John I note from your post that I am certainly wrong in not pointing out that S177 only protects non-amplified live music from conditions - up to midnight. Though quite why it is OK to drink long after midnight but not to make non-amplified music is less than clear.

You may be right about the conditions but these things will only be made clearer if or when they are taken to the courts. I fear that is unlikely that many of the things pertaining to live music in general and in particular to this form of live music - will ever reach the courts.

It could very well be that if and when we could get licensees to take the risk - that enforcement would be unlikely. But this situation is not satifactory for anyone.