Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug

Subject: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 04:36 PM

Lymm Folk Club is the new name for the Railway Folk Club, Heatley.

We've been at the Railway for the best part of twenty years, but now is the time to move on... after all, it's difficult to run a folk club in a pub that isn't open!

Nobody bothered to inform us that the licensee's tenancy lease expired at the end of June, not even the licensee, so we found out on Monday July 2nd when someone noticed the pub hadn't opened.

We were in the middle of Lymm Festival, and the previous night had seen a great concert from Anthony John Clarke, who was also one of the judges for our first Songwriter competition the same afternoon.

Luckily we had no concert planned for the Monday evening, and there were two concerts at the nearby Statham Lodge (Chris While & Julie Matthews on Tuesday, and Garva on Wednesday) which meant we weren't expecting to use the club room until the Thursday.

We were extremely fortunate to be able to move Billy Mitchell's concert to the Saracen's Head, Warburton, as the Lymm Festival involves the whole village, not just the folk club.

Singers Night on Thursday July 12th will also be at the Saracen's, after which we will be operating from the Spread Eagle in Lymm centre until we finalise a new venue - which could well be the Spread.

Songs in the Snug is yet to find a new home.

Boo hoo!

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 04:43 PM

The Railway Folk Club website is gradually changing to become Lymm Folk Club (www.lymmfolkclub.org.uk), but www.railwayfolkclub.co.uk will continue to find the site.

Lymm Folk Club

Songs in the Snug

Watch this space!



Okay, not all the time - go and do something useful, now!

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 04:30 AM

sorry to hear this bernard,I played at lymm folk club many years ago.probably about 1988.best of luck in your new venue.

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: John J
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:16 AM

Just had an email from Stewart, it looks like he's decided on the Spread as a venue.

JJ

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 06:26 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: AlanG
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 07:25 AM

Thanks Brenard, I hope to see you and JJ at the spread eagle tonight so we can discuss a new venue for Songs in the Snug whilst drinking to the success of the Ltmm Folk Club in its new home.

Didn't realise it was that long since Dick was last at the club - must get Stewart to book him again.

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 07:28 AM

Good luck with the new venue. I certainly enjoyed the last-but-one night in The Railway - a good room, that - too bad you've lost it.

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Nick
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 08:08 AM

Always sad to lose a venue and I hope you find another.

I'd have to say though that the one time I visited it I found it to be probably the most unfriendly and unwelcoming folk gathering I have ever visited. This is not an attempt to start an argument just an observation and I wish you well for the future in finding a new place.

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 10:51 AM

Sod off, Nick!!

;o)

Hah!!

Seriously, though, how long ago was that? I've been involved for over ten years, and I've found most of the folks to be friendly enough... except for that AlanG fellow, o'course!!

It wouldn't surprise me if we return there eventually...

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 12:08 PM

Then again, perhaps not... here is some disturbing news...

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Nick
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 12:14 PM

It would have been about 20 months ago. I waited for a break between songs and asked whether it was ok to come in. This was met with a seemingly grudging 'yes, but as long as you don't do A,B and C' - the implication being that I wouldn't have the manners or intelligence to behave correctly.

I listened to a song or two between which people chatted together as a little group to the exclusion of me the visitor. It felt rather as if I was disturbing a small and close group so I felt it was time to go.

May just have been me but it was during a week where I had been to Swinton and Wigan folk clubs on the other nights and had a rather more welcoming and inclusive resompne from the other places I went.

As I said earlier it was an honest observation of how I felt and may be as much or more about me than you.

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Nick
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 12:18 PM

"resompne" - what an interesting word :)

I think I meant reception and got distracted a couple of times!

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 02:30 PM

I think the story in the Warrington Guardian in Bernard's link could be misleading so don't give up on the Railway just yet - the pub company owners are actively advertising for tenants for what they call "a substantional destination pub".

Nick, I'm not sure whether your unwelcoming reception was at the Snug or in the Folk Club, but whichever it was I'm sure it wasn't intended and I do hope you will return and give a song next time. It may be that the Snug group (if that was indeed the one you meant) has developed such a strong cameraderie among the few of us who attend regularly that a newcomer might feel a bit put out. If that's so then I can only apologise for the impression we gave, and assure you that we'd love to welcome you another time when we have settled down again.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 03:21 PM

Yes, Matthew, I do believe that article leans more towards scaremongering than truth, particularly as planning permission to build has been refused in the past. The houses built on land behind the pub were allowed planning permission on the strict proviso that the screen of mature trees between them and the Railway was maintained.

Nick, I'm sorry if you received such a 'welcome'... maybe someone thought they were being funny (sadly, that could even have been me!!) and it backfired.

If it was on Thursday (Singers Night or Guest Night?), it's even possible it was someone entirely unconnected with the running of the club - especially if it was at the door at the bottom of the stairs rather than the top.

However, if it was on a Wednesday, maybe Matthew's explanation may persuade you to reconsider... wherever we end up!!

Sorry if I'm labouring the point, but I always thought we were a friendly lot... if we aren't it needs sorting!

As for 'resompne' - give it a year or two and it will be in the OED!

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Nick
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 03:25 PM

It was a Wednesday - I did Swinton on Monday, Wigan Tuesday and Thursday

No apologies necessary

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 03:27 PM

Sorry, Nick - I didn't read your post properly. It seems likely from what you said that it was during a Wednesday's 'Songs in the Snug', which was in a downstairs room.

I suppose, as Matthew said, we could easily give the wrong impression unintentionally, and a joke backfiring seems a likely explanation.

Do visit us again! We take our songs seriously, but not ourselves...

Subject: RE: Lymm Folk Club / Songs in the Snug
From: Bernard
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 03:28 PM

Woops! Crossed posts!