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Subject: Louisa Celebration From: GUEST,Peter Wood Date: 28 Nov 13 - 03:48 AM A celebration of the life of Louisa Jo (Louis)Killen is taking place in Gateshead on Saturday 18 January 8pm. Artists appearing include Alistair Anderson, Jim Bainbridge, John Brennan, Tom Gilfellon, Johnny Handle & Chris Hendry, Doreen & Bryan Henderson, The Keelers, Sandra Kerr, Ed Pickford, Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman and The Wilson Family. Tickets are £8 and are available from the Caedmon Hall Box Office (0191 443 6965)or online. |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Celebration From: sciencegeek Date: 28 Nov 13 - 08:17 AM Glad to see celebrations of Killen's life & contributions... can only hope Lou knew how much she meant to us. |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Celebration From: GUEST,Eileen Date: 29 Nov 13 - 07:14 AM Tickets bought online this morning and date now in my 2014 diary! |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Celebration From: Anne Neilson Date: 29 Nov 13 - 12:41 PM Sounds awesome -- wish I could manage! |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Celebration From: DebC Date: 29 Nov 13 - 03:51 PM and I wish I could be there as well. Thanks, Peter Wood. Debra Cowan |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Celebration From: Jeri Date: 29 Nov 13 - 04:47 PM I wish I could too. If there were a way this could be streamed, I'd gladly pay for a ticket or two. |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Jo Killen Celebration 18 January, Gateshead From: Elmore Date: 30 Nov 13 - 11:33 AM Reminds me of a workshop done in memory of Peter Bellamy at the Old Songs Festival in upstate New York. Lou was there, as were Dave and Anni, among others. It was quite emotional, and, in a way, uplifting.This event for Louisa Jo will evoke similar feelings, I'm sure. Wish I could be there. |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Jo Killen Celebration 18 January, Gateshead From: GUEST Date: 23 Dec 13 - 07:35 AM a hell of a tribute from the North east but Louis(a)'s influence was worldwide |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Jo Killen Celebration 18 January, Gateshead From: GUEST Date: 29 Dec 13 - 05:22 AM refresh |
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Subject: Louis (Louisa) Killen From: GUEST,Pete Wood Date: 23 Jan 14 - 06:52 AM The northeast of England celebrated the life of Louis (Louisa) Killen on Saturday 18th of January 2014, in Gateshead, the place where he was raised, and she eventually died. A sellout concert raised £1000 for cancer research, and gave performers and audience alike the best evening they've had for a long time. Everybody was on top form, and the atmosphere was relaxed and happy. The first half featured mainly the residents from the original Bridge folk club set up by Louis and Johnny Handle in 1958. And of course, it was Johnny who ran the night as only he could. It was notable that he refrained from dismantling the concert grand-he must have mellowed in old age. A wider variety entertained the crowd in the second half, culminating in an inspirational short speech from Louis' ex-wife Margaret who had not only looked after Louisa as she was dying, but flew over from Montana specially for this concert. This was followed by the song he was most associated with "Pleasant and Delightful". If you wish to get a flavour of the night, the finale is available on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9-4Si-RvVs |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen From: Ross Campbell Date: 23 Jan 14 - 10:17 AM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9-4Si-RvVs |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen From: Jim Dixon Date: 23 Jan 14 - 12:19 PM Previous thread: Obit: Louisa Jo Killen (1934-2013) I had missed this. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen From: GUEST,Derek Schofield Date: 23 Jan 14 - 01:06 PM Looks as if it was a great night, Pete, and a good sum raised. Regret I wasn't able to get up there. Derek |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: Elmore Date: 23 Jan 14 - 03:48 PM Seems like it was a worthwhile, upbeat, successful evening. Thanks for letting us know about the youtube clip Pete. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: ChanteyLass Date: 24 Jan 14 - 12:25 AM Wonderful video clip. Thank you for sharing it. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: Kampervan Date: 24 Jan 14 - 03:07 AM Fantastic video, always liked the song but I think that this is the first time that it actually brought a tear to my eye. Goodnight Louisa, thanks for all the songs. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST,Derek Schofield Date: 24 Jan 14 - 05:52 AM are there likely to be any more you tube clips Pete? Derek |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: MGM·Lion Date: 25 Jan 14 - 02:53 AM I don't want to be a party-pooper; and I probably shouldn't post this on what is a 'celebration of a life' thread. But I find I can't help myself. Sorry! Did that lead singer really have to put his finger in his mouth & go 'plop' & then grin as if he had done something so very clever & original on the 'ring from her finger' line? This is IMO the most thoroughly objectionable habit to have grown up in the folk world. Why aim to reduce this beautiful song to facetious fatuity? And on an occasion like this? Surely that isn't what 'celebration' should mean? How could he! Apologies yet again for perhaps being something of a ☠ at the feast. And remembering Louis[a] with respect & gratitude nonetheless — ~Michael~ |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: sciencegeek Date: 25 Jan 14 - 07:39 AM I'm afraid that the song has almost become a parody of itself and other token songs. I remember when I first heard it... on an old topic LP... and fell in love with it. And Lou always did a fine rendition of it. But it then seemed that everyone HAD to sing it, whether they had the voice for it or not... it became really hackneyed on this side of the pond and I think that's why it lost respect on the part of many singers. just my opinion & sad observation. Or as Mike has been noted to quote about some performances of the song... "neither pleasant nor delightful". |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: Elmore Date: 25 Jan 14 - 08:23 AM Agreed that the song was done to death in the last century. You don't hear it all that much these days. It seemed appropriate to me. I enjoyed it. