I know that Folk in the U.K. is more far-spread than in the U.S. It's unfortunately an ignored art here. With things like Rock and Pop still winning out in this country where Pop Culture is considered EVERYTHING! I wish we had more of a scene, and different types of acoustic music were welcomed more.
Here it's still considered more of a Sixties style than anything else, with visions of Joan Baez emoting in people's heads...