I think Tom and Graham some it up admirably.

There have been other public votes apart form the one in 2004 - the following year for example Whapweasel were chosen by public vote.

I think the BBC/Smooth Ops do their best to see that the event is representative of the current scene/festival bookings/record sales/folk club bookings/radio plays/that is the complex "folk scene" as we know it. It is not as easy as making it a public vote. Truly it isn't.

And I have all Bellowhead's records and none of those done by the Bounty Hounds - which of course applies to many people and why I might click on the myspace which I haven't.

I have explained to Lizzie that she should get out there. Run a folk club/get involved with your local community radio station and set up your own programme.

Then you could play whatever records you liked. And I have offered before about how to put a radio show together, what you need and how to structure it.

Or of course you can sit and whinge on Mudcat.