"I'm fed up of hearing that ther are no young people attending folk meetings/gatherings and that the age of those who do attend is 40/50 upwards."

"There are no sure things in promoting a folk music concert these days. I would agree with that, having attending several recently which featured competent folk artists and were not at all well-attended. And I think it's more than "lack of publicity" although a good picture printed in the local papers can boost attendance and "no publicity" is a self-fulfilling prophecy."

I think there is a connection between Charley and Aeloa's statments. Think back to when you were 20 - would you seek out events where the average age was 50+ or would you prefer to be among your peers? If you go to see Bruce Springsteen or a Rolling Stones concert (whenever the meds kick in to allow them to tour), the majority of the audience will not be made up of young people either.

You can publicize all you wish, but if your performer is geared to an older audience, you will draw an older audience - and that audience pool is thinning out due to mortality, economy and lifestyle changes.