[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1457104732' post='2995415']
I think band 2 sounds like the US version of a ceilidh band. More specifically, joining an already established one. If you like playing a specific genre of covers regularly and you enjoy it, then bonus. It's not my cuppa. I like writing songs.
[/quote]
Doesn't sound much like the US version of a ceilidh band to me. That would be something like a hoe-down band or whatever the terminology is. Folksy fiddly stuff for barn dancing.
Of course, there's no right answer to this whole conundrum. Do what you wanna do. There's a few as have said they don't like gigging, so band 1 would be their obvious choice. I do like gigging, but there's some appeal to me for each of bands 2, 3, and 4, so I wouldn't exclude any of them without meeting them. Let's face it, I've played "Red Red Whine" for money, so I'm obviously a musical prostitute.