We had a couple of fine singers from the Gong Scourers on Friday night. I don't know if they play, dance or just dress up as Gong Scourers. They were very welcome.

Bob, I think you are right in encouraging the type of song that everyone can join in with. The sort of song we would do for a paid set is not always right in an open pub session. Likewise I try to do the accompanied repetoire in G or D - so the melodeons ( bless them ) can join in, even though these might not be the best key for the singer. The tunes sets I played over the weekend were determined by the penny whistle player who is still on book one - but doing very well. The mummers nearly always do choras songs or amusing ones. If we have a not so appropriate solo singer I often swap the order of who sings when so I know the next singer will pick up the tempo.

I'm sure the C and A session would go on if I wasn't there but since we first asked the landlord if it was OK to use the pub - somewhat more than five years ago - I've fallen into the habit of making sure everything runs smoothly. I've been in other sessions where the host dominated the singing or there were too many precious songs/ tune sets that had little interest to anyone but the performer. From what I've read of the weekend this has obviosly worked well enough as other sessions have come and gone but ours is still going.

FloraG