http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,859852,00.html

A prayer for Morris men

Saturday December 14, 2002
The Guardian

Your warning (Leader, December 10) on the effect of the government's licensing bill on church music is to be applauded. But it raises the question of why only religious music should be exempt. Other categories of traditional music, such as the music of Morris dancers, should also be exempt.
G Meadows
(First Sedgley Morris)
Blakedown, Worcs

In the licensing bill, schools are explicitly included as establishments that will need to apply for licences to hold concerts, plays, dance exhibitions and indoor sporting events (for example, a school basketball tournament).
Oliver Thornton
Crowborough, East Sussex
oliver.thornton@virgin.net

Sessions of live music and dance, however small, are also threatened by the bill. While allowing large groups in pubs to watch TV unimpeded, and to listen to processed music, live sessions of music and dance will require a licence. This will lead to the destruction of folk music.
Helen Chew
Stamford, Lincolnshire

The bill will threaten a whole range of informal and essentially amateur music in pubs and other premises, and could lead to the near extinction in this country of folk, jazz and country music sessions, in particular the informal pub sessions run by - and enjoyed by - many people around the country.
Mark Austin
Morden, Surrey