Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 08:23 AM

“Stalybridge Station Buffet” - you missed the pool table then, just like crown green snooker!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 08:15 AM

| used to go to a folk club in a pub called the Clarendon opposite Piccadilly (??) station around 1963. Sunday night and then back to Terry Whelan's on Moss Side for a takeaway curry delivered in two pans one curry one rice. Delivered in a pram.

Residents included Tom Gilfellon, Terry Whelan, Terry Griffiths, and later Dave Hillery.

And of course organiser Harry Boardman.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Feb 24 - 06:34 AM

I never got to Stalybridge Station Buffet but always fancied going.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 25 Feb 24 - 06:58 AM

I was one of many who regularly frequented Stalybridge station along with the likes of Clive Gregson, Les Barker etc. but it was forty odd years ago.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 24 - 06:09 AM

I've just resurrected the Swinton Folk Club thread as it is still going! Is it now the longest running club in Greater Manchester I wonder?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 10:22 PM

Sarah Tolley??

Angie Wright wrote in infamous Cheshire Set, when she was with Taggart and Wright.
It can be heard on one of her solo CDs , either Heroes and Demons , or Captive Heart on Spotify etc.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 10:18 PM

Angie replaced Anne Tolley ??? and the band was renamed Cadence.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 10:12 PM

It was Stalybridge railway station!
Went there in June to find a fully decorated Christmas tree behind the bar.
Not sure if they had put it up early or had not got round to taking it down.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Rob Mad Jock Wright
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 10:04 PM

Angie Wright was a regular performer at many of the Folk Clubs in the Manchester area in the 90s either as a solo artist or with others.
Her bands include Cadence , residents at Leigh Folk Club .
Solo at Ashton under Lyne, Blossoms, in Stockport, and mustn’t forget the session in the train station platform bar in ...damn forgot .
When she moved to Chester she met Anne Taggart and thus the duo Taggart and Wright spent 10 years performing to crowds throughout the North West ,

Angie is now a solo performer once again and a regular at the Twa Tams in Perth.

Rumour has it Anne and Angie will be performing once again but that is a secret so don’t tell anyone.
They did have a dalliance at the Chester Folk Festival in 20 22 much to the appreciation of their fans.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 24 - 10:22 AM

@John McKenzie was the club near Piccadilly held at The Shakespeare pub on Fridays? That’s the one I used to go to, around 1967.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Anonymous
Date: 17 Jul 23 - 09:57 PM

My ex husband, Peter Miller got a job as a barman in the Cavalcade. Never worked a bar in his life. He was having an affair with a bar maid called Valerie Langton, dark hair, sticky out front teeth like Ken Dodd. Also very friendly with another gay barman.....1974/5

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Monica Garvey
Date: 07 Jun 23 - 04:56 AM

Hello!
I’m coming to this about ten years too late! However….

I knew Pete Wilmot well, and my school friend and I even sang as a duo at the OldHall Hotel around 1966-69. I loved it, as it was a break from my rather sad home after my Dad died suddenly in 1962.

Please tell me more about those days as my memory is patchy. My friend Pam died ten years ago, but I’m still a keen folk singer.

My email is monicagrenfell @aol.com or phone [phone].

Thank you!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 11 Jan 23 - 10:10 AM

Nice one Guest. I was there!!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jan 23 - 05:17 PM

Here's a photo of Mary playing the July Wakes Festival at Chorley in 1976:


Mary Asquith at the July Wakes 1976

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 10 Jan 23 - 08:25 AM

That would be the late Mary Asquith, one of the many unrecognised singers of that era. Mary recorded one album which I believe is still available as a download.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Jim Shepherd
Date: 09 Jan 23 - 05:19 PM

Can anyone remember a woman who sang around the Manchester folk clubs, she had writen a song calledClosing Time with the line 'and now i find that its closing time'?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,David Chambers
Date: 10 Sep 21 - 11:22 AM

Any one remember Noreen Kershaw who sang with the Focsle I believe above a pub near Picadilly. Can’t remember the name of the pub, possibly on Oldham Street.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Peter Goodwin
Date: 30 Aug 21 - 07:09 AM

I remember Graham very well Glenys. We used to travel together to various folk clubs in the M/c area. One night we picked up Mary Asquith and Pete Farrell and did a tour of 2 or 3 folk clubs. I saw Graham at Jack & Cavis's club in Rochdale, Heywood and the last time at Greenfield when you were in the band playing bass. I remember you too Glenys. I also remember coming down to your house in Wythenshawe when Graham and I used to practise some songs. Also I was with Graham when he did his early first country gigs. Maureen say's hi.
Please remember us to Graham. Best wishes to you both.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Peter Rowlands
Date: 28 Aug 21 - 05:04 PM

