Folknacious said:

"At a guess I'd say that around 60% of the artists on the club and festival guest lists are the same names getting booked now. More than half the rest are already nationally known names from the next generation of traditionalish artists, mostly children of folky families from before. From that evidence and what has already been written here, I'd imagine convincing the promoters to book anybody new or without a folky pedigree would be next to impossible."

erm..... no, basically.

We have had the odd star from the 60s/70s but the majority of the acts we have booked since we started 18 months ago are newish... certainly having a "folk pedigree" wouldn't always get you a gig here.

If you look at most club listings this is also the case. As the husband of a budding pro I know it can be a challenge getting gigs but certainly not all folk clubs are a closed door for newcomers. Her first main guest gig at a folk club was October 2007.

This year (and into next) she has plenty of main guest bookings from Aberdeen to Kent...... she's had to work hard to achieve this but it really reflects a very different world to the one you describe. I really don't see the "closed shop" that you are describing.

I guess there are some folk club (and concert/ festival) organisers who won't look at new blood (I could name only a couple) but most understand the importance of bringing talented new blood through. Some of the newcomers provide the very best of nights as well!

Cheers

Paul