"You have your viewpoint on the reason for the reduction in the number of the clubs Jim "
We really have been hear before Joe
I was there and saw the clubs vanish one by one and saw the nation-wide debate as they did
I still have the magazines that the arguments took place in
All I have seen is eccusses that shuffle tound the facts that the standards plummeted and folk clubs stopped catering for those interested in folk song
That is not only documented but it is logical considering nobody can drum up an agreed definition to replace the one we used
Would you describe Jazz or blues "narrow" / if not why should "folk" be, or isn't it worthy of an exclusive identity ?
Folk song is probably as well researched and documented as any other music
Far more people adhere to that researched identity world-wide than those who adopt the "Nobody Knows" stance
"Folk" remains an internationally agreed definition and it applies to all the genres - music, dance, lore, tales.... (are yuou going to decide to redefine them whe it suits you ?
Why on erth sould fok be described as "narrow" other than by those who don't understand it ?
Shanties, love songs, big ballads, children's songs, football chants, work songs...... narrow my arseum !!!
And that doesn't tak4 into consideration the thousands of newly made songs that were made using folk forms that were ain inttegral part of the old scene

One of the things you peole continue to refuse to address if the cultural implications of jettisoning the term folk
It was choses tooo recognise the creative input o working people - farmers, factory workers, sailors, solduiers...'ordinary' people
Up to that acknowlegement, thos people were considered to have created nothing (a bit of scrimshw and some knitting pattern, maybe)
Are you really happy you see them returned to being culturally non-creative ?
Jim