Re Dave Simpson’s article (‘The whole ecosystem is collapsing’: inside the crisis in Britain’s live music scene, 1 March), maybe the industry needs to look elsewhere for role models. A repeatedly ignored genre is Irish traditional music – which is thriving as never before, and not only in Ireland. This is not a backward-looking activity for old crusties – the number of young people playing it is huge and the number of young bands burgeoning. Degree courses in traditional music of all sorts seem to be thriving. The Scottish music scene is similar. The main thing is that it is simple, honest fun – whatever your nationality.
We have just returned from Belfast TradFest, where every venue was packed to overflowing; the tuition workshops were at capacity and the pub sessions likewise. The Return to London Town festival in Cricklewood in October sees the same thing, and people travelling from elsewhere in Europe to participate. Last year’s Fleadh in Mullingar attracted 600,000 people from all over the world.
