Some interesting thoughts expressed in this thread. I'll just add a few comments. I was dismayed at the attitude of "fuck 'em" and "he's an idiot" etc. directed at the folk club organizer. What is wrong with running a strictly traditional club? There are clubs/venues who book strictly singer/songwriters, strictly jazz, etc. There are also eclectic clubs/venues and that is fine too. If his club specializes in traditional English (or related) folk music and the members enjoy and support it, how does that make him an idiot? It would be entirely possible that he liked what he heard, but didn't feel that it fit well within the definition of what he and the other club members want to support. I run a traditional concert series (not a folk club). I want to maintain a venue that encourages and supports traditional performers, because I just don't think there are enough places around that do (I'm in the USA).   I've had very talented people ask for bookings, saying that, while they weren't really traditional, they could put together a set of traditional material. I don't book them. I usually refer them to another concert venue in the area that mostly books singer/songwriters. I give preference to performers who concentrate on the traditional.   That said, if somebody does a mostly traditional set but throws in a couple of original songs that are in the traditional style, that's fine with me. As for "messing" with traditional music - nothing wrong with that, but different people may or may not like your arrangements or changes.