Jim Carroll

I think are in danger of viewing the past through rose tinted glasses. While I would not in any way contradict you about the quality of the singers you mention, I suggest that they were the tip of an iceberg. In their young days, round the country there would have been local singers of varying standards some excellent, most competent and some not so good. In fact no different from today. I suggest you bear this in mind when criticising the performances in folk clubs.

It is rather like the difference between seeing the whole of a football match and seeing the edited highlights, the latter can give a false impression of the overall quality of the game.

folk clubs seem to be the only musical activity which promotes amatureism as a positive attribute...

I resent this. I am an amateur and not ashamed of it; music is a hobby for me. That does not mean I do not practice nor does it mean that I do not try to give of my best when singing or playing in a folk club nor does it mean I do not want to improve. I object to the use of the term "amateurism" as a synonym for substandard. Some amateurs reach very high standards indeed. That most don't achieve the standards you seem to demand is mostly due the fact that we have other demands on our time.

By their very nature folk club membership is largely amateur and for the most part the only audience is each other. If they give some pleasure to visitors or others who happen to be present, then that is a bonus.