Tom,

Sorry about that - I did mean precisely what you said. The demise of the club where the pro/semi pro could hone their craft is happening - there is no denying that. And whilst I am not a prophet of gloom and doom - there are a lot of sell-out gigs for all sorts of people - until we get subsidised folk music, it is unlikely it will thrive in the way that many of us would like.

For growth of folk clubs in the 60's if I had time (and I am retired!!) I would want to look at the socio-economic factors prevailing at the time - I doubt we could ignore the influence of what was happening elsewhere (pill, less restrictions, growth of universities, freeing up of attitudes in general etc) in the 60's to the growth of folk clubs at that time.

I would want to look at the influence of folk-rock - for that is when I believe that amplification came in at folk clubs and started to kill the clubs.

I would want to look at the social climate of the Thatcher years for I believe that is when it also helped to end the folk club as it was in the 60's.

I am not sure we are cutting off the roots - but we are cutting off the lower branches maybe.

I don't have any answers to this by the way, I wished I did, and I can (and have) gone endlessly around the houses in discussions about it. But I am anxious to see that the analysis is bang on and I am not sure predictions about the imminent death of folk music are correct. I am reasonably positive about its health - but with the provisos you have noted.

And finally there is no doubt that a huge chunk of the answer is younger organisers.

One thing I can wnoleheartedly agree with - my daughter and her patner both 26 at the time - went to a folk club and halved the average age of audience. They were so overwhelmed with kindness that they left early!!