The generation that likes all-standing gigs also drinks in places like Wetherspoons

Jack - are you trying to corner the market in sweeping generalisations? Anyway, my local Wetherspoons is always rammed with full-time pissheads in theiir 60s and over...

I agree with you, Ruth, about the seated festival concerts. I found them odd and - yes - staid at first, but have gradually (and slightly reluctantly) got used to them. Of course, there is another good argument for seated festival marquees and that's to stymie the attempts of the lawnchair massive to stake out a huge area of territory for themselves, their mates and their picnic mats and hampers... and even in some cases face away from the stage as a part of their territorial pissings.

Your description of the Unthanks audience refects my own experience of seeing them live... last time (not including festivals) it was at the Band on the Wall in Manchester. I didn't go upstairs where the seats were, though. It might have been a more folky crowd up there than in the mainly standing area downstairs. Next time it'll be Manchester Cathedral. Plenty of seats there, though I reckon they'll be hard enough that people will be glad for an excuse to stand...