Regional differences are real. In New York City there is intense competition for audience. Here in Brooklyn within walking distance of my house, there are 9 or 10 bars presenting live music. Two or three of them occasionally present what I would consider folk music. The "coffeehouse" at the Ethical Culture Society (sure it's a church) was a folk venue from about 1972 to maybe 2000. It still has live music every Friday, but seldom has folk music of any kind.   
    It does host the annual Park Slope Jamboree put on by James Reems. The Jamboree is very successful, I've heard it draws about 700 people for old time & bluegrass music. It is inexpensive,$4 from noon to 11:00PM, but more important, it is PARTICIPATORY.   All afternoon there are groups of people of all ages jamming in the yard, and the evening concert is always standing room only while the diehards keep jamming outside. Do people prefer making music to listening passively?