Will: you'll all be welcome again any time. I've just emailed Ian re the guitar.

Acorn4: The Compasses is still there but I don't think it does live music any more. As well as HBT there are sessions/ singarounds at The Beacon and at The Sussex Arms, regular folk gigs at The Beacon and "plugged in" gigs at various pubs incuding Sankeys, High Brooms Tavern and The Kelsey Arms. The Grey Lady has live jazz and the more jazzy/ rocky style of folk from local bands, and The Forum (a converted Edwardian toilet...was probably a brass-rubbing centre in your day!) showcases a lot of young local bands, and also has a knack of picking up relatively unknown bands on the national scene just before they make it big.

The Assembly Hall is a bit of a disappointment usually. Apart from the annual Fairport Convention tour and a couple of other decent bands, they tend to put on either tribute bands or re-formed "one hit wonders" from the 60s and 70s.