”the MC handed out song-books to the attendees, and then spent the evening telling them which songs they were going to sing, and leading the community singing."

What's the problem with that if it's what some people want to do? If it's not the way people think 'folk music' should be don't regard it as folk music. Maybe wonder why people were doing that rather that participating in what you think 'folk music' is on that evening.”

Absolutely nothing where the regulars are concerned, I guess. But that kind of rigid organisation isn’t for me - so I exercised my right to choose and never went back. Seems reasonable, n’est-ce pas?