"I stopped going to guest folk clubs in the 1980's and when I think back to that era my stomach turns when I remember those awful 2/3 songs-per-half-hour-set merchants."

If you want to defend this type of performer, Tom, fine. But it's not what I would enjoy, even if I've got in free as a floor singer.   

It's purely personal but I really do think these Joke+Folk acts are an awful substitute for a folk performer who can deliver 6 or 7 songs per 30 minute set with efficicient, nevertheless informative introductions..

Jasper Carrott and Fred Wedlock obviously recognised quite soon they were brillant comedians and transfered to the comedy stages. If those "2/3 songs per set merchants" still trailing around the guest club scene can still pull audiences - fine also.

But it doesn't mean we should like them because someone somewhere is inappropriately calling them a folk singer.

Ian Fyvie