I've been to some memorable gigs over the years in folk clubs and concert halls e.g first ever really mimorable one was Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Nice - all on one gig (Palace, manchester '68), first Fairport gig (with the swarb) at the Free Trade Hall (i think)- can't remember the date but the one that probably stays in my mind and probably gave me a real live introduction and lasting love of folk music was............The Spinners at the Free Trade Hall in the late sixties! Yep that's right. They've come in for some stick (very unjustifiable in my opinion) by a few 'purists?' on the scene over the years. I still maintain, however, that they were the only acoustic folk 'act' at the time that could literally turn a 2000+ capacity auditorium (and it was a vitual sell-out that night) into a folk club atmosphere! Nobody, including me, seemed at all nervous about joining in on the choruses and songs. You almost felt a part of the act, such was these four guy's genuine love of the music, affinity with their audience and, of course, lively professionalism.

So thanks for that Tony, Mick, Hughie and Cliff!!