what a lovely thread. I almost never just play a song. After all they are SONGS. I have always felt just a bit out of it when goiong to parking lot pick fests and even at rendezvous where the music is mostly VERY old timey. Most people play. Gosh, I even sing WTBOI (Without The Benefit Of Instrument) lots of songs like Hansome Cabin Boy - Oh Death - Little Sadie - Lyke Wake Dirge - The Green Brier Shore - Song of Hard Times. More, too, but its late. I can't imagine a set with just instrumentals. We have a fine fiddler here who can't sing but wishes he could and a very nice string band who do almost nothing BUT sing (The Agusta Bottoms Consort - they were going to call themselves the Agusta Bottoms Pickers but...) They have put out my almost number one favorite CD, "Bottom Land". get it. Two dandy cuts "Its Time to Kill the Rooster" and "Coyote Life" They are: Paul Oviatt, Mike Bauermeister, Gloria Bauermeister and Rebecca Mayer and are found in Augusta, Missouri.

Sorry, I digress. I've always loved the so-called folkmusic for its poetry, for its stories told in plain-tounge. That is hard to do with only an instrument.

CB