In the NW we have an organisation calle Folkus. We offer tuition at all levels in traditional instruments, and run workshops all over the NW. Our aims are similar to Folkworks; but we are smaller and less experienced.

We have just run a residential weekend with tutors including Ben and Joe Broughton, John Kirkpatrick, Carolyn Frances, Derek Gifford, Phil Brown, Frank Lewis, us (Stu and Rusty Wright) Alan Bell et al. The all in cost was less than £100.

There is a need for this sort of tuition: we try to meet it - one of our aims is to give people the confidence to play in public - session or stage.

All sessions are not equally welcoming; there are conventions of behaviour that are peculiar to each session, and it can be intimidating. While it's true that you can develop skills and pick up technique from the guy next to you in the pub, thaat only happens when you've plucked up courage to go through the door and sit down (as PB intimated perhaps in someone's place?....).

In the Blackpool area we're lucky perhaps. There are sessions and clubs that are welcoming, including those mentioned by Penny Black
- add the Victoria at Fleetwood (Sunday) Ann and Eddie's club at the Clarence in Blackpool, Sue Arrow's acoutic roots and so on.

We teach and provide encouragement to attend sessions and perform. These are all complementary activities IMO rathe than alternatives.

Best of luck Skipjack - everyone who tries to promote folk music is my friend - all the best

Stu