How do clubs get "taken over"? If it's a club with paying membership, it should have a constitution, aims etc. So it doesn't it automatically have a policy? If you want an exclusively trad club, why not put it in the constitution?

Where there are no set rules, as would seem to be the case where clubs and sessions are being hijacked, why don't the traddies fight back with inspiring performances. It might move someone who performs mainly contemporary material to investigate traditional material more seriously - this has been the case with me.

Personally, I like variety. I would normally be more inclined to attend a club or session with a bit more variety, which perhaps should be called an "acoustic" rather than "folk" club/session. I would be disappointed though if somebody was put off performing traditional material because it wasn't considered a traditional session.

Pete.