some emergent bands start plastering their dates everywhere

Well, why not, Richard? You have to speculate to accumulate, I suppose. Without publicity no-one will know who the devil you are. How would I know what goes in Sussex without being able to look up the Sussex Folk Guide?

If no-one paid for an ad in the Guide, it wouldn't exist - and we'd all be none the wiser!

Let the young bands do their thing - good luck to 'em, I say. Youth will have its fling - and so will Age, given half a chance.