I guess I just relate to "folk" (in almost *all* it's forms, including some of the contemporary stuff that seems always to be "put down" here) as one of the many strands of music I enjoy.

I like a good mixture of live events, so am happy to go to organised gigs, as well as singarounds, sessions and open mic events. I do find performing when "miced up" much more nerve-wracking than performing unamplified (whic might surprise those who've seen my nerves in unamplified settings!).

"Folky" sessions and singarounds are, however, the main places I can actually perform myself. My favourite sort of "folky" event is a mixed tune session/ singaround environment where the music choice is very broad...a mix of accompanied and unaccompanied songs, tunes and instrumentals. I love melody, I love humour and I love instrumental competence (in others....my own is very limited indeed)

If I have one area that I don't relate to too well, it's very long, not very melodic unaccompanied songs, sung poorly. I generally listen politely (as I know some people are forcing themselves to listen politely to me at times!) as I know that, as long as I'm at a mixed session, "something completely different" will be along in a minute.

So I think that on that front, I'd alos find it hard to relate to *any* event that was too tightly circumscribed...ie only unaccompanied trad songs, only Irish tunes, only guitar-accompanied 60s-70s, etc.

When I go into a room I like to see a good mix of guitars, mandolins, concertinas, accordions/ melodeons (not TOO many of those in one place!), fiddles, flutes, citterns annd people sitting without instruments. I'm even happier if there's an autoharp, psaltery or dulcimer in the room.

Variety is where it's at for me.