Dick

Firstly apologies for an earlier comment a few weeks ago on another thread a while ago where I was uncharacteristically rude - must have had a couple of pints too many. Also apologies for the late apology - I should have said something earlier

Your point about availability of venues is a very good one. It is extremely difficult to find venues nowadays without a) having to pay or b) being confident about pulling in a significant crowd (and I have to be honest in saying that, in England at least, the likelihood of pulling in a significant crowd for events that only permitted traditional folk music would be very slim)

A club I was involved in previously has just had to move from its previously superb venue as it is closing. They have found a good replacement venue but it does have some issues I understand in terms of layout and size. It was probably the only realistic option in a city of over 200,000 people. It is no surprise then that more and more folk (whatever that is ;-) ) music is finding other outlets.

Jim's argument that folk clubs are closing because there is no certainty that his preferred definition of folk music will be performed is I believe almost certainly incorrect - in fact I think the people who love folk or folk orientated music are just finding other places to enjoy, or participate in, the music - be they sessions & singarounds in an open pub such as happens in several pubs in York where I now live or arts centres, theatres, festivals etc

Apart from the late 70's when I first got into folk music I cannot remember a time when the 'folk scene' for want of a better phrase was so vibrant with so many young people getting involved in the music I love