Maybe in Bristol we're lucky. There's at least two open mics where there is always virtually dead silence while people are performing. Both have organisers who have deliberately set out to create that atmosphere, both as it happens with low/no lighting and candlelight.

At one, in a social club bar location, the PA system is excellent, and so the quieter stuff (eg me) gets listened to.

At the other, a room above a small pub, it's totally unplugged and anything goes, and sometimes there are some very fine and/or original and/or quirky acts. It always gets completely packed out.

And over in nearby Bath, a promoter has set up a similarly great gig venue in the cellar of an otherwise noisy pub. Again, the PA is fantastic, there's candlelight and table snacks, and people come to really listen. I sang there when I was in a duo, and loved it. This one does need more attendance though. Most of the bands come from Bristol (10 miles), and their mates seem to find it hard to get there!

I think such delights have to be deliberately set up and pursued by the organiser/promoter, to work in this very specific way. Some people outside of the trad folk world DO also want to be able to listen to everything. I'm even toying with the idea of starting something like this...