a fortnightly pub session (definitely NOT of the singaround variety!)

???

Why the puzzlement? At least we kept traditional music going, which, without us, it wouldn't have done. I am very grateful to John Maughan and the Tree Inn Folk Club for getting me going. But it became more and more difficult to keep alive in Bude, a small, remote seaside town, with things moving on and more and more reliance on one bloke to keep the show on the road. I agree with Bonnie about this being a heartbreak thread, but we need to reflect on how rather stiff local traditions (I exempt John from that, actually, as he tried very hard to adapt) struggle to keep up with changing times.