Jon Bartlett - the events you seem to be wanting to attend, mainly seem to be the 'fringe' events, the sort of music that will happen regardless of who is booked, where two or more are gathered together with a songbook and a melodeon.

Towersey festival (August Bank Holiday weekend) in Oxfordshire has a very strong 'fringe' event in the village pub - in fact, it's spread out from the festival into a regular session, last Thursday of the month.

The Wareham Wail (first weekend in September) is a whole weekend of nothing but singing in a beer tent and eating. No booked artists, no stage, no PA, no fringe events (unless you count birdsong as fringe) and no end of fun!

Those are two that I know of, there may be many more, but it's a case of, as said above, you pay your money and make your choice. Or in my case, I apply to steward and take me choice!

LTS