I am glad to say that Paul Sherratt is definitely still alive, living in Altrincham. I was at school with him and have kept in touch. I think I went to folk clubs with him very occasionally. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a computer and can't be contacted via the internet.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Paul Reade
Date: 19 Jan 21 - 06:17 AM

Hi Glenys

I ran the Folk Club in the Railway at Sale from 1971 - 1976 (see earlier post above - 24 January 2010) and remember Graham very well. I also used to see him at some of the other clubs in the area like the Mersey Tavern in Stockport town centre. There was also a session at Knutsford Conservative Club, run by Rob Hunt and Dennis O'Brien I seem to recall - anyone else remember it?

I knew Graham had gone more into country music as I saw him advertised at Jack and Mavis Lee's club in Heywood - see http://folkimages.com/hobo/grahambroughton.html for pictures of Graham's band.

If you are in touch with Graham please give him my best wishes

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Glenys broughton
Date: 18 Jan 21 - 06:16 PM

Does anyone remember Graham Broughton from sale. He was the resident singer at the lantern folk club wythenshawe and the spread eagle lymm. He went on to become a successful country singer forming the original sundown band then later the Graham Broughton trio. He made more than 10 albums before retiring in 2004. From his oldest fan

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 06 Jan 21 - 02:23 PM

I remember seeing Eric Bogle at the Malt Shovels although I suspect it was prior to 1987. A chap called Mike Harding borrowed my guitar so he could do a floor spot!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Agraman the human anagram
Date: 06 Jan 21 - 12:31 PM

I used to host the Folk Club at the Malt Shovels in Altrincham from 1987 to 1989 when I moved to the Southern in Chorlton to open The Buzz which was a mixture of world folk bands and stand-up comedy and where Brian Peters remembered playing with his band.
I was indeed previously working for six months at Sale railway station and remember you well Kevin Ashcroft. The Wellgreen in Hale was the first folk club I regularly attended.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 18 Apr 20 - 01:39 PM

I could have given you a lift back if I'd known Dave. I saw Des Friel and Maartin Alcock that night I think.

As I lived in Salford, right opposite Hope Hospital I could have come through Swinton.

The one thing I remember about that night was that Maartin had a fretless bass, I'd never seen such a thing before and the clever b*****d played it by using just one hand and "hammering-on"

It's not actually that difficult I use it myself sometimes but at the time it was phenomenal.

Happy days!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Apr 20 - 01:21 PM

Hey! I started the Steve Robinson bit with his throwing up on the Oldham Tinkers :-) He did indeed run the "Budgie and Brat" (I mentioned the real name earlier too :-) )

Dave Wynn and I must have had this thing about walking back from folk clubs. As well as walking to and from the Duke in the fog, we also walked back from Whitefield in the thick snow - Down the M62! There was bugger all traffic on it. I could be wrong but I think we had been to see Des Friel and Maartin Alcock at Steve's club.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 18 Apr 20 - 11:43 AM

Vincent mentioned Steve Robinson. He did a cracking job of running the Budgie & Brat at Whitefield. We spent a good many great nights up there thanks to Steve. His "tag" line was "Good eh" and he even had leather badges made that said "Good eh).

I got one made that said "Bad eh" just for devilment.

We also had badges made for the Red Lion at Patricroft based on a design by Ted Edwards. A little lions head in red which we christened Brian the Lion. Sold dozens of those. I think I still have one somewhere.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 17 Apr 20 - 12:38 PM

Just thought of another bit of Paul's Camra Crawl. This was in response to station buffets being allowed to sell alcohol.

"I'm forever drinking Ruddles
drinking Ruddles dulls the brain
they serve it draught, how we are laughed
British Rail trains will send you daft
I will soon get puddled, standing in the rain
because I'm forever drinking Ruddles
and I've missed the bleeding train"

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Apr 20 - 11:23 AM

Don’t know that one but I do remember Bernard Wriggley appearing in the “Bottle Guinness Supporters Club” advert.

..... and who was it that claimed that CAMRA stood for the “Campaign for the AdvanceMent of Rotten ‘Angovers”?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Apr 20 - 11:19 AM

My favourite pub when I was underage was the Bridgewater at Worsley. Lovely pint of Boddies in there.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Vincent Jones
Date: 17 Apr 20 - 11:11 AM

Nice one Raggy.

