"local farmers and farm labourers gathered in a barn at the end of each week, in harvest season, and sung songs whilst consuming copious amounts of ale...... and all present were expected to sing whether talented or not....haven't things changed"

Not really, Georgiansilver; sounds just like the two folk clubs I go to. The only difference is that we usually meet in a pub. We do still have parties like this - usually in an old mushroom shed owned by the local vet. That's what I mean when I say folk music should be FUN!