......... as I alluded earlier above, the audients at Mr H's weakly do have been over the last several years becoming increasingly enthusiastic about being participant 'performers' themselves.

A number have started on gob-irons, doing songs unaccompanied [or we accompany them], banging/shaking various items, even a novice squeezebox player!

In Chester [UK] where I'm based, there's 3 informal sinaround/music seshes held weakly, & 7 monthly ones, but only one Folk Club in the formal sense.

Me Fiends regularly go to the FC but report that there's often only the 2 of them + the resident group there, & that the number of audients is either 2/3 or none, in fact more people come to our sesh on a regular basis.

IMO, I feel the formal FC set up may've had its day, & its the informal sinaround & music sesh is currently the more popular & well attended.