To which I might add the warmth, the laughter, the tears, the pure joy of the crack (I'm a Tynesider) and the howling humanity of the thing. I've never got on with the fart-in-a-lift folk club, much less anything which presupposes a floor spot has to be some sort of performance. How can you get up to speed with two or three songs? No way. One song is more than enough. Keep moving, gentleman!

I hope this sounds positive, BTW - as I've said umpteen times before I never purposefully listen to Pro Folk, only old Trad Singers and singers in sessions. In such a community you know your place, you credit where credit is due and any would-be Prima-Donnas are roundly disabused in the name of Folk Character.