Well - how is the guest plus floorspots a loss - so many people despise the kind of music that someone like Brimstone, Alex Campbell, etc played.

Despised as a dilution of the tradition. It was a tradition that had somehow bypassed our parents. It was only to be found in obscure enclaves and in University libraries. Folk music frankly wanted nothing to do with us.

Folk music has changed its focus. The skills of minstrelsy and entertainment are out of favour.

There's nothing much to be done about it. Its a bit like thinking of starting a mining industry forty years after they've closed it down.

Its no use wishing for the audiences back, you sent away as too stupid to appreciate folk music.
Folk music will maybe survive, but it won't be in the way that we knew it.