Retirement and redundancy can be good times to try something new or revisit teenage aspirations sidelined by career and/or family.

I hope the entire folk world welcomes and encourages Bruce and others with similar enthusiasm to 'have a go'.

Open Mic nights can be OK - audiences expect and mix of accomplished performers and beginners. Better I suggest would be to try the folk clubs- as a start- those described as singarounds are almost guaranteed to be beginner friendly.

Of those which book guests, a good club would include on its website something about floorsingers being welcome or not; or under specified circumstances.

Clubs that are cold to floor singers I avoid like the Plague but if you find yourself at one, cut your losses by picking up a local folk diary which will include a good selection of club types. Get chatting at the bar to get some personal recommendations as to where beginners are welcome.

In Brighton we run three singarounds a week where beginners are welcome. Here's the link:

myspace.com/fyviesfolk