Tootler, I wasn't suggesting that Tommy Armstrong's work is completely unknown in the NE - but, as you say, it's a minority interest. I would hazard a guess that if you were to stop random people in the streets of Newcastle or Durham only a handful would know who you're talking about, and even fewer would know any of the songs.

These days, most people in Newcastle work in public administration, with finance and real estate the next largest sector. What relevance have songs about mining disasters to their lives? Of course, for some there is the historical interest and link to a past culture, but they are a minority.

Conrad, it is you who keeps quoting the exceptions, and describing situations which the rest of us don't recognise as the norm. As we've told you repeatedly throughout this thread, all the things you are demanding are already happening. Just because some events don't meet your stringent requirements doesn't mean that they don't meet other people's, or that alternative events are not available - but if they're not, organise them yourself, since you tell us how easy it is.

...a link to a place where the history of the songs sung and lyrics can be found. At $13.85 a time? I don't think so.