CS:

I've fallen in love with singing these old songs. And I try to sing them as well as I can, because I feel they're worth the effort, and indeed it's become an increasingly rewarding experience to put the effort in.


to me the pastoral 'people factor' of amateur FC's matters far more than 'The Tradition', or whatever.

Slight inconsistency there?

I don't care about 'The Tradition', I care (like you) about the old songs; I like singing them and I like hearing them sung well, sung passionately, sung differently or all of the above. A relaxed, welcoming group of musical friends & acquaintances who sing any old stuff is great - but a relaxed, welcoming group of musical friends & acquaintances who sing old songs and do it well is better. (And more fun.)