My weekly gathering is held in the main room of a pub where singers & musicians are not segregated from the punters. This means that the music has been heard by people who are not usually subject to it. Over the past year or so, we've built up a very loyal audience who come week in, week out and knew nothing about folk music until they just happened to pop down to our pub on music nights. Some of them have even started performing.

So when we held our festival last weekend, their word-of-mouth meant that our attendances were far higher than anticipated. Getting the music heard, in my experience, is essential. Open the club room doors!