I have tried to get sessions going upstairs in the Waverley Bar - two very different kinds of music. The owner let us do it for a few weeks and then told both groups to bugger off. He tolerates the storytellers once a month and that's it. He has a lively and intellectual Polish barmaid who could do a much better job of dealing with the public if he'd just retire and let her get on with it.

The Royal Oak is much the same as it always was. Not my kind of place.

I am usually in the Captains Bar on Sunday night. Even smaller than Sandy Bells, with a session every night of the week and a few afternoons as well. It gets a much younger crowd and the audience actually listen.

The Holyrood Tavern was a lively place for a while. Not much music but other nights you could find a Linux user group and a bondage/sadomasochism society. It also had a resident fencing club. Some great opportunities for crossovers that never happened.

The Antiquary in Stockbridge has sessions every Thursday night. There is quite a bit happening down the Royal Mile most nights (including the Tass, which has renamed itself again and has smaller-scale sessions).

Edinburgh Folk Club and Leith Folk Club keep on keeping on. LFC never posts here but doubtless our delegate from EFC will be along shortly.