I started going to folk clubs in the mid-'60s purely and simply because it was somewhere I could go to perform. I didn't really care what was on the agenda - and I actually didn't care for a lot of what was on at my local club in Lancaster. I saw the Spinners there - didn't like them; saw Jackie and Bridie there - didn't like them either. Too mumsy for my taste. But I did also see performers like Alex Campbell and Spider John Koerner, and Swarb and Carthy, and thoroughly enjoyed them.

I was very, very selfish - really just used the venue as somewhere to play guitar and sing and learn how to do it live in front of an audience. Which was what a lot of people did if they didn't join a band. I didn't have amplification - couldn't afford it - so I couldn't join a band. As soon as I managed to afford my DeArmond pickup and a Watkins amp, I started playing in pubs with other musicians.

Later on, when I moved to London, I got back into the acoustic scene by haunting the Cousins (as well as electric blues venues like the Marquee and Klooks Kleek) because I lived the guitar magic of Graham, Jansch, Renbourn, Al Stewart, John James, etc.

So, for me, they served a purpose. Whether they serve that purpose now for young musicians is a question I can't answer. But I suspect sessions and open mics have taken over.