I remember bits of the song Boddington's commissioned off him for their bicentenary, and was brought out as a single, sung, I think, by Harry Boardman.

The Duke of Bridgewater, his canal's full of mucky water,
But the beer in the local oughta be Boddington's booze.
Ask people in Worsley what they drink what they are thirsty
And the beer they will mention firstly is good you know who's...

It's really good to know that the lad's not forgotten.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 17 Apr 20 - 10:21 AM

Hi Vincent, talking of Paul Sherratt yesterday reminded me of his "Doing to Camra Crawl" which I never learnt but can remember some parts of.

"Any evening and day, north south east or west they say
you'll find us all, doing the camera crawl"

The remainder of that but is too jumbled in my mind although other bits remain.

"20 pints of Holts, 20 pints of Holts
you've just been sick on the floor
shouldn't eat curry, I've told you before
If you're in a hurry that ways the door
20 pints of Holts"

"I'm emptying my eighth I am
emptying my eighth I am I am
I got pickled in the pub next door
where I've been pickled many time before
and every one was a Boddington's, Boddington's
wouldn't have John Willie lee's or Samuel …. Smiths
I've had seven full pints of Boddington's
and I'm emptying my eighth I if!"

Wonder if anyone can provide more.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Vincent Jones
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 04:13 PM

Oh, yes. I'd forgotten about the folk club in Cow Yed where t'Old Triangle were the resident band. I got my hurdy-gurdy out there once in the interval and it didn't half wind the guest band up: I think they were from St Neots - don't know what it is about southern folk bands and gurdies.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Vincent Jones
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 03:56 PM

That's sad news, Raggy. His lack of any kind of presence on t'interweb made me fear that Paul might now still be around. A lovely bloke, and as quick-witted as they come.

It being my round at the Duke, with Paul at the mic, I carefully put his pint on the table on the stage, contorted so as to avoid the spotlight.

Paul looked down and said, "Thank you, Igor."

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 03:34 PM

The wonderful Paul Sherratt sadly took to drink in a big way, I last heard of him over 35 years ago when he was a serious alcoholic. I'm not sure if he survived that or not.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 02:59 PM

The Christmas before Ted did his Sahara endeavour, his second he had done a recce beforehand, he stayed with us down in Oxford.

It was the winter of 81/82 and we had 3 foot of snow in the garden of the farmhouse we rented. Kevin Leary took a photograph of Ted in his Arab gear from a position of lying in the snow. All you could see was a resplendent Ted and a beautiful Azure blue sky.

Ted took that photo into the Eccles journal just before he left as a bit of publicity explaining what he was about to do.

"Eh, you don't get skies like that in England do you" was the remark from the journalist !!

We bought him a bucket and spade for his trip.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 02:54 PM

I don't remember him being at the Duke. He did run a club at the Eagle and Child in Whitefield for a while. I last saw him with Old Triangle.at Westhoughton.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Vincent Jones
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 02:33 PM

Steve Robinson? Was he one of the two lads who compered at the Duke in the late 1970s? Mad on John Denver? The other lad was older with quite a line in patter.

The last time I went to the Stocks I thought I gave an acceptable rendition of a Jim Croce song, were it not for the house band smashing a couple of beer mugs: it was the club's last night. A couple of regulars from the Duke were there and somehow I became known as the man whose songs closed down the Stocks.

One night Ted Edwards (what Lancastrian folkie doesn't have a Ted talk? - and believe it or not, his dad Nathan was even madder than he was) anyway, one night he was the Duke of York and told us that he was going away and might not come back. Sure, Ted, we said, but got him to end his spot with "Coal Hole Cavalry". Then about six months later I'm switching TV channels and I hear this bloke saying "T'oreet, Tel?" - it was Ted on Wogan talking about his journey across the Sahara.

Anyone know what happened to Paul Sherratt, author of "The Lancashire Vampire" and composer of an extra verse for "The Rawtenstall Annual Fair"? I generally went with him to the Duke, but lost touch years ago.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 01:11 PM

Rule? Bloomin' spill chucker. Duke of course.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 01:10 PM

Rule of York was great. Dave Wynn and I walked it from Swinton Church and back because of the fog! Another night we were stood outside chatting after the folk club with Ted, resplendent in his full length Arab cape and flat cap when a policeman approached us.

"Scuse me chaps" he sez. "We have had reports of cars being broken into by a man with a beard"

"We've all got beards you daft bugger" replied Ted. "Did they say anything about capes?"

