"any club describing themselves as "folk" should have some idea of what that term means and present it or songs using folk forms as a major part of their evening"

Lik it or not, the idea of what the term "folk" encompasses is broad and (like any other genre) the boundaries are vague and open to interpretation. I suspect in most cases club organisers have their own idea what the term means, Jim's problem is that it may not be the same as his. In any event, "folk" isn't a protected term like Champagne or Stilton so we can't complain to trading standards if we think someone is misusing the term. No doubt there are some "folk clubs" which are open-mics masquerading under another name. However the experience of most of the people posting on here is that folk, in the sense of traditional or folk-based contemporary songs, can usually be found in folk clubs.

I get as frustrated as anyone when the music presented at a folk club doesn't suit my own tastes. But other people are entitled to their own likes and dislikes, and if their interpretation of folk is different from mine that doesn't make them wrong. If the audience is enjoying it the problem is mine rather than theirs. The solution to a club where the music doesn't meet one's own preferences is the same as it always was - go somewhere else.