At the risk of veering 'off topic' (..and ranting!) I must admit I dislike hearing music being amplified unless it's strictly necessary. Especially in a public place where I haven't asked for it, I find it really intrusive.

I know the trend is nowadays for people to inflict their music, good or bad, on people in as wide a radius as possible (e.g. drivers driving about with car windows open, even on a freezing day, to give the whole town the benefit of the thumping bass from their sub-woofers!) but for me, one prime attraction of folk clubs is that I hear people perform without amplification. No matter how good the sound equipment, you'll always lose something on the way. I know that in large venues, you have to amplify, but (and maybe I have super-sensitive ears) I find that when music is amplified, 90 percent of the time it's way, way too loud for comfort, and I just don't want to listen, no matter how good the performer. If they can't respect my eardrums, why should I respect their music?!

Julie