We have no 'music police' in the USA ... no, in fact we do! In New York, Folk Music is the primary victem of the caberet laws, the New York equivelant, it is why there are a lot of sessions, but few paying gigs. As to shouting, give a guy a break, I know how the shambles feels, for those of us trying to make a way on the traditions to which this board is dedicated, well, sometimes we seem to have a huge numbers of experts on everything except the fustrations of singing to an uncaring world. Uncaring? Well, yes, the applause is great, but try clapping to pay your taxes or for your food. Shambles is FUSTRATED because WE who play and support folk music should be the first line of support, emotional and otherwize for the heroes like the Shambles who are out their fighting to keep YOUR interests alive. Folk music will not out live its culturual importance, and folks like the Shambles are trying to do that, so dear friends, cut him some slack and more, give him cudos for his efforts on YOUR behalf, and help along the road...
Now in the words of my Rom (Gypsy) pal, Mihi, who cursed out the warden and his wife in a French prison, "you may beat ME up now..."
Cheers all,
happy christmas
and a musical new year...
Larry