Them were the days. My first introduction to Timothy Taylor's RamTam as well. I now live 5 miles from the brewery :-)

Do you remember a chap called Chris, Raggy? Possibly Whiley? Used to do floorspots.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 12:41 PM

Vincent, you mention the Duke of York in Eccles. That was the first club I ever went in 1969 aged just 14. Ted Edwards who was a friend of my Dad's took me under his wing.

One night Ma Brand (rule of Iron) came upstairs and found me in the club room ………… "What's he doing in here" came the shout. Ted, bless him, said to Ma "it's alright Ma he's with me" …………. Hmmm "he can two pints no more!"

Went to the Duke for years all through the 70's. It did close for a period I recall and then re-opened and closed again.

During one period of closure my good lady and I started a club in the Red Lion in Patricroft. Now that was a great club!!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Raggytash
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 10:41 AM

Ah the Stocks at Walkden. First club I ever played in back in 1973. I went there one night with two friends and one of the floor singers was truly awful. On the way home I stated "I could do better than that" ….oh can you was the response.

The next week they were both outside my door "come on then, lets see if you can do better" ………….. Oh Bugger I thought.

The MC at the time was called Harry and my "friends" said I would like to sing. So in the second half Harry called me up and said to the audience it was my first time and that I was probably going to be crap. As he walked off and I walked on I said "just cos you're got hairs round your mouth Harry, there's no need to talk like one.

I got a HUGE cheer and a massive round of applause. BANG that was like a drug, I felt 10 feet tall.

I probably was crap I remember singing "Mon Like thee" and another one but I was hooked on that applause.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 10:32 AM

Sorry, should have made that clearer. It is an audio clip of Pentangle's spot at the Two Brewers, introduced by Jeremy Taylor. Quite a long spot. 20+ minutes.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 08:20 AM

I found one clip of Jeremy Taylor introducing Pentangle at the Two Brewers but it says it was London. I think it was the Salford one but maybe someone can tell me otherwise?

Pentangle - The Two Brewers, London, 1970

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 07:58 AM

The Strawbs used to be called The Strawberry Hill Boys.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 07:51 AM

I'd forgotten the Stocks at Walkden! How could I? It was my local for the first 3 years I was married. 73-76 I think the folk club may have finished by then or maybe started later? My mate Dave often told me the story of a very young Steve Robinson (anyone know what became of him?) throwing up on the Oldham Tinkers there :-)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Vincent Jones
Date: 16 Apr 20 - 07:13 AM

I remember Magna Carta at the MSG. And, I think, Wally Wyton and maybe the Swarb.

Great thread, this one, long may it continue. Looking upwards I see many venues I used to frequent, as the song goes. I was a regular at the Duke of York in Eccles, occasionally went to one in Swinton, one in the Stocks in Walkden, and once or twice headed down to Poynton 'cos everyone said it was the dog's, which I think it was.

I never went to the folk club in the Harrington Arms, but I remember the bogs, the result of having, at sixteen, supped one pint of Guinness and five of mild.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 15 Apr 20 - 06:46 AM

Magna Carta! The first, so called, folk “super-group”. Saw them at the MSG but missed most of their second spot as we had to go for the train - didn’t fancy the 12 mile walk home. Back in those days, MC comprised Chris Simpson, Davy Johnson and Glenn ??. Davy Johnson left to go and play with Elton John and he still does. Don’t know what happened to Glenn ??.

A mate of mine once bought a Martin D28 from Chris Simpson. The back had been trashed by famous musicians scatching their names. He eventually had a ‘phone call from CT’s wife trying to buy it back but, by then, he’d had the back re-finished.

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be though!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Weasel
Date: 14 Apr 20 - 05:38 PM

Granada's "Songs from the Two Brewers" was my introduction to folk music, although I didn't know that it was folk music at the time.

I remember Magna Carta and an early performance by The Strawbs (not sure whether they were actually called that at the time.)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 01:04 PM

Salford originally grew up in a loop in the river Irwell which set a natural limit to its expansion and the development of a “city centre”.

Manchester, on the other hand, had no similar limit and the, more the Manchester centre developed, the less need there was for one in Salford.

Have a look at this map from 1857 - http://www.artus-

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs, Greater Manchester 1960-99
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 13 Apr 20 - 12:43 PM

Yes, all of Regent Road was "redeveloped" along with Liverpool Street, Broad Street, Cross Lane, Oldfield Road and much more beween. The end result was a city with no city centre!