"I find that I have to keep reminding myself that it is the year 2001 and not 1901." Well, Shambles, I doubt very much if there'd have been these sort of problems back in 1901, they weren't so silly. Illegal to sing in pubs? There'd have been riots in the streets!

I'd have thought an easy enough way of drawing the kind of distinction Richard Bridge thnks wouldn't be practical would be just to allow anything that wasn't amplified. I suppose it might mean Trad Jazz making a come back in pubs, but that's be all right. I can't see unamplified singing and playing, however rough and ready, causing disturbances (except maybe on occasions when musicians get thrown out for annoying the regulars).

But now you're back Richard, could I pick your brains. Earlier you said "The first (issue)is that of a public perfomance licence, and the law is correctly set out on the Dudley website at the link given above."

Did that include the include the bit where they said "The common definition of a public entertainment is one which involves one or more of the above activities, is publicly advertised and where a fee is charged either before the event or on entry"?

Because if you did, and if you and Dudley Council are right on this, then this whole thing is a misunderstanding so far as sessions are concerned.