Sinsull, I was just going to say the same thing about rap and opera. Any music you don't have an affection for can sound the same.

We don't have many English style pubs in the states alas (at least that I know of) but we have a lot of coffeehouses and clubs (which, for the folk scene at least, are often dark,cavernous places without proper ventillation,whose primary purpose seems to be selling liquor) The owner of one I have frequented (more for proximity than anything else) seems to have the same cavalier attitude towards folk musicans as your pubber. I have often overheard him complaining that 'they' (meaning folkies) don't bring in enough people aka money, the music seems hokey to his tastes, etc. et al -but this owner doesn't always seems to have a good instinct for music. Once he booked an 'unknown' performer -unknown to HIM that is, and had less than a dozen people in attendance. Turns out the performer was Bill Staines, who I personally have seen draw a crowd of hundreds when properly promoted to his fans.

If you're in the music of business, it seems to me, you should be standing by your audience,instead of stifling a yawn. Better business sense as well.

Ah, just my 2 cents.