A new trend (maybe not too new) is being revived, that is a public song circle where
two songs allowed for performers, one, a song that offers a group song chorus for people to participate and another for an individual performance.

As many people are not instrumentalists, the unaccompanied song is making a come back at this event. I think this a healthy musical trend.

Songmakers, in Los Angeles, had this successful format that, in the Sixties and Seventies, was held in homes over the whole area. You could go to one every night of the week and it was free. They could last two or three hours.

Songwriters or performers who wanted to trot out new material or songs they've learned had a chance to test them before an audience.

Unaccompanied singing is important because it exercises not only an interesting presentation but good pitch and interpretation.

I realize that this is done extensively in the UK but Americans have been reluctant
as a group to do this except in small social circles.

I'd much rather hear a well executed unaccompanied song than someone banging on a guitar and singing a trad song with a pseudo rock rhythm.

I also appreciate the Burl Ives approach, if you use accompaniment and are just beginning as a player, KISS (keep in simple stupid).

There is such a group now in Atlanta that meets the last Sunday of every month conducted by Moira Nelligan, an American Irish singer as part of the Nelligan School of Traditional Irish and American music.

We are happy participants and enjoy all kinds of people singing and leading songs.

Moira Nelligan School of Trad Irish and Americana