Quote from Howard Jones "It doesn't matter how good the music is, if it doesn't suit the venue and the audience then you won't get invited."

100% correct. It's a question of artists doing their homework and finding out the clubs that best suit their style of music.

I think Folk Clubs as the older generation know them, will die as not many young people want to go to them. Do your kids want to be seen out with you, when they are teenagers? Us old folkies should stop trying to force younger people into and old folk's folk club's.
Their is a massive increase in younger people loving folk as seen at festivals. They also carry that on in their own places, where they can be themselves. Universities have a flourishing folk scene. Leave them to it. They are the future. They will carry the folk scene through.