If we're going into a Supporting Yoof competition, can I boast that we gave Jon Boden, The Askew Sisters and Lisa Knapp their first ever bookings. We had Carly Blain just after Christmas as part of her award as a New Roots competition winner and The Park Bench Social Club, with Peter Tickell substituting for Ross Couper, earlier this year. We've got Sam Lee sometime next year.

As for Ewan's city not being able to support any decent folk clubs, Lewes (pop. 16,000) has the Lewes Arms Folk Club and the Royal Oak about 100yds apart, both thriving as weekly clubs. When Bellowhead played the Town Hall on the same night as we had Martin Carthy in April, both shows sold out.