Well, many references from the 1600's on.Presumably earlier...well, where else were all the fiddlers and pipers etc play in the winter evenings? It would take a little source-chasing to document that, but no doubt Tudor and Jacobean playwrights might provide earlier references. It depends what you mean by "not that far"...would you settle for 500 years...I find it difficult to believe that people did not sing and play in pubs as long as there have been pubs to do it in.