I was there, + Swirlygirl. Collective age, 51, well under sixty. Reasonable "youth" turn out for folk music. Plus my mum and dad came too, neither of whom are sixty. How many under 60's do you expect? Folk has been out of the circle of influence of pop music promotion for a long time now. Now, to address a few points, the acoustics were pretty good, actually, and if "stars in my crown" isn't a chorus song, I don't know what is. I joined in, why didn't you? Too difficult? Sound man did superb job especially with guitar + brass and Chris Wood's fiddle, although vocals were sometimes muddy, a common problem with live sound, and I would have liked to have heard better seperation of Saul and Tim's Boxes. Then again, melodeons are buggers to mic at the best of times.

Wasn't penultimate number "prince heathen"? Granted, If you couldn't hear the words then it would be a bit incomprehensible, but where I was (middle pews) it was all more or less audible. Dominion of the sword (final number) I thought was really interesting, with 11 players, drone based and Aeolian harmony throughout. Not a big band arrangement though. Only two brass instruments for starters, and led by guitar. Hardly Count Basie Orchestra territory.

Finally, if you expect thanks to turn up to see a free gig with Martin, Liza, Norma, John K, Leon, Tim and Saul, Brass Monkey, Swarb, Roger and Chris, even if the weather is mildly inclement for early february then I think you might want to have a serious think about your place in the order of the music industry - Cause I've never heard of you but you are obviously of superstar status, so get a new agent mate.

And another thing. If you didn't like it, you could have left at any time. Didn't waste much time telling us all about it though, did you? Me, I thought it was great, but I'm a big fan of everyone who was on, which is why I went, but anyway, my opinion is severely biased as a result of actually liking the music. Best thing I've seen for a twelvemonth anyway.

EJ.