Thanks, Chris, for that very clear exposition of the situation.

I've been following the thread with some interest as I play in a ceilidh band in Sussex (Unreel, based in Ditchling). The ethics of what the Ship Band are doing have seemed questionable to me. Their uncalled for sneering at local bands - beards, shorts, etc. - doesn't get them any brownie points and, as a local ceilidh band member, I have to say that we consider ourselves shit hot and a damned good band.

The website's claim that they are the "UKs premiere ceilidh and barn dance band" sounds rather hollow to me when I know so many good bands of high quality just in my own area. And how can their claim be justified, given the nameless composition of their unknown scratch band members?