My 5p's worth: I agree that there is room for both types of club - the 'concert' type venue, and the more (can I use this word without starting an argument?!) 'traditional' club where floor singers and residents are encouraged (by traditional I mean they are more like the clubs of yesteryear, not that they are exclusively for traditional music - however you define that!).

I go to both types of club regularly, and there are advantages to both:

- the concert type venue is able to book the 'big name' artists and not make a loss (well not often anyway, I hope), by providing an environment where these artists can perform, usually supported by other professional artists (or occasionally by high-quality resident acts), at a reasonable cost for the punters. I go to these clubs to see artists I like without paying through the nose, in a more friendly and intimate venue than a theatre, etc., where these artists would otherwise have to perform all the time.

- the traditional club encourages residents and floor singers, not all necessarily of a high standard, as well as having the occasional or regular guests, possibly alternating with sessions or singarounds where anyone can have a go, regardless of standard of performance - beginners are just as welcome as long-time residents. IMO these clubs are still essential, because if all clubs were 'concert' types it would be a Catch-22 situation for newcomers, who would not be able to get the experience they need to break into the concert club circuit (if there is such a thing - but I hope you know what I mean). I go to these clubs because (a) it gives me a chance to perform myself; (b) I get to see (hopefully) the top artists of the future as they learn their craft; and (c) I still get to see the occasional top artists in an even more friendly and intimate venue (there are some top artists who like to perform in these venues as well as the huge theatres).

As for festivals, again they seem to be two basic types, similar in a way to the clubs above: there are the large festivals such as Cropredy or Cambridge, where again big names perform for the fans; and the type such as Broadstairs, where there is a much greater range of artists, and lesser known acts can perform in a variety of venues, with more sessions and singarounds where anyone can have a go.