Big Al mentioned Miner's welfare clubs on another thread which set me off down memory lane. I well remember the Pendlebury Miner's Welfare as being the place to go in the 70's but I don't recall seeing any real big names there. This piece in the Irish Times has a good short history of the phenomenon they became, particularly in the North East of England.

Al mentioned the domestic Country and Western scene that thrived in these clubs and I guess there must have been some showcasing folk music at times. Anyone have any memories of such?