" I don't disagree with you about songs relevant to today, and there are singer-songwriters, such as Jez Lowe or the late lamented Keith Marsden or Duncan MacFarlane and a few others who *reach out* to the audience with their songs and their presentation of them - I do not include them in the 'navel-gazers'. "

BB - You have created a sterotype of "navel-gazers".   Trust me, I did the same thing at one point - I lumped them all together in a catagory that I called "singer-songwhiners".   What I discovered was that by creating that stereotype, I shut the door to some singer-songwriters who were creating powerful and important songs.

If you look at some traditional songs you will find 492 verses of whiny laments over some long-lost love that ended up with flowery allegories or comparisons to plants and barnyard animals that if written today would be considered self-indulgent therapy sessions. I'm sure at the time they were written they served a purpose.

The point I am making is based on the premise of this thread. No one is forcing anyone to like something that doesn't appeal to them. Times and tastes do change, and while I am glad BB's club is doing well, if others are finding themselves with dwindling attendance and a dearth of new performers - perhaps it is a time for the organizers to do some navel-gazing.