I've just read a long Bowie obit in Guardian newspaper (UK)
It does mention Bowie starting a folk club (and i think he must have been a neighbour of Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger at one point, or maybe they lived in the same town at different times). But he doesnt seem to ever have been a folk music performer.

I was amazed at how productive Bowie has been for most of his adult life - and even when he had various personal difficulties in his life. I hadnt realised just how many acting roles he had taken on either.