"would be a fair description of my local "folk club.""
It might be nowadays in an English club scene that couldn't find it's folk arse with both hands
There are a few folk 'Clubs' in Ireland - The Goil?n and 'The Night Before Larry Was Stretched' at the Cobblestone (wonderful singing club run by talented young people).
Dick will confirm that The Cork singers club at 'The Spalp?n Fanach' is still still operating
There used to be more, but Ireland has never had a strong Folk Club scene
The Circles are different, no residents, no policy, no organising committee and usually no publicity.
They are there for the locals and depend entirely on the good-will and co-operation of the publican
Most I have been to have no M.C. - the singers jump in whenever the mood takes them
They can be enjoyable, they can be diabolical
Jim Carroll