Guest,

The Acoustic argument, however strong was lost last year. In any case acoustic music ranges from solo comb and paper to large symphony orchestras and massed military bands. That covers a much larger variety than folk music whether acoustic or amplified.

You are correct that musical entertainment has nothing to do with the first or the last objectives, and hence a premises stated in its operation plan to be used exclusively for folk music should never have conditions related to them attached to its licence. However, even Cecil Sharp House is not restricted to folk music but also sells liquor. However, it is reasonable to expect that its likely clientele could still justify no conditions for those categories.

Some limited conditions for audience safety such as working emergency lighting and accessible emergency exits cannot face reasonable objections. Similarly, where they are meaningful, restrictions to the hours that music can be played in the garden or requirements that windows are closed late in the evening are surely reasonable in some cases.

The important point for the next six months is to ensure that Local Authorities are made aware of the need to promote live music in their licencing policies, and to make it clear that thy will minimise licence conditions placed on live musical entertainment. It is also important that people and organisations that understand folk music are amongst those consulted by Local Authorities about their draft licencing policies.

Richard