I agree with you 100% Will.

I personally dislike dance tunes played any faster than they would be for dancing, perhaps a shade, but only a shade. And I'd wager that the best session players I've been lucky enough to wedge in with would agree.

When people play fast just to show off - well, it ruins the tune, and strips out all opportunity for variation or even decoration.

I'm not sure people who play too fast are on an ego trip though. I think the problem lies with over-familiarity. They've played the darned tunes so often they're not listening any more, and they know it so well the fingers are on autopilot.

No names no pack drill, but it's a very common problem, and it's hard to hold a herd of fiddlers back when you're almost inaudible yourself.

This can be where a group of good accompanists can make a real difference - but they will need some tune players on side if they're going to make any difference.

One thing more: don't confuse ornamentation with speed. A banjo player of my acquaintance has a terrifying notes-per-second rate, but his tempo is always measured and very danceable. The decorative notes bubble and froth around the tune in a delightfully scary way, but the tune itself is very join-in-with-able.

Less able players mistakenly think players like him are playing fast, and so feel they should go at everything like a bull at a gate in a china shop.

"best tune players I've ever met are those who are willing to accommodate newer, less experienced players"

I said the very same at the top of the thread.