As mentioned further up the thread, the folk scene in Scotland seems to be in a healthier state generally.

The club membership thing only applies to a few places, notably in London where the LA's (especially Camden, who started this) started charging exorbitatnt rates for a PEL so pubs didn't get one and folk clubs have to find a way round it. You can just turn up at most English folk clubs without any problem.

Anahata