The club I support is the Vernon in Derby.

They have a guest every month. Sometimes we get a lot more in for the guests - sometimes not. jack hudson filled the place last week.

What makes it work is that there are loads of great floorsingers. the floorsingers keep developing and trying different stuff and we're all interested in each other, and we all like each other. Even if we don't like each others music we are polite. we listen attentively to their two song spot. We applaud. We lend support.

Theres no bitchiness and no sense of superiority from those who have a few years on the clock and have been able to devote time to developing what we do.

there is a hot buffet in the middle.

gary, Terry and branca always do a great job introducing people and welcoming them and if thereis someone new - they get talked to and welcomed.

contrast this with all the shit attitudes - 'I know all about folkmusic and what it is' that you get on mudcat. basically some clubs are on their arse because they are miserable , the room is cold and uncomfortable, no one speaks to you, they glare at you in an unfriendly manner if you've bothered to learn the words.

I can understand why ian Andrson sees him and the BBC gang as being the great arbiters of a superleague of folksingers. to be homnest - they gave themselves that job a long time ago and they've picked one boring bummer after another for the BBC2 folk concert slots.

Frankly I don't think they have the talent and/or aptitude for the role.