The greatest race on earth

[El Gordo]

Nicely put, GM.

Without wanting to hijack the subject, I'm struck by the thought that something very similar happens in the world of folk music, and is one of the reasons I like it so much. There are hundreds of great musicians on the circuit, and among them, a dozen or so 'stars' who can play both the Royal Albert Hall and the Grove pub in Leeds on the same tour (e.g. Martin Carthy, Norman Waterson, Kate Rusby, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn etc). In the folk clubs, you can lean on the bar with them and have a natter over a pint. And if you're brave enough, you can stand up and play a tune yourself while they listen to you.