The fact is we are talking about two entirely different things - traditional music, and what goes on in folk clubs.

What Jim means by 'folk' is the raw material, the genuine tradition which came from within real communities. However, while the likes of Walter Pardon, Fred Jordan, the Coppers etc appeared in folk clubs from time to time these were rare occurrences, and folk in its raw form seldom formed part of the folk club experience. What you got was 'revival folk', where traditional songs were reinterpreted, whether by the singer-with-guitar stereotype, the folk-rock of Steeleye and Fairport, the synth-folk of Pyewackett or the fusions of the current young generation. When I started going to folk clubs, what I understood by 'traditional music' was Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Tony Rose etc. However whilst I wasn't much interested in Bob Dylan, Ralph McTell, Donovan etc I saw no great conflict in having this music performed in the same club. It was all part of what I, and more importantly everyone else, understood by 'folk'. It still is.

Jim thinks 'folk club' is an inaccurate term for a club where he can't expect to hear traditional music. Perhaps he's right, however like the word 'folk' itself, 'folk club' has become a shorthand for a certain type of music and a certain type of performing environment. People know broadly what to expect.

'Folk' is not alone in this. What about 'jazz'? If I go to a 'jazz club' I don't know whether to expect traditional jazz, swing, bebop, jazz-rock ,or a myriad of other forms - all very different sounds, but all 'jazz'