Ewan McColl always used to say you should only sing what is indigenous to you.

A bit rich coming from a Salford lad who changed his name to something Scottish sounding and developing an accent he never really had. You could forgive him though, as if it wasn't for him, we would not have such incredible songs to learn and play...

Going back 30 years when I first started getting up at a club, I was given a polite welcome despite the (looking back) rather awful quality of what I did and made some real good friends. I was told that a nearby village had a club and perhaps I would go there as well?

I was full of trepidation as I was told they only liked traditional music and hitherto, I had written my own songs. Didn't do anything traditional. However, I borrowed an Ina Campbell song book, found an obscure song, learned it and set off.

Forgot how the words went just as I was starting. Thought b&@ger it, put the guitar down and did Monty Python's Horace Poem.

Went down a treat as I recall....