Well I get welcomed in most folk clubs that know the standards that I work to. Out of respect for their club policy, because I've been round about a million years, I can generally play something that won't cause too much outrage.

However I didn't come out of the box like that. There was a time when I worked hard at a day job, and my week revolved about the ten minutes they'd put up with my 10 minute floorspot at The Beggars Bush, Sutton Coldfield, under the benign stewardship of Bob Lines.

For me it was an exciting experiment every week. The audience was always kind and forgiving, Bless them for that. but my God sometimes it must have been rank.

I'm sorry if you don't get that function of a folk club, because you're an unelected curator of your vision of folk music. But please take my word for it - its an important function.