It was, quite simply, one of the best nights we have ever spent in a folk club and that includes Peter Bellamy at the Grove in Leeds and he even borrowed my guitar!

The room was excellent, the company and the atmosphere second to none, the quality of the beer as good as Robinson's and Wards brew.

Ged and Dave were funny, but more importantly, sang and played so well. Their "Little pot stove" was the best I have heard and no disrespect to Nick Jones, they put so much atmosphere into it, for me the song was born again.

I have just played The Boat Band "A Trip to the Lakes" over breakfast, a brew of music too rich and heady for most at this time of day. Kate, Tony and Greg play great music and they play it indescribably well! As a musical experience nothing beats sitting in a small room with 30 or 40 people hearing folk music sung and played.

I think Greg said the tunes had been well played before the Boat Band got hold of them. I guess that's what lies at the heart of what we call folk or traditional music. But that is only part of the story. The Band play Cajun and they play old Eglish tunes and some how bring out what these traditions have in common. The quality of musicianship is is second to none and the quality of ensamble playing is peerless. It is hard to believe that such sophisticated music can come out of a fiddle, a melodeon and a guitar, (and the guitar had a large whole in the front covered in carpet tape). Kate sings and we all fall in love with her. She has wonderful voice and a great style that is ........... sorry I am lossing the power of something ..... her style is the Boat Band.

Please ignore everything I have said. Just go and see one of the best bunch of musicians that you will find and have a truly brilliant night out.

Oh! and bye the way, thanks to Dave and Swinton Folk Club, usually Monday at the White Lion. Great club, great venue, great compamy, great beer.

OK I will stop now and try to find something to do with the rest of my life.