Grapevine at Bedfords has been going for a number of years and every four weeks (note not monthly) puts on an evening of excellent music. In theory it's a folk club, but many of the acts infuse rock/country/blues and even jazz. Over the years we have seen some wonderfully talented artists from all over the United Kingdom and even North America.
Which brings me onto the subject of Britain's Got Talent, the X Factor, The Voice and various other mind-numbingly dull talent shows featuring largely talentless artists all set-up to increase the financial millions of the likes of Simon Cowell.
I remember a comment made by Steve Howlett, the man behind Grapevine, a few year's back. In introducing a particular act, Steve pointed out that every day of the year supremely talented artists criss-cross the country playing their original songs to a handful of people and usually playing for drinks and a bed for the night or a very minimal payment.
Grapevine usually puts on three or even four acts for £5 - incredible value. There are hundreds of such venues throughout our country. There are hundreds of very talented people who will never be famous, who will never get the big break, who will never have music as anything other than a hobby. These people play music because they believe deeply in what they do. They have no claims on being the next big thing and they are unlikely to ever make a living out of what they do. That's a sobering thought.
Most of them have more talent in their little fingers than the over-publicised wannabees of the talent show - largely untalented people looking for their 15 minutes of fame.
A few years ago I saw Leon Jackson at Great Yarmouth races as the evening's after race entertainment. I would describe his set as just about passable. There were numerous screaming girls, but his performance and material was nowhere near as good as that we enjoy every four weeks at Grapevine.
And where I ask is Leon Jackson today? He won the X Factor in 2007. Well he seems to have been pretty quiet since 2012 - returning I suspect to the obscurity from which he came.
If you are ever in Norwich on a Grapevine Wednesday evening give it a look.