Thanks for that Eliza. You put it better than me.
The Big bands seem to be able to beak through now and then but there ought to be more.

The Birnam Institute is a good sized venue, just north of Perth and across the river from Dunkeld, Douggie Maccleans home. He plays there regularly. That might be a good one for you and several fair-sized venues in Edinburgh which itself is teeming with talent. The Pleasance Bar? is one of the big ones organised by "Paddy" Ebort.
A friend of mine Nick Allmark runs the small club at Aberfeldy but he also books local Parish halls for bigger audiences which seems to be the way when there is no theatre type venue.
On the west coast An Aird in Fort William is another big venue. I hope you can make it to one or other some time and get a tour together.