I discovered folk music by accident. Just as I'd learned to play the guitar much pop music had become weird and psychedelic, and wasn't very accessible to me as a 12 year old with my 3 chords. I came across a book of folk songs, and took to it because it was music I could play. However this also coincided with a period when folk was part of the wider popular music culture, it wasn't a niche interest as it is now. The Spinners had their own TV programme.

As Will has pointed out, folk clubs provided an environment where you could go to perform, and to learn the skills. Even as an inexperienced performer you could find yourself supporting a nationally-known guest, most of whom were very supportive and encouraging. This encouraged floor-singers to aim for high standards - the idea that it was enough simply to attempt to sing and never mind the quality hadn't yet taken hold.

Fashion moved on, and folk ceased to be part of mainstream culture and became a minority interest for enthusiasts. That generation grew older together, and started to find that work and family commitments kept them away from folk clubs. This affected quite a large number at around the same time. Younger performers weren't exposed to folk music the way we had been, but had punk instead as their musical outlet, so the generation which was dropping out of the clubs wasn't being replaced.

This is certainly what happened to me, and when I returned after several years away I found that there were far fewer clubs, most offering only low- to average-standard floorsingers, or guest concerts with no opportunity to perform myself. This isn't for me, and I now very seldom go to folk clubs. Most of my music is now in sessions or playing with a ceilidh band.