Interesting thread to read through, could someone précis what was going on there??! I've being playing in clubs and sessions for years and have enjoyed everything from three to a hundred and three in a club. I went to an 'open mic' in Hebden Bridge last night. It was almost alternative, but plenty of songs, the odd poem, double acts closely associated with 'folk' but light hearted and fantastic fun. It's loosely organised and there must have been about eighty in the room. Are we beginning to take it all to seriously??