Charles plays celtic music (mostly) at Nicks pub on Thursdays here in Ottawa. That's a night I go to a more vocally oriented jam than Charles'.

Another speculative fiction writer, Gene Wolfe, set one of his novels in the world of the peasants mentioned in Good King Wenceslas. I didn't read it very critically -- I'm sure it's heaps less well researched than the wonderful 'Cold Mountain' -- but still, I found it fascinating to read as gradually I realized where the setting came from (I read books on recommendation only, and NEVER read back cover blurbs). Yep, St. Anges fountain was the giveaway.