Apathy, I'd guess...

I can't speak for Wensleydale (you sound really cheesed off!!), but I'm involved with a North Manchester folk club which is going the same way. We've had some really great 'Extravaganza' weekends which were reasonably well attended, but the most recent one was a disaster - most of the audience were support acts & 'hangers-on', which soounds much like your experience.

I'm also involved with another club in Cheshire which is really well supported - we had a festival (complete with marquee) a month or so ago, with around 170 in for Martin Simpson, and a similar crowd for Garva.

The odd thing is, of the two, the less popular one is well served by public transport, whereas the other is practically cut off!!

Nowt so queer as folk!!