"I suspect it's a case that the 'Open Mic'"
Maybe true - I certainly hope not.
The Clun scene I was part of for so long was one dedicated to a certain type of song - you may have quibbled at what that meant, but parameters were set
In my opinion, things started to go astray when those parameters were abandoned (an argument for elsewhere)
In Ireland, we have a plethora of 'song circles' which depends entirely on who is involved - some are good, some are 'curate's eggish' and some are abysmal - you tend to attend as an exercise in sociability rather than to listen to or sing any particular type of song.
Most are not to promote any type of song to any standard, but to provide locals with a place to sing.
Fine, as far as I'm concerned; I used to go to one on the Stretford Road in Manchester back in the 60s and watch Sinatra-Elvis-Count John McCormack wannabes regularly and enjoy the evenings immensely - in between my visits to Terry Whelan's and Harry Boardman's Clubs or the M.S.G.
Jim Carroll