"It is arrogance like yours that emptied the clubs, not folk music." when i first started going to folk clubs in 1966, they were a broad church encompassing international folk music including bluegrass and blues and traditional music from the British Isles., and contemporary songs written by people of differing nationalities.
Firstly, some clubs are not empty, secondly to make a statement like the one above is a massive over simplification, and a typical example of whats wrong with internet discussion forums and a classic piece of flaming and trolling.
in 1966 there were badly run clubs there were also well run clubs, there were clubs that struggled and clubs that thrived, there are a number of clubs that have been in existence for over 50 years, and one that recently closed having run for approx 50 years[ lewes vic and tina smith] but not because it was empty.
jim, when will you stop spouting half truths and then presenting them as facts, we all respect your efforts at song collection,but your statement this time is imo ridiculous.