conductors are required by those classically trained persons who are not brought up to keep time with their foot (or feet). This is of course a terrible affliction that us uncouth folkies do not suffer from!

A conductor is something different from a session leader whose function is to keep the session going and preferably to ensure that there is something on the agenda for everybody and also to stop anyindividual or group from 'hogging' the session.

George Garside will be doing his 'well known tunes at a steady pace' type of session at Moor & Coast festival at Whitby in May, Saltburn in August and Whitby Folk Week, also August. He will not be doing anything at the interim Sidmouth Festival this year.