Lancaster's thriving live music scene could be wrecked by changes to the law which will prevent pubs and clubs hosting small gigs.

Local musicians are seeking to halt pro-posals which could mean pubs without an entertainment licence will no longer be able to host gigs by solo performers or duets.

Musician Jon Moore, who plays with E2K, says the law is farcical' and is calling on local musicians to protest to MPs Hilton Dawson and Geraldine Smith.

"If at midnight on New Year's Eve you felt moved to sing For Auld Lang Syne,' you may have committed a criminal act," says Jon.

"If more than two people sing in a place without a Public Entertainment License, like a typical local pub, then a criminal act will have been committed. This is the law as it stands at present. Clearly it's a stupid outdated piece of nonsense but far from removing the daft rules, a Government white paper proposes to increase them."

Among the sugges-tions are forcing churches to be licensed for music and making individuals take out licenses for birthday parties, in case someone sings Happy Birthday.'

"No comedy script could come close," says Jon, adding: "The pro-posals will remove the venues which foster choral music, folk, jazz, amateur orchestras, young bands, in short, all music that does not come out of a television or a CD player.

"None of these rules will apply in Scotland and I beg anyone who has ever enjoyed live music to write to our local MPs to protest at this legislation which will stop live music."

January 9, 2003 10:30