I don't go to folk clubs because everyone seems to know everyone else and I feel I'm crashing a private party. The few times I've been I have never enjoyed myself even though the artist is excellent. I always come away resentful. Also, why are they never advertised outside? It is like they don't want you to go in. When you do go in, you have to join and become a member -Why?

Why can't folk clubs be more like rock venues-you pay your money and you watch the show and you are not made to feel that they are doing you a really big favour by allowing you in. They should also get proper support acts rather than these boring people who turn up and play Costello's Alison on an acoustic guitar (badly)and think we are too stupid not to know that it is not a folk song.

I love folk music but despise folk clubs. The people who run these things should start to look outwards rather then inwards, start thinking of their customers as punters rather than freinds, then, just maybe, you might get a few more people coming in. Get commercial. Get real. There is an audiance out there for folk music.