Do you not think you're all confusing 'folk clubs' with 'tradition'. A folk club is no more traditional than rock and roll, both having been invented sometime in the middle of last century. The tradition won't die out with clubs - it managed just fine for hundreds of years before that.

I think the folk club network is ailing for a number of reasons, but if people at large are interested it'll survive, if not they won't. If it doesn't survive it won't be that great a tragedy because something else will take its place. Due to the state of the mainstream recorded music industry, the live music industry is booming at the moment and an extension of that is that people will always want to participate in music as well as watch. The traditions of England are safe, but they might re-emerge where least expected... Thats the most exciting thing.