DON'T GET ME ON THE SUBJECT OF VOLUME.

There is a problem with sound crew - they may be deaf. One or two I have spoken to show signs. The ones to avoid are those that show Rock Bands on their cv.

FWIW (TO A POINT) - the ear can cope with raised levels of volume by altering the viscosity of the inner ear fluid - but it takes about 1/2 second to reach a percentage of protection. Loud staccato music has crashes shorter than that and if the beat is slow (say a sound check) then the average is hardly worth talking about (=no protection). Consequently the ear is subject to the full force of the impact without natural protection, and the little hairs that "IS" hearing, break in the wave-front and fall into each other. The breaks cause deafness, and the touching ones cause tinnitus. High frequencies go first in both instances. It is the luck of the draw as to which or both you notice first.

Working with machinery that amounts to tin-bashing or boilermaking can do it too. Don't argue - I am living proof. So were boilermakers when they existed.

If you can feel an effect 5 minutes after, damage is a danger, if you still feel effects the day after exposure - damage HAS been done.

I agree the drumming was intrusive a Shrewsbury - the ceilidh was not. AND the two were at least far enough apart not to start the war of the volumes.