TB, Re "double-edged sword"...

I think people will always want to go there if the artist is someone they really want to see but, I agree, if he/she/they are an unknown quantity it's possible that they might just decide to stay at home rather than make a special trip to check out the gig. That's not ideal as it's hard enough, especially in Edinburgh, to encourage folkies to try something new.

As for encouraging new attendees, I'm afraid that the broadcasts so far are highly unlikely to entice many new people along especially the younger generation. The whole thing comes across as very amateurish and the venue appears to lack atmosphere. Of course, it IS better when you are actually there and you can see the whole picture. Also, the informality and rough edges are part of the charm when visiting a folk club but this just doesn't come over very well on the live recordings.