This I'm afraid is the malaise that affects most Folk Clubs now. The big names make their money doing festivals, and concerts. they get used to the big venue payments and the free accomodation. Not that I blame them for that, I think we'd all like to get gigs like that, as and when we need the money. I think that what I'm saying is that there are too many festivals, the audience get a great mix of great names, and all on one site. I think they become blase [how do you do accents?], and can't be arsed to turn out for a good evening at a local pub that some poor bastard's worked his arse off getting going, and he's probably subsidising it too. As you can see though, I don't know the answer, wish I did. Inverness, my local "big city" doesn't even have a club anymore, and they have the cheek to call themselves "The capital of highland culture" BALLS.
Rant rant.....Giok