>>This is our 4th visit - we last visited this club four years ago - the only thing that has changed is the number attending - much bigger - the poor singing has grown in proportion to the attendance and there is no sign whatever of the old hands improving (as far as I could make out).

At last I understand where you are coming from, Jim.

Folk music is an elite and narrow beast that can only be true itself by being accessible to the few.
The only way it can be spoiled is by people being a part of it because they will break it because they are not good enough for it. Low attendance is a prerequisite of quality because it is for the few.

But yet you keep going back - which looks like a triumph of hope over experience.

In answer to your question should you go back - Yes of course. It will serve to reinforce your rather bizarre views

I think I now understand why folk music died and why there are so few folk clubs - people like you killed the thing you thought you were protecting.