Sorry to keep injecting comment about that festival (Sidmouth) which seems to have acquired a sort of superstitious "don't mention the Scottish Play by name" quality, but it does seem to answer the needs of the whole gamut of recent posters.

Sessions and singarounds:-

1 The Radway. Tune sessions where almost all who attend realise that playing a guitar to accompany a song is NOT the way to go.

2. The Anchor A singers only venue, where guitars are welcome only as footrests. The famous Middle Bar singaround.

3. The New Tavern A singaround session venue, with solo musicians performing tunes, but few, if any, groups playing tune sets. Very well hosted by Leadfingers and friends.

4. The Volunteer. A first night of the festival singaround where any kind of singing or playing is equally welcome. Run in singaround style by, among others, the lovely MBS Lynne.

5 The Festival Folk Club In 2005 at the Arts Centre (don't know yet about this year). Run as a folk club with floor spots and guest artists.

6 The Swan Mixed tune and song sessions in two covered garden areas, and a virtually nonstop tunes session in the bar area. Run on the "jump in when they stop to breathe" principle.

7 The Bedford Hotel front bar Another mixed session run, as I have said before, by the formidable (musically) John Barden, also on the jump in format.

8 Dukes Wine Bar An open mike venue, where all are welcome to sign in and do a two or three song spot.

In all of the above it is very rare for anyone to either perform outside the venue format, or try to hog the proceedings in the jump in sessions. In fact, it is necessary sometimes for the session host to remind a performer that he/she hasn't been heard from for too long.

Add to those the Black Horse, The Dove, and probably others whose format I don't know (well you only have a week there), and it is obvious that you can find exactly what suits your taste.

Every year I visit all of the first eight according to the mood of the moment, and enjoy them equally. This year I plan to try the others as well........busy, busy!

Don T.