Well, Les, Howard may well be right, but! Does it really matter. If these guys can put on a good show by using scratch bands or whatever and the 'end user' is happy what exactly is the problem? I don't think anyone would argue that playing in Cheilidh bands requires a lot of musical skill and dexterity, I have been doing on and off for 35 years, most bands play the same tunes - OK a practiced band may put in a few effects, stops etc, but in my experience this is more for the entertainment of the band than the audience who, frankly, most times would not know or recognise the tunes anyway. Basically, if they can start together, stop together and play in the same key, there is not much more to it than that. Its the caller that makes the difference really.