingly, from being able to appreciate their cultural background and sheer musical genius, unlike the Irish and Scots. I do however have worries that if the folk scene becomes too commercial, it might lose its appeal as music for all and the aural tradition that has kept it going for so many years with the natural development that I now hear and love.

Nick, Newcastle
Why don't the daytime presenters play stuff by Oysterband, Billy Mitchell & Bob Fox, Karine Polwart or John Tams to name but a few. These people have more talent that Amy Winehouse and James Blunt for example. Show of Hands have had some airplay courtesy of Johnnie Walker but perhaps the lyrics of the latterday "folk" songwriters are too political for the DJ's who were more rebellious in the past. To quote Steve Knightley "we need roots..."

Wednesbury
To be honest I'm perfectly with all the old US folk I'm discovering - let alone anything new. Roscoe Holcomb, Dock Boggs, Carter Family, Monroe Brothers, Stnaley Brothers, etc.

Andy, London
Folk is the past. But the past used to be the future, so I suppose it must be. Regarding current problems, like binge drinking, try Blue Bleezin' Blind Drunk by Cilla Fisher

Sue Sherborne
folk music in it's widest sense seems never to have been more popular. it's becoming almost impossible to get tickets for Cambridge Folk festival, I went up and queued overnight last year! Today I hear that the Lamer Tree festival is already nearly out of some categories of tickets. So why do we seee and hear so little on the BBC? Folk is not stuck in the past though a few of my generation would like it to be. We like the innovative approach of Bellowhead, Lau, Afro Celts and Peatbog Faries to name but a few.

Graham from Newrk
With the BBC's poor coverage yet again, all I can say is thanks for hosting the awards and no thanks for then refusing to give them the coverage they deserve, ie at least BBC 2 TV.

Rick Clackmannan/Scotland
I realise that I am commenting on a site that is dedicatd to folk muisc and those who respond are very much aware of how good the folk scene is. However there is a perception in the non enthusiast/general public that folk music is dated and unfashionable hence the comment re beardes and aran sweaters.I personally promote and manage several young talented singer/songwriters in the acoustic/folk genre the difficulty I have found is getting gigs in folk clubs have a listen at let me know why they aren't getting gigs.www.myspace.com/afcradio

Jemma, Sheffield
On the 29th of February there will be hundreds of young people dancing in Sheffield Octagon to the sounds of the world’s only english trad glam rock ceilidh band: The Glorystrokes. I doubt that anyone who comes that evening will be able to deny that folk isn’t already cool, even if the media haven’t caught up with the idea yet! (see www.ivfdf.ceilidhsoc.org for more details) Last night on the radio, one of the non folkies from the imagined village said that the folk scene was incredibly inclusive and accepting. I love this about the folk scene –the folk stars socialise and play in sessions with everyone else at festivals and after gigs. Hence, incredibly selfishly, I have no wish for the folk scene to become any more popular, for with an increase in popularity, I can only see the inclusiveness being lost.

David Mark, Archway London
i played at a folk night in islington open mic thing. we did a couple of acoustic tracks as a duo. the crowd there all looked like uptight, middle-class, pottery teachers, librarians, it was horrible in there. they were purists wanting canticle type structures. we were on a Velvets/Libs unplugged vibe. We ere taken off after our first song! I can vouch that the night was ab out as far removed from Rock'N'Roll as you can probably get!!!! Stifling and bourgeois! we've now removed 'folk' from out 3rd Myspace band definition category.

Kelly, Herts
A folk convert of 5 years now, I have seen some of our most exciting and talented musicians emerging from this genre (Eliza Carthy, Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, Bellowhead, King Creosote etc). This is music that relies on true passion and amazing musical talent and whilst reserving respect for traditions, current folk music is far removed from people's misconceptions.It's definitely gaining in popularity too... I can't get near the stage at a Seth Lakeman gig anymore!

Rooster, Dorking
As a `folkie' for over 30 years I've always found it sad that this country and much of its media still often ridicule folk and continue to perpetrate the sterotype mentioned (beard/jumper/finger in ear). Other countries respect their folk idiom - even if it does not appeal to everyone - without making it a laughing stock. Folk is `of the people' and its antecedents are legion, Dylan, The Byrds, Pentangle, Steeleye Span - all of whom took the traditional folk tale and folk ballad as their inspiration. Well done BBC for extolling the virtues of the excellent musicianship which is folk with your awards

Robin / London
Folk aint all warm beer and wooly jumpers (although i do love this side of it as well). I was truely lucky to catch Lau the other night, live at The Cabbage Patch folk club, Twickenham. Fantastic. These guys are up there with the best of in the genre, award winning and top of their game. I sat these three foot from the small stage with no more than 60 other people (young and old)! What an experience and atmosphere, hey played as if possessed, electric! If they were a similar/comparable band or artist in the rock genre i would be standing at the back of a 2000 person crowd, jossled and straining to see. Folk (UK folk even better) is the way foward.

Shauna, Southampton
I saw two amazing folky bands last night at Hamptons, Johnny Flynn and notably Fireworks Night who took the folk template and gave it a sparkling and exciting modern twist. Fantastic stuff!

Kate Ashord
I am at present time listening to the Folk Awards,such great talent why is this not on TV as well as radio.

Joy, Bristol
Folk is totally underated and misunderstood I feel. It baffles me when I hear people say they don't like Folk, because its 'ambassadors' speak so much of the highs and the lows of life and love; something we can all identify with. It's from the heart; which you don't always get in other music. I think it's definitely on its way up, what with the success of acts coming out of Bristol like Katey Brooks, The Cedar, and the band that was; Whalebone Polly.

Steve, Newcastle
very under rated just look at Willy Mason two superb albums on he is only about 23, absolute legend

Rick Clackmannan/Scotland
Folk is very underrated in my opinion,the use of the word folk to describe this genre today does it a huge disservice and brings too many people the image of the 60's folkie with beard and fair isle sweater etc. the other problem with folk is that it incorporates such diversity from traditional to modern singer/songwriters. PeaceRick Allardice aka Djay BuddhaAFC radiop.s. Congrats to John Martyn on his lifetime award

Kes, Mill End Sandon
The future of folk can only get brighter, it has so much history and class to take insipation from. Acts like Kate Walsh, King Creosote, Bat for Lashes, Eliza Carthy and Feist, blaze a path for new folk. Folk is no flash in the pan.

barry, shrewsbury
Folk's got 1 great advantage over most other genres.it's prety timeless. listen to Mellow Candle, Richard Thompson, Forest, Tyrannasurus Rex from 30 years ago and they still sound fresh today. And it certainly packs an emotional punch, as very lyrical and soulful music.It disappeared in the 80s - when like everything else, we got folk 'lite'. But it seems to be well on the way back now.