Woooow!!!!! Looks like I opened a topic and sure do appreciate the feed back as I'm working on this project alone at this point ( except you folks out there.). I would first of all set up in your minds a picture of my area. I live in a small village (As I mentioned earlier)off the island of Montreal. In the early 70's I use to visit a folk club in Montreal called " The Yellow Door". This club still exists and still brings in folkies from that era and some more recent. Booze was not allowed and I do beleive that there was also no smoking. George from Chebucto, even though I am a smoker, there would be a no smoking policy inforced. I never smoke on stage and find it very annoying as other musicians when trying to sing. I also love your suggestion of song circle or music circle. Louie you asked a very difficult question. Can you answer it? I can't. As I'm trying to write this I'm aslo listening to a Bruce Springsteen special and have to agree with you when it comes to ballods there are still some great ones being sung. Springsteen's "The River" would be an example. I was born in Prince Edward Island and spent my teenage years in Nova Scotia. The song that were song in our home were some of these. Molly Bond, Frozen Charolet, Cape Briton Home, The Moose River Gold Mine,Spring Hill Mining Disaster,Peter Emberley etc., etc. So to be truthful I guess when I said folk and ballods, I was thinking Maritime folk music which a maritimer would consider in most cases as Maritime Ballods. But your right Louie, songs like The Letter Edged in Black, Clayton Delaney, Hobo's Lullaby, and lots of story telling songs by Marty Robins, Tom T. Hall and others I would consider as folk songs or ballods. But what I'm trying to do is to stear away from the pure country ( Now others will have something to say here.) like, Take This Job and Shove it, Your Cheating Heart, God Bless Texas, etc. Kitty, thanks for your comments. I want to stay away from pure country as this is presently well covered in this area, but I would also except potery reading which may prove interesting. Norton 1..... We play presently in a small school house with lots of fiddles ,guitars, accordians etc. But when you play a folk song, it is so loud that few hear what you are saying and I guess that is the point. Folk music is for listening what the musician is wanting to say. Guest.... I'll take your suggestion seriousely. Thanks. Uncle Dave...... If I decide to launch this project I will check back on your suggestions.

Adrien