Hello Guest (4.41am)

'As traditional as any', yes, maybe I would agree if you take it that 'traditional' singing was not accompanied at all, as some people seem to believe. So on that basis, then no instruments are 'traditional?

But I understand that the melodeon is 1) a 19th century invention and 2) not English in origin. That was the point of my comment, it's about the 'tradition' and the 'scene'.

Things changed, were not static, and musical electrification seems a logical thing for 'ordinary' people to embrace - along with fridges and electric carpet sweepers.

Returning to the topic of the thread, I cannot compare standards today with those of whenever it was that Jim Carroll was going to clubs (? the 60s?) but I believe that rumours of the death of good entertainment in them are greatly exagerated.