Thanks Genie for your sage and practical comments. You make a lot of sense.

I guess that every singaround/song circle/folk club/fringe session etc etc are all very different and that is what to me in the UK makes the whole folk experience so fascinating and varied.

If the scene or atmosphere or reception or rules etc don't tick all your boxes you can try another one quite close by and see how that grabs you. You just vote with your feet and we are all,thankfully, at liberty to do so.

Chris