one of the advantages of Folk clubs is that they are in seperate rooms,this enables the performer to perform material that would be difficult to perform in a noisy pub even with amplification.
Singers learn how to project their voices in folk clubs which they do not necessarily do when using amplification.
good folk clubs are the best venues to perform[imo],In Ireland singers clubs are few and far between,it has made me really appreciate good folk clubs,too often playing in pubs means the performer becomes wallpaper music.
House Concerts seem like a good idea to me too.
people have been talking about the decline in folk clubs since 1965,if people started talking folk clubs up a bit instead of knocking them,while stiull offering positive constructive criticism,the folk club scene might be even better