Not sure if McEwans are still involved with music in Scotland. When I was in Arran last they were still sponsoring sessions where they would seed a certain amount of money to the organiser and players. I don't know any further details but I got a free pint when I played as did all the other singers and musicians!

McEwans Sessions

Perhaps we could get Sam Smiths to do something similar in England (ho ho)

Agree with pretty much everything said here. We have been running something (I don't think it's a folk club) which meets every week for the last 6 years and still has the same basic principals and principles as it started with.

Clarity of vision - whatever that vision is - is the key I think because it makes it very easy for people to know what they are coming to. I rarely publicise what we do apart from word of mouth because it is usually busy enough (apart from summer when a lot of people are away when there may only be 20 or 25 people there). We operate a mixed session / singaround where we go round the room and everyone has the option to contribute or not, and people either sing alone or join in together. We have a core of local people who come most of the time (and so there are always enough to make it enjoyable) plus a large number of people who come sometimes. We have had perhaps half a dozen booked acts over time (Last Nights Fun twice, Marie Little, Jacqueline McDonald, Kieran Halpin, Hissyfit) but it is principally a place to come and join in. We are quite eclectic so you are as likely to hear traditional songs, guitar songs, fiddle tunes or even the odd poem - there are examples here but as I said it's not a folk club as such.

Up the road from us in York there is the Black Swan Folk club which was Radio 2 folk club of the year - perhaps Roland would give you some advice if you asked him, he's very approachable and been doing something right for a long time (Black Swan Folk Club )