Melissa,

"Is the handful of people (connected with the building) that seem content with monthly meetings AGAINST having the place used more frequently, or are they just kind of not particularly interested in actively working toward serving/drawing the community?" Yes to both. They did things in the past, but are now too old and tired to do much of anything, but they are still in control.

Here's an announcement of our upcoming series that I just wrote up for the Seattle Folklore Society Flyer. It will give you a flavor of what we do.

The Haller Lake Arts Council begins its monthly "2nd Saturdays at the club" concert series. They aim to bring local artists and musicians together with the community for the benefit of all. On Sept. 13 The Cutters, a Northwest family band, will sing songs of British Isles and North American seafaring traditions, with heart-felt vocals, backed by guitars, banjos, bodhran, whistle, and driving percussion. And Molly Bauckham and Davy Axtell, a Seattle duo who perform on guitar, harp, hammered dulcimer, flute and vocals, will play music from lands of the Britons and the Celts. The Righteous Mothers will perform on Oct. 11. They are four funny, philosophical female folk-rock musicians who have performed together for the past 26 years. They surprise and delight young and old, gay and straight, male and female with their quirky humor and open hearts. November features Tania Opland & Mike Freeman playing hamered dulcimer, guitar, violin, cittern, Native American flute, percussion, with songs in many languages and rhythmic roots from Siberia to Morocco. In December Jean Sherrard will present a Holiday Special of dramatic reading and stories. He is coauthor, with Paul Dorpat, of "Washington Then and Now." The DownTown Mountain Boys, the Pacific Northwest's most exciting and accomplished bluegrass band, will play in January. And Crookshank, Seattle's hottest folk-rock band, will play in February. Concerts for March, April and May will be announced later.

It's not all folk music or even traditional, but hopefully something that will appeal to many people. It's just getting people in the community to recognize that there is good local live music, and getting them out to experience it. Yes it is like "Swimming Uphill."

Ron, yes I have tried to work with the SFS. I've even produced a couple of concerts for them in the past. But they have a different agenda (not folklore or even anything to do with Seattle). We're not in competition, we just do different things.

Cheers, S. in Seattle
And now back to the UK, seemingly stuck in a roundabout of folk clubs and tradition vs non-tradition. (just kidding!)