Andy7: "I can think of at least 8 good folk clubs within easy driving distance of me in south Hampshire. All of them are very welcoming to unaccompanied singers of traditional songs, as well as being welcoming to other kinds of music. I've heard, and learned, quite a number of traditional folk songs through visiting some of these clubs regularly over the years.

But I very much doubt that, if I set up a new club exclusively for unaccompanied singers of traditional songs, any members of the existing clubs would desert them for mine. In fact, I wouldn't even go to it myself, as I love the variety of music in the existing clubs."

Jim Carroll: "Straw man
Nobody is suggesting you should"

Mr. Carroll, please don't chuck an insult at me like that, in response to a serious post. I never do that to others on this site; and I'd appreciate the same courtesy in return.

The point of my post was obviously not whether or not anyone is suggesting that I should set up a new club.

The point I was making is, that in the 'mixed' clubs that are seen nowadays, unaccompanied traditional songs are almost invariably welcome.

The people that attend such clubs seem - from many conversations I've had over the years - to very much enjoy the variety on offer. At the same time, these clubs are playing a major role in keeping alive the traditional songs.

I don't believe that a club focusing solely on traditional unaccompanied songs would be as successful; any more than would a club focusing solely on 60s folk-style songs, or solely on self-penned songs, or solely on music hall songs, or solely on parodies, etc. etc.

It's the variety that I, and many others, enjoy. And that variety includes, as an intrinsic part, those traditional folk songs which, I agree, it's very important to maintain as a living musical tradition.