Now that I've got your attention; after all the doom and gloom about the recent demise of several folk clubs and sessions I thought I'd share this!

Over the last couple of weeks I've had to spend some time up north on business, so was looking for somewhere to go in the evening. (I'm a 'southern softy' in case you hadn't guessed!) Having been recommended Otley Festival and had a great time there in September, I decided to investigate the Otley Folk Club.

WOW!!

100ish there for Spiers and Boden! I believe there were 70+ for Steve Tilston the previous week. This week, 70ish for a singers night!

Now somebody is getting things awfully right here!

Great venue, friendly people, good beer (though they ran out of Black Sheep both nights I was there!), and obviously a format the audience enjoy; alternate guest and singers nights.

I may be talking out of turn after just two visits, but I think those who attend purely as audience appreciate the 'concert' and 'performance oriented' nature of the club that I perceived. Running the singers night in concert format with 2 or 3 songs per spot seems to give the artists more of a chance to put on "a performance" than is possible in a "sing-around" format. This in turn leaves those who come just to listen having been "entertained" rather than just as observers.

Sing-arounds and sessions have their place for giving everyone a chance regardless of ability, encouraging new talent and for practicing new material, but will remain largely singers and musicians clubs.

Otley have obviously decided exactly what they want the club to be and made a great success of it.

Can't make next week, when I guess it will be packed out for Harvey Andrews, but definitely hoping to make it for the next singers night.

Website here