Folk Music

Is it me or are you Scandinavians on another planet.Wots a man in a cat suit doing in cafe while a singer sings about anything that comes into her head?There is a defined cultural difference emerging here.Was it magic mushroom season?

Don't hear much on folk music these days. When I think of folk music, I remember people like Woodie Guthrie, who wrote and sang songs about the plight of the immigrant farm workers during the depression years. His son, Arlo, was also a folk musician. I remember also Bob Dylan in his early years. He wrote "blowin in the wind". Good song. I liked Peter, Paul and Mary's rendition of that one. Gordon Lightfoot was of that era. He wrote and performed songs like, "If you could read my mind", Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald, Cotton Genny, Softly she comes, you're as fine as fine can be, on and on. hundreds of songs. He is my favorite. He only sang songs he wrote. Many other artists sang his songs. Early mornin rain was one. How about ole Joan Baez? Remember her from the woodstock days? I liked her songs. Janis Ian was another. All these artists and many more from the folk community wrote and sang songs of social importance. They sang about the vital issues of their times. Anyone remember Richie Havens? I could go on and on. I'd like to see this tradition continued by the young artists of these times. Are there any contemporary folk artists ? Hope this tradition doesn't pass on into history. Surely there are some talented lyricists out there who write songs about the issues of our day.