I think the problem here, is that us older folkies are maybe trying too hard to force what we beleive on to the younger element.
I can well imagine that a Folk Club, full of older people, is not necessarily where youngsters want to be.
Folk Clubs will die as we know them, when the people who run them, get too old and decrepid to carry it on, and where nobody else is prepared to carry it on.

Have a look at the universities. I am sure there is a thriving music circle that us older ones never get the privelage to attend.
Likewise there are many open mike events all over the country in the UK.
I am sure there are many other things going on with the younger people, that we never get to.
Folk Festivals are probably one of the best ways to get the music out there and from what I can understand, brings lots of younger people in.

There will always be a divide between the younger and older poeple. Thats the way of life.

Music is healthy both with the younger element and the older element. More often than not, it is the older people that are not prepared to listen to what the younger ones have to offer.

Just to use 2 bands as an example of younger people doing very well in the UK and I am sure attract the younger element to go and see them.
One is Kerfuffle and the other is Mawkin:Causley. I love what they do.

There are many other examples.

I think what we should be doing is asking our younger mudcatters what they are doing and what makes them enthusiastic about music. Where are the hotspots for younger people. How can we help them to make them the future in the Folk World. They will do it different to us.

It may also help to know how old each mudcatter who is posting on this thread is. I am 63.