"If it wasn't for the collectors and researchers we wouldn't have folk clubs or anything to sing in them; we'd all still be warbling about pink and blue toothbrushes. "
true, but as usual not the complete picture, Jim has forgotten the folk club organisers, people like Ted Poole[ 50 years organising] and Vic and Tina Smith,Ron Angel and many more.
without folk club organisers there would be NO folk clubs, then there is the hundreds of quality performers like Bob Davenport[ who did not need crib sheets], most of whom earned a pittance but who generally helped to maintain a good standard.