I am surprised no one has gone with this in this direction:

During the heyday, the golden age of folk music, or to some, "the big scare," comedy was a big part of the whole "entertainment" of seeing a folk music show. Lou Gottlieb of the Limelighters literally invented the intellectual patter-chatter monologs between songs. He greatly influenced Dave Guard and later John Stewart who dubiously (and obviously well-rehearsed) fulfilled this role for the Kingston Trio. These shows, though the folk purists and "ethnics" regarded as "too commercial" were, along with of course The Smothers Brothers, the golden age of comedy and folk music. It's when people really entertained, singing along with the choruses one moment, laughing at jokes the next.