AS far as the casual observer is concerned, Friday nights in Worcester might not appear to be actually brimming with promise.

That familiar leap to ill-considered conclusions is so easily made. And it's especially true if you've never wandered along Bath Road, entered a hostelry called the Albion, walked up the stairs and found yourself in the welcoming arms of the Somers Traditional Folk Club.

Come all ye' is the familiar clarion call recognised by all lovers of home-grown music and this neatly sums up the club's ethos. In fact, after 27 years of sessions, you could say its organisers must be doing something right.

Bob and Ali Matthews are what you might call the club's leading lights - Bob's cautious about talking in terms of an overall organiser.

It's run by committee, he stresses, and won't be drawn further. Some folk clubs have earned a reputation of being precious or even elitist over the years but this is a label that most certainly doesn't apply to the Somers.

"The emphasis is on traditional English folk songs," said Bob.

"We have singers only here, no guest artists. The only qualification is that you've got to like singing."

So what about the presence of guitars, that Devil's box of an American import?

"Guitars are fine - in fact, we welcome variety. The club attracts all kinds of people they can be singer-songwriters, storytellers, philosophers even. Folk clubs have tended to become a bit more liberal over the years.

"Neither folklorist Cecil Sharp nor contemporary performer Billy Bragg would be out of place at the Somers."

The club was founded in 1980 by a number of enthusiasts, some of them refugees from other clubs. Originally held at the Somers Arms, Leigh Sinton, the club closed in the early 1990s when the pub became an eating place.

There were then a succession of moves to venues, first to the Ketch and Berwick Arms, Worcester, then the Nag's Head at Malvern and finally, the Albion in 2000.

"We have survived because of what we do," said Bob. "All age groups are welcome here - in fact, our youngest member is aged 12. At the end of the day, we're a traditional club - but that doesn't mean someone can't sing an American blues or perform a protest song. Folk song is about people and their lives."

A highlight of the Somers calendar is mixed doubles', an event held about every two years and intended to discover new duos. Names are drawn out of a hat and the club gives the new-created twosomes seven weeks to practise. The hard work then culminates in a performance.

The entertainment doesn't stop there, either. Club stalwart Eric Payne recently recalled in an article for Worcestershire Folklife how, over a 15-year period as organiser, he had introduced folk plays to the club, a number of outings, a Somers Day of Folk and a whole series of concerts and special events.

"The Somers has played a unique part of my life," he wrote, adding that the present-day sessions retain much of the flavour of the old days. He's absolutely right, too - I attended a recent Friday night session and there is indeed a warmth and informality that becomes apparent the moment you walk through the door.

There was certainly variety on offer and any number of styles from Lincolnshire and its famous poacher we were effortlessly transported to America with a Woody Guthrie hobo song. A chap called Roger gave a spirited version of John Barleycorn and concertina-player Steve showed he was equally adept at English styles as well as serving up ballads from the American Civil War period.

But back to Bob, who nods his head vigorously when asked if traditional music has a future. "Oh yes", he says. "There are some fabulous new players around carrying on the work of older established artists such as the Copper family.

"Folk music has always moved with the times.

"Once, the subject matter may have concerned topics such as transportation of convicts to Van Diemen's Land, but there are always plenty of new issues coming along that will be the folk music of the future."

So if you fancy a glimpse into that future you could do a lot worse than pop along to the Albion on a Friday night to hear real singing by real people.

And if you've also got a song in you head and would be prepared to take the floor then that's even better.