With respect Dick, the original question was not about standards - it was about the reason behind the upsurge in folk clubs existence in that period. I don't think anyone who was around in those days (like meself) would argue with your statement about high standards, but it wasn't the original question.

I wonder how many of the clubs, like my home town club - Lancaster Folk Stir - grew from clubs that were originally folk dance society clubs. When I started to go that one, the committee/organisers were elderly ladies and gents from the folk dance world. More and more younger people started to attend as the folk idea grew, but it was still a bit unadventurous musically.

Having said that, one of the regular attendees was the great Sam Sherry, and I feel privileged to have seen him performing.