"Sorry, no time to log in just now so I have to be quick...

The Magpie's is not a folk club as I would define it. I've been there twice and left halfway through both times. The organisers obviously have a knack for attracting an audience, but I prefer to listen to folk music without the accompaniment of people having shouted conversations across the bar or jabbering down their mobiles.

If that's your thing, fine, though I think it's a pity that what could have been a good club has become nothing more a drinking venue with live music. If that's the future of folk clubs then I'll give them a miss thank you.

The Living Tradition is a good magazine, but it's not nationally distributed is it? I've only ever seen it for sale in a few folk clubs."

I've no idea what its other arrangements are but LT is certainly available in many Borders stores although I suspect they could get a bigger distribution but these things cost money, resources etc.

Re - the Magpies Nest it was a genuine question, and I accept that it can be annoying there at times with the noise you mention but on the other hand I think you exaggerate a little, and its certainly the case that the majority of the (mostly youngish) audience are there to listen to the performers. I just wondered if there was something about the format of their events you had an issue with.