Let me confess to being an ultra-traditional purist with regard to the material I perform myself (apart from some Peter Bellamy songs which almost amount to the same thing), so there are lots of things I could take exception to and I probably wouldn't feel at home in the majority of folk clubs with their seeming bias towards contemporary material or IMO over-instrumented revivalist approaches. However, I also have a sense of humour and I'd hate to see the folk scene completely dominated by people like myself...

The TDL 'so-bad-they're-good' cult is side-splittingly entertaining, and IMO a lot less irritating than, say, the naff humour attempted by some folkies, the rendition of 'pop' songs or reading from lyric sheets. I manage only an annual visit to the Friday Orpington club, but let me add that Sue is a friendly host who gives a lot of space and encouragement to new faces. There are some very good residents at the club (though not necessarily conforming to my own style preferences), but it is also a great place for newcomers to try out their skills as I did myself.

At the end of the day "talent" as perceived by the voyeur isn't the only thing in folk music. If your only value is expertise you should find another genre, not just another club.

Richard