I think perhaps we should firstly consider the circumstances historically as to why the folk clubs of the 1960/70 actually "took off" and to the extent they did ~ weekly folk clubs and in some cases a number on the same night in the same catchment area

People were still coming out of the 1945 War and finding time to enjoy themselves, they were questioning how their world was and what restrictions in society were there ~ free speech and money to buy even on Hire purchase

So will Covid 19 leave UK society in a different place than before?

Well who knows and this thread is about that!

As Steve Gardham says other venues are currently (before Covid19) looking at the use of other venues as an alternative to pubs and as well as!!

Folk clubs can only survive where there is a consensus as what the aims are and that all ppl are happy with that ~or the dissentients will no doubt either suck it or beggar off elsewhere

I do feel a number of initiatives are in place ~ some EFDSS based but local initiatives could and should be sought out ~ Soundpost at Dungworth is one such project and serves to employ and bring ppl together

New "stars" and gods are there, maybe not as clever as Ewan MacColl and of course we have lost a number of the Revivalist singers like Peter Bellamy and singer songwriters like Keith Marsden,

but there are stars here now and developing all the time ~ what goes round comes round and it is no good simply saying we are ignoring the traditional songs and these are the only songs that should be sung ~

it never ever was during the 1960/70s and entertainment and beer were also part and parcel of what folk clubs were ~ as well as the entertainers ~ Billy Connolly, Mike Harding, Jasper Carrot as well as Tony Rose, Dave Burland who sung and kept alive the traditional songs

Yes many new folk singers do look to the tradition for material to sing and arrange musical accompaniments and long may it be so

Traditional song and music will continue to be sung for as long as people see the historical and/ or artistic value in them and can relate to the feelings expressed and context within them, many of those relating to humanity itself

Ray