There are still some old-style folk clubs around but they are no longer commonplace and you can no longer expect to find at least one in any town. However there are still plenty of opportunities to listen to folk music, but these are mostly in concert settings. If you want to perform yourself, there are plenty of singers clubs and despite Jim's experiences many of them are not free-for-all open mics. However far too many of these have allowed standards to fall, so it is very hit-and-miss what you may find.

In both cases these are probably for economic reasons. Concerts seat more and can charge more, and can pay the performers a realistic amount. Small singarounds dare not risk turning people away because they are no good or because their material is not folk, or they would fold.

The younger generation now coming into folk seem happy to enjoy it differently from ours. They are happy to attend concerts and festivals to listen to music. Many of them sing and play, which they do in sessions (including at festivals). Many are very involved in folk dance. They just don't want to sit in a dingy pub back room with people who are their grandparents's age.