Sometimes they do stormalong.

For a number of years I was lucky enough to be a member of one of the best singing morris sides in kent, and one of the first morris sides to be invited to the Deal festival. We would often end up with a sing around - especially when it was raining. We would ask the landlord first - and make sure that we played suitable jolly tunes and songs. I remember having a good session in a pub at the far end of the Deal shopping street ( other end from the Kings head and one street back ) - the name of which I can't remember, but we did enough skiffle and Dubliners type songs - things everyone knows - to please the regulars - and were thanked by the customers when we left. We also had some good sessions at the bar at the camp site.

Faversham was much the same - I don't like to think how many years ago it was we asked the landlord of the crown and anchor - and have been going back ever since. It was never on the programme - but we have had some of the best sing around there.

In Tenterton we often used the pub near the railway. I'm not sure how willing they are now.

I have heard some fairly dire sing arounds over the years and I can understand when some landlords are reluctant to give permission.

I thought the Deal programme was quite clear where the sing arounds were. We found one friday evening, Saturday lunch tme and evening and sunday lunchtime. I thought they were all well run and of good quality. We did not make the sunday evening one but we knew where it was. I know some people like to organise their own sing arounds but you can't blame the festival organisers if those people don't find a suitable venue.

Festivals do take a lot of organising - especially if Council funding is withdrawn. All credit to the organisers of Deal this year.
FloraG