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST,Derek Schofield Date: 25 Jan 14 - 09:42 AM Michael I think you are mistaken. From what I can see, the lead singer (Pete Wood) did not do the "plop". Look at it again carefully. Perhaps the plop came from someone in the audience. I don't like people doing the plop - did this start because the Spinners did it? But I think some people do it ironically... The thing about songs that supposedly get "done to death" is that they are good songs, and people like singing them. It does get slowed down too much in my experience, and my old mate Jim Mageean slows down verse 2, whereas the Wilsons singer (why can I never remember which is which...) speeds it up. Derek |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: MGM·Lion Date: 25 Jan 14 - 09:57 AM Derek: Have watched again. Someone else seemed to have taken over the solo at that point; but at just about exactly 4 minutes, where the line occurs, the principal lead singer, the tall one at the centre mic, most distinctly seemed to me to do the plop and the knowing grin. You watch again carefully and see if you don't spot it this time. ~M~ |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: MGM·Lion Date: 25 Jan 14 - 10:04 AM I think it came originally from the Spinners also, IIRC: together with silly bits of clowning like "East/West Indies" looking in different directions, as also with "down there in the bay". Even more of a pity that it became almost standard practice, along with sillinesses about sharks playing melodeons & so forth. Have always been surprised at such insensitivity on their parts. But certainly Louis never did such, and I am sure would have been horrified by this manifestation, which I still insist I observed. ~M~ |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 26 Jan 14 - 06:23 AM Louis Killen was arguably the most influential of the younger folk music enthusiasts from the 1950s. He positively ENCOURAGED people like me to listen to such as the Copper family, Jeannie Robertson and the McPeake family, rather than other revivalists & 'folkies'. Whether I learnt anything I'll let others judge, but as usual I listened to the archive programme 'Bowman's Sunday' on RTE radio 1 at 8.30 this morning (www.rte.ie) which reinforced my view of his importance. Luke Kelly, who sang songs all his life, said he was working (cleaning lavatories, windows etc, not singing!) in Newcastle upon Tyne and went to a 'jazz club' in the city wwhere he heard Louis Killen. Now the Newcastle 'Bridge' folk club' origins (est.1958)were in those jazz clubs, and Luke then realised that (as Ronnie Drew said on the same programme) that having heard such as Louis sing Irish & Scots songs, what the Irish duo were singing were 'folk songs'- Ronnie Drew said he though folksongs were Burl Ives! Even if you never liked the Dubliners, their influence on music in Ireland has been immense, and certainly Louis KIllen was no less than a major revelation to both men. Louis was highly respected in America, and was no purely 'Geordie' singer- he did Tyneside material very well, but much of his source material was from Southern England. Pete Wood worked hard at organising this concert in Louis home town of Gateshead, which was homage from grateful Northeast singers and musicians, but it makes even more stark the apparent lack of equivalent events further south, where he was equally respected, or have I missed something? I refer to Louis as that is how I knew him- I never met Louisa |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: Dave Hunt Date: 26 Jan 14 - 07:33 AM I always remember Lou saying to me 'There's no such thing as a hackneyed song, the reason they've survived is that people like singing them...go to any pub, start singing The Wild Rover and lots will join in!' Lou was a great influence on me in my early singing days in the 60s, he taught me a lot about technique and finding songs....sadly missed. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST,pete wood Date: 26 Jan 14 - 08:31 AM For the record there was no pop. There was a click, and my smile was towards Ken Wilson about something completely different. I have always thought the pop puerile, and I think everybody at the concert felt the same. Whoever brought this up is certainly imagining it and perhaps is just looking to spoil what was a fine occasion. |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: MGM·Lion Date: 26 Jan 14 - 09:20 AM Thank you for that assurance. I obviously withdraw, and apologise for, my misreading of the moment. Certainly no intention to detract from the occasion. ~Michael~ |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST Date: 28 Jan 14 - 12:41 PM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 29 Jan 14 - 05:16 AM Further to Luke Kelly's homage to Louis Killen on RTE radio on Sunday, there is apparently a move in Dublin to commemorate Luke Kelly with a statue in the city! I wouldn't suggest that happen in Gateshead (nor is it likely!) but it does illustrate the contrast in respect for these two very influential singers in the two cultures! |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: Dave Hanson Date: 29 Jan 14 - 07:53 AM Luke has a bridge on the River Tolka in Dublin re-named in his honour, perhaps this would be a good honour for Louisa in Gateshead. Dave H |
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Subject: RE: Louis (Louisa) Killen - celebration of life From: GUEST Date: 29 Jan 14 - 12:36 PM And Luke well deserves such an honour, a parallel honour for Louis(a)in Gateshead is about as likely as a statue of Oliver Cromwell in Drogheda |
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Subject: RE: Louisa Jo Killen Celebration 18 January, Gateshead From: GUEST Date: 17 Feb 14 - 07:18 AM OK where are all the many performers, male and female, who owe so much to Louisa Jo Killen? They may not even realise it, but he/she was maybe the major English revival influence on the tradition in the early days, with the possible exception of A L Lloyd. There is certainly a deafening silence from southern parts. Can only imagine that all the allegedly enlightened leftwingers down there are just too embarrassed to accept what happened, and would rather crawl back under their stones and ignore his/her contribution to the music. I combined two threads specifically discussing this event. If you missed the later thread, others might as well. There are other threads talking about Killen. (See the top of this thread for links. -Mod |
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