Snail- I think your problem is becoming obvious to all us. You are looking for an easy answer and not listening and observing. Every situation is different and several of us have given you suggestions and tried to lead you to your own answer.   The experience that I have described with my own club is showing some positive results, but as I say, it is still a work in progress. We are seeing the audience grow and a number of younger faces. It is a positive experience and we have learned to embrace changes and still remain true to our core goals.

Also, re-read my statement. I never said it was wrong to ask a young person about their feelings. What I said was that I don't think you were really listening to their response and looking for a direct answer. You need to examine more.

You are asking the right questions, but I think you are expecting an easy answer and not paying attention to what people are telling you, based on your responses and interpretations in this thread. Believe me, that is something that I have done and all of us do. We all need to take a step back now and then.

Gulliver, Pip and Fionnghuala made some wonderful points. A young audience is going to be attracted to music that they want to be attracted to. Every generation FINDS their own muse. I could not sit my own children down and tell them what music to listen to. It is a self-discovery. The artists that are carrying on the traditions, the young people, are finding their own path - and their own audience.   Sometimes it takes those of us who are the "elders" to open our minds and ears to accept this and see why they are attracted to the Foghorn String Band, Crooked Still, Red Molly, etc.

This summer I went to several festivals. At age 51, I was still a "kid" at some of the events, but when I went to Falcon Ridge, I became the old man. Much of the music at Falcon Ridge is contemporary singer-songwriters, but the influence and new interpretation of trad music was in the air. When I witness Anthony Da Costa reduce an audience to tears, I am amazed - especially when I know that he is just entering his senior year of high school!! I'm wearing T-shirt that are older than he is!

Sometimes all it takes is offering these artists to an audience that will bring in a younger crowd and help erase the images of the stodgey folk scene that has been sterotyped since the 1950s. Once they become comfortable, they might take the path that we did - exploring new and old artist.

Of course, we are talking compromise. From what I gather of the "folk club" scene in the UK, the idea of compromise might be an issue. However, based on the original premise of this thread - it might be more easily acceptable in the U.S.   Stewart's issue in Seattle could be turned around.