Horses for courses, Bruce. I understand that you wouldn't pay to listen to unaccompanied singing all evening; yet many would pay to listen to Coope, Boyes & Simpson or to Cockersdale, or to Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman. And last night at Herga a roomful was happy to sit through 2 sets of Metcalfe, Giles and Woods.

But there is no snobbery against musical instruments that I am aware of - I accompany myself on 12-string mostly, and there are other residents at the same club who play instruments. And we'll happily listen to Steph when she comes in with her harp, or to Andrew's bodhran and whistle, or to Malc's squeezebox, when he drops in. Isambarde with their great instrumental sound kicked ass for us a short while ago. No, no snobbery - just a predilection for cultivating singing, accompanied or not.