I'm also at a loss to know why one should concentrate only on earning a living in England, Scotland and Wales?
In these days of cheap flights, one could safely be playing a festival in Stockholm, Oslo, København, Hamburg, Kiel, one weekend, and back on home turf, Sunday night with a rake of foreign currency in your pocket.

That was the basis of my point earlier about diversifying.

If folksingers are quitting because of lack of venues in said 3 countries, consider expanding your horizons.

One less excuse for having to quit.

B.