" ... one or even two free drinks from the bar and maybe some free sandwiches or even hot pork pies and mushy peas (in Yorkshire.)"

Umm ... how be if I take the drinks and give you my mushy peas?


As for the other stuff - you guys are talking apples and oranges, and trying to say that because you prefer one, it is innately superior. There is no need to come to a resolution - some people want to sing the well-known songs and have the whole house join in. Others don't give a damn about the so-called punters; they want to concentrate completely on their instrumental music, and they don't want to be interrupted by songs, particularly those well-known songs that they find annoying. They aren't concerned about entertainment, and they don't want their session to turn into a sing-song, which is usually a possibility, if they aren't careful. You songsters are not going to convince the instrumentalists that they should be more open to your songs, and the instrumentalists are not going to convince you that your songs should not be sung. So, just accept it; live and let live. If you fit in with the session, join; if you don't, find another one where you do fit in. Don't bother trying to change anyone's mind about this; it ain't gonna happen ...

As a singer and instrumentalist myself, I've been on both sides of this impasse, and have been insulted from both sides at one time or another, so I understand the feelings of those on either side.