There is certainly a good Folk Dance soc. at the University (I know because some of 'em have been to a couple of ceilidhs I've organised - and have danced us old fogies off the floor . . ) There's also a Scottish Dance Society, and I think one of the International Societies does some Folk music things . .

You've clearly already found the Portland Arms . . . two Folk Clubs there, one on a Tuesday, one on a Friday. There are also various sessions and sing-arounds. The Boat Race (in the town centre) has fewer Folk acts than it used to (but we did see Martin Simpson there a couple of weeks back) and offers a weekly Celtic "session", on Monday evenings (I have to say we've not tried that one, having left early every Celtic session we've been to in Cambridge; they've been dominated by players trying to show-off how clever they are by playing as fast as possible with little feeling for the music . . )

If you have access to a car there are also good Folk Clubs at Ely and St Neots, while the best "folk venue" within travelling distance is Stamford Arts Centre, which is less than an hour away . .

There's also a "round the room" type folk club at the Red Lion, Wittlesford (8 miles from the city centre) on Friday evenings. We've not been since it moved there . . there's something about getting out on a Friday evening . .) but I do know they are a friendly crowd.

Oh, and Roy Bailey assures us there used to be a Folk Club at the University . . .

Also - if you do set something up yourself, remember to include Anglia Polytechnic University in your publicity - it about doubles your audience, and certainly their students have supported Mayflower events in the past (when the Cambridge folk clubs were both at the Man In The Moon.

We hope to be at the Mayflower on Tuesday (Dick Gaughan - may be worth getting there by 8.00pm to be sure of getting in) so try to have a word. It's also worth talking to the organiser, Bernie (lanky guy with slightly curly hair; defintely "one of the good guys"); I'd imagine he'd be very helpful.

Good luck . . feel free to email me direct if you think we can be any further help . . g.hawes@san.com

Go for it!

G.