See it all depends what kind of a folk evening it is.

I think it's pretty clear from the first posting what sort of evening the OP wants to talk about: That way, whatever else we might have enjoyed during the session- traditional ballads, political protest songs, sea shanties, self-penned offerings, etc. etc. - which all have their own value! - we all go home happy, having had a lusty sing together to round off the evening!