I don't think most people are capable of concentrated listening for hours on end - and chatting in a pub is inevitable. I like the music to be the accompaniment to the evening rather than the absolute focus. Most people are enjoying the music whilst they are chatting anyway. So long as they don't get too loud I think that's fine.

Having said that, when I'm singing I've been known to be completely oblivious to whole dramas unfolding mere feet away from me - so a bit of chat never bothers me.

Kris