I'm afraid Steve it does happen here, too. Here are some true examples:

• At a folk music retreat someone didn't like one of my songs.

• At yet another folk music retreat someone didn't like one of my songs.

• At a mostly traditional folk club someone said to me "You're songs aren't even good enough for folk - perhaps you should try calling it jazz?"

• 16 record companies turned down a demo by me because it was too futuristic and far-out for them. I realised I was getting nowhere with it so I decided to go back to my roots and become a folk singer (I'd grown up next door to a guy who once saw a banjo hung up in a bar, so it's in my blood, man). I ditched my electric and got an acoustic and got really angry as no-one liked my songs there either so I decided that I would occupy Folk Music and that would teach them.

• A man walked into a bar and said ooof - It was an iron bar.

I can't believe these people had the temerity to call music Folk Music before we did and then be annoyed when we came in and shat in their swimming pools. Don't we understand that I AM THE NEW JEAN RITCHIE? Just wait until they hear this song about my belly button fluff.

--- Bob