I was disillusioned by Young Folk years ago when I attended a folk club where a girl was encouraged by her parents to sing. She sang her songs reluctantly but magnificently, encouraged by her proud parents. She also drank beer and smoked hand-rolled cigarettes, which, considering that she was seventeen, unmarried and six months pregnant, showed such lack of social responsibility that I was very unimpressed by her overall performance. I have to say that these Young Folk performers get too much encouragement, simply because they are young. They learn the arts of performance before they learn about life, and write songs based on stories rather than real experience.

If you want to discuss this with me, Kitty, wait for Saturday - Craig