I started getting into folk in the early sixties. Well, Ok then, very early sixties. I went to hear political folk songs and found myself listening to traditional stuff instead. I loved it.

What I would like to suggest is that there are many more people making music now then there ever was. In the "old " days, people played guitar, the odd person played fiddle and some banjo, that was it. There were few competing sessions, few festivals and so on. The first Keele Festival was 1965 and apart from Sidmouth and IVFDF I don't remember any others.

The dance scene was restricted to EFDSS dances, often to recorded music.

Compare to now - dozens of festivals, all with top line artists, more melodeon players than you can shake a stick at, fiddlers fiddling everywhere etc. Dances to bands like Whapweasel, Hekety, Bedlam. Sessions all over the place. Young bands like Devil's Interval, Kerfuffle etc.

Whilst I know it doesn't say precisely that - the thread seems to indicate the folk scene is dying along with the clubs.

From my aged position it is just the opposite. Sheffield does not really support a "traditional format" folk club. But sessions most nights, excellent dances thanks to the Ceilidh Soc. etc etc.