I'm like Carol, I'd also be keen to know of the weekends which Cats is talking about...

Amongst the ones I've enjoyed in Scotland over the last few years are-

Auchtermuchty: the folk weekend is at the end of a week long local community festival and the programme is filled with ads from local businesses. Still a weekend of relatively small concerts with singers and musicians and a fair bit in the pubs too, though it has had less space for singing in the sessions these past few years.

Girvan: Intermediate in size probably; it has some good sized concerts and lots of sessions for tunes, singing and a mix of both. The programme is also filled with ads paid for by local businesses, ranging from pubs/hotels to shops and cafes. They also donate (occasionally) to the running costs of the weekend as they see the income it generates and the publicity it provides for the town in general.

Collessie: A singing weekend based on a small farm park near Auchtermuchty. Traditional guests giving concerts and talks on aspects of song and their lives. Sessions tend not to be spontaneous (lack of alternatives to the main venue I guess..) but everyone will sing at some point over the weekend.

Cullerlie: Another singing weekend based in another farm park in the Norht East of Scotland. It is run with assistance from the Elphinstone Institue of Aberdeen and is intended to showcase the traditional songs and culture of the North East.

Apologies if that sounds like an advert for these weekends, obviously what I enjoy will appeal to some and not to others but I mention them to show that diversity exists alongside the "super-festivals" of Whitby etc. there's place for all of our tastes hopefully.

Andy