oh Joanne. I'm so sorry you haven't got folk clubs. I can't imagine what its like - not having folk clubs.

i suppose really, how ever pissed off we get with each other. most of us work hard at tolerating our very different views as to what constitutes folk music and tradition.

so many Americans come across our contributions on mudcat - and are repelled by the bile of brit folk music fans for each other. what they forget is that most nights we sit in rooms fully aware that the bloke (woman) sitting next to you reckons you're abit of a twat with no idea about folk music.

the only thing we agree on is that - the idea of folk clubs and folk music is vitally important. and when we see a message like yours - we see how fantastically lucky we are, to have reached this sort of rapprochement.