Chris Cole said: I'm sure the average punter doesn't want to hear a twenty five verse Child ballad

Have you ever tried it? i've been in public bar singarounds with a large proportion of non-singers who didn't even know there was going to be a singaround that night and seen the audience held rapt by a big ballad. I wouldn't suggest starting with Tamlyn or whatever, but I would certainly suggest trying one or two once things are warmed up.