I think in a way Greg you've answered your own question. In referring to the 'Folk Department' at Newcastle you imply folk music is " a grassroots common people's culture."   I agree. Anything that takes the music out of this setting is doing it a disservice, and drains it of its relevance.

The best Folk Music I always think comes from the very essence of the person singing or playing it.   In this situation even an over popularised or corny song can suddenly sound new and hit you like a brick when you hear it.    This implies some visceral connection to the song.

The logical extension of this is that the one ends up wondering whether the "The Folk Club" itself isn't now itself doing a disservice to the music, by ghettoising it and perhaps constraining its forms. Folk music by definition must belong to, and perhaps even identify a wider community.   The folk club is a recent invention and personally, I anticipate the music will long out live the clubs.


So in answer to your question Greg, and perhaps a little controversially, I'd like to nominate the folk club as doing a disservice to Folk Music.

SM