It isn't a flame. It never was. The question arose - I didn't raise it - of whether there had ever been clubs that required floor singers to audition before being allowed to play. As far as I know that was and remains Villan's club's policy. My recollection of my investigations at the time it started is that I asked that, and was told that. I so, here, reported. Nothing rude about my remarks. No flaming.

Villan says he never said that and that anyone is welcome - but the quotes I have found so far (and I'm not going to waste any more time on it) indicate a determination to be selective in what he permits at his place of entertainment. His call. It may be a very nice concert venue, but it makes it not (IMHO) a "folk club" and not a place for me to shortlist to visit, when my preference is to turn up unannounced, and join in and sing a few things.

The thread is entirely about what is acceptable at a folk club "open mic" and what isn't. My (relevant, it might seem) views are: -

1.    Mic=not a folk club.
2.    Auditions=unacceptable.
3.    Restricting joining in - undesirable.
4.    I also find the endless Irish and sham-irish glorification of the deaths of the English unmannerly. I wouldn't say it of them, why should they say it of me?

I didn't start the F-ing and blinding here. I dealt with the core subject of the thread and a question expressed on it.