Roger - if that's the funniest thing you've read in a long time you're reading too many serious things and perhaps need a trip to the humour section of the local library :) But in answer to your question it's a pub called the Thompsons Arms in Flaxton, North Yorkshire where we meet every Wednesday.

Les

We have a range of different things that go on each week but a typical night and selection of the performers might give you an idea of what people come for and expect. We go round in a circle; everyone has a chance to do what they want either solo or as an ensemble piece.

Unaccompanied singers get left alone and players join in if appropriate (and usually stop if it's inappropriate with little hassle. The exception to this was the north yorkshire mad mandolin player who didn't understand the rules and thought that everything would be improved by his out of time and tune playing; he hasn't come back and was the only person that I really dread meeting in a singaround. Last time I saw him - in another venue - I went for a walk and my friend told him not to play; he still played straight over some lovely players. Hide like a rhinoceros and all the tact and thoughtfulness of Atilla the Hun)

We have two fiddlers normally and they'll do a range of tunes interspersed through the evening.
There are something like 3 to 7 unaccompanied singers who will sing chorus songs or individual songs.
A friend writes his own material and plays guitar - I occasionally play second guitar or bass with him.
Paul Young you know.
A couple sing Irish songs, or Kieran Halpin things or Richard Thompson or whatever.
One plays Jake Thackeray songs.
One often does Les Barker poems.
I play guitar and sing either alone or with wife or sometimes sing unaccompanied if there are loads of guitar players there
There are sea shanties sometimes.
A banjo player who comes sometimes.
A concertina player from an Irish group.
etc etc

It's a balance of things and it has a nice atmosphere and people are welcome to contribute anything they want. Sometimes there are as few as 15 in the pub sometimes there are 40.

Some of those who come and listen like hearing the fiddle tunes ("that's 12 times I've come and at last you've played Ashokan Farewell" was the comment of one recently). One loves Bob Dylan songs so we do one every now and again. Ensemble versions of favourites like 'Star of the County Down' are enjoyed. The chorus singing of things like 'Thousands or More' or various 'Nancy' songs or similar are joined in by many or all in the pub and it's a great noise.

That's about it. Pop in sometime