Last Friday was our first night in Cornwall. The fishermen sing down on the waterfront at Cadgwith on Friday nights, which I'm told is something to hear, but they only were only going to get started at 10.30-11.00 and I had a cold, so I had to skip that one.

Monday night was "folk night" at the Top House; this wasn't a session, just a trio playing in one corner for the assembled diners (the pub is given over almost entirely to food, as I had heard). They were great.

Tuesday night was the session at Cadgwith Cove Inn, where I was made very welcome & offered two songs (I only did one - my cold was better but my voice wasn't up to cutting through the background noise). It was a format I'd never come across before, with five or six musicians sitting along the front wall swapping songs and a good 20+ punters watching, chatting and sometimes joining in - I wasn't sure whether we were a session or the entertainment. Mostly songs with a few tunes; a lot of nice traddie stuff, heavy on the shanties - a young guy did a terrific South Australia - and a lot of the usual suspects (Whiskey in the Jar, Black Velvet Band, Streets of London &c). Some time after ten a local guy called Stephen took the floor and more or less took over the night; terrific voice, repertoire a bit heavier on rugby songs and the works of Al Jolson than I'd expected. And nobody did the Cadgwith Anthem. Good night, though - recommended if you're in the area. Excellent beer, too (Sharp's Doom Bar).