Just for the record I have followed both threads from the very start and have not posted here at all in my name or any other!

I wasn't at Barnsley folk club for the "hot spot" being unwell, but as is well known I have known David for some years

In my view singing accappella is not easy and takes many years to get anywhere and depends on what you have when you start and is independent of musical instruments ability etc

David has a very clinical understanding of songs and a clear view of English language as it is written and a masterly ability to cross reference songs, tunes and singers that have been recorded in reviews

He does make mistakes and some times makes assumptions which are not correct (I refer to some on reviewing my Cds, of course!)he is prone to over statement and emphasis on occasion and in doing so can cause offence. Reviewing is about an overview of what has been presented by the performer, who wants to sell his/her CD to listen to! Cds cost money to create!

David has been very keen to become accepted as a singer and a person, for it is that that folk song is about as well as the ability to sing the words as printed.

He is not blessed with a pefect singing voice, he needs to learn songs and not read from notes, he needs to sing the songs in and look at nuances and hopefully pass these feelings from the words and songs to his audience ~ he is aware of this but tends to do this to exaggeration, natural is preferred

The folk community takes a long time to accept people on occasion and if you stick out from the rest can put peoples backs up!

Hope this is fair!

Ray Padgett