to Bruce Michael Baillie. Just a thought ... could it be that the snobbery of instrumentalists against unaccompanied singing arises because their singing is not accomplished enough to stand by itself ! I can and do accompany myself with guitar and used to feel it was necessary for variety. But as confidence and experience (and hopefully ability) have grown I have come to find the presence of mediocre guitar accompaniments quite unnecessary.

We're lucky in our club. There is no prejudice against either unaccompanied or instrumental performers. But some of the best nights in recent times have been given by the former variety. Tremendous variety: great warmth, intellectual stimulus, laughs a plenty, wonderful chorus singing, riveting stories ... you name it and we've experienced it just in the few short weeks since Christmas from performers who have not needed the prop of an instrument.