UK 6th form colleges capitalize on a thriving demand for
'performance arts' and 'music tech' courses..

this accounts for large numbers of teenage wannabes
looking for any public venues to parade their singing/songwriting talents
as they hone their craft in preparation for examinations
and the next series of auditions for TV's "Pop idol"..

also weekend newspaper colour supplements
and other superficial market-led aspirational lifestyle magazines
have for whatever reasons recently determined that folk music
is 'in'..

hopefully as a by-product,
folk club culture will benefit for the future...