The government is currently planning to make it illegal to sing Happy Birthday in your pub. This law is known as the Public Entertainment Licensing (PEL) law and it will kill of yet another aspect of our culture. In it's current form, if more than two people perform in a venue without a PEL, the landlord can incur one or all of the following; loss of license; £20,000 fine; 6 month jail sentence. The proposed amendment means that even if one person is performing in the same venue, the landlord will be deemed a criminal.
Members of the Croydon Folk and Blues Club demonstrate how the new laws will silence musicians. Special thanks to Geraint Davies MP and musician (centre front of picture) for his support.

This stupid amendment will apply to poets, story tellers as well as music makers. One may argue, "Well get a license then!", but why do we need extra bureaucracy and the expense of a license just to make music? There are thousands of small music clubs and venues all over the country. If they were all told to pay for a license they would just pack it in. Many of these clubs are run by music lovers who don't need the burden of bureaucracy. This will result in the closure of many folk clubs and yet another part of our heritage and culture will disappear. It is absolutely crazy that it's OK to rip a live fox to bits with hunting hounds yet it will be illegal to have a sing song down the local pub.

How you can help:
Write, e-mail or phone your MP and ask if they have signed the Early Day Motion 1182 (EDM1182). If they haven't then encourage them to do so. This motion comes up for debate in early November. Please act now.
Thank you.