David Kleiman, the MC at the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club's monthly traditional music open microphone likes to say, "Anything goes, as long as it's legal." We offer a venue where traddies are both welcome and appreciated, but we in no way insist that all songs be traditional. In fact, we are surprised if we don't draw a decent share of singer-songwriters.

The one time my wife and I went to the singers' open night at Sharp's Folk Club in London, we had a great time. I did a song I wrote myself to a traditional Irish tune, a Woody Guthrie song ("Hard Traveling"), and a traditional American song ("In the Pines" or "Black Girl"). All were really well received.

--- Steve