Devon/Cornwall folk clubs

Subject: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 08:21 AM

At the end of February we are invited to a wedding near Exeter. We thought as we have never been down that neck of the woods as adults we would stay around for a week and have a little look at Devon and Cornwall. If at all possible we would like to trip round ensuring we where near a folk club each night (Sunday to Friday)
I play guitar and sing, my good lady plays autoharp, Bodhran and sings.


Has anyone any ideas for an itinerary.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 09:20 AM

This might suit you fir the Sunday?
Topsham Folk Club

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 10:02 AM

yes, Bodmin is a great club,FRIDAY ,PENZANCE weds.there is magazine called, kernow

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 10:34 AM

Thanks to you both

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 11:05 AM

These two links will give you most of the clubs and sessions in Devon and Cornwall.


www.flaxey-green.co.uk

http://www.folkandroots.co.uk/Venues_South_West.html#Cornwall

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 11:43 AM

And these two might help

Check Mr Red's pages
http://www.users.waitrose.com/~cresby/fcc.htm#Dev 


And Chris Rust's world map (in the browser if you're n a mobile)
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zFcKphOvGxXU.kaygq-TxL-oI&z=9&ll=51.0, 

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Marje
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 01:25 PM

Devon and Cornwall are both big counties, don't underestimate distances and driving times.

As well as the above websites, have a look at Harberton Folk site, which has loads of listings for the Exeter and South Devon area.

Marje

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 01:57 PM

There's a folk club at The Falcon Hotel in Bude on alternate Sundays. It's run by our Mudcat member Hawker, aka Lucy. Google for details.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Greg
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 02:02 PM

And there's a very nice little club in Looe at the Jolly Sailor, if you're still around on the first Saturday of March
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Looe-Folk-Acoustic-Music-Club/507587772593570

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Murpholly
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 07:39 AM

We had a brilliant night in St. Just in October and another in Zennor both playing lots of Irish Jigs (though not so good on the reels according to the feller). Both prepared to listen to songs and we even got to do a couple twice because they were thought so good. We found distances no problem on main roads though neither of us are alcohol imbibers.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 08:48 AM

Would that be the Star Inn and Tinners Arms respectively? The last time I went they were sessions rather than folk clubs, if that's an important distinction for you. I'm going back a good few years now, but the Star Inn session was heaving and was being fairly firmly controlled, but the Tinners allowed customers' exuberantly-playful dogs to charge around the tables at which the sessioneers were seated, and at least a couple of mandolinny thingies were sent sprawling on the floor. Perhaps the dogs have passed on by now but they may have been replaced!

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 01:02 PM

then there are the scilly isles, roz hicks runs a club there, and there is a club in devon called shammick acoustic never been there, its run by tom and barbara brownand there used to be a club in proud torquay run by mr and mrs gill

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Marje
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 01:22 PM

The Scilly Isles .... well, there is an expensive flight there from Exeter, otherwise it's a 3 -hour drive and then a 3-hour ferry trip from Penzance in a very unstable boat, or drive on to Land's End and go by helicopter .... honestly that's a daft suggestion. You'd need to stay a couple of nights, and although it's a wonderful place, it's not a great winter destination.

The Torquay club is no more, but Steve and Anne Gill now run a club in Brixham on the first Friday of the month. Details on Flaxey Green.
Marje

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 03:22 PM

"At the end of February we are invited to a wedding near Exeter. We thought as we have never been down that neck of the woods as adults we would stay around for a week and have a little look at Devon and Cornwall. If at all possible we would like to trip round ensuring we where near a folk club each night (Sunday to Friday)"
they want a trip around, furthermore the boat is not unstable. I have done gigs there from Cornwall, have you travelled in the boat?I have.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 05:17 PM

Would that be the Mermaid on St Mary's, Dick? There's another pub in the town whose name I can't remember. They are very welcoming to visitors, and that counts for a lot. The boat's fine if the sea's not too rough. A break in Scilly is expensive, true, but if you can get there it's lovely. Definitely worth the mention here.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 12:16 AM

Hi guest Fred:

Hope you have a great time in Devon/Cornwall. Perhaps you can report back after you go to any of the folk clubs that are listed on various posts. What you thought about the club, how easy to find, about the singers or groups you saw and how it went for you to play there too.
Let us know which clubs or venues you went to and liked. Probably best to call them up on the phone the weeks you are there, just to be sure they are opened on the nights you want to go there.
Perhaps you can even find out if they serve any kind of food or meals there too.
When I used to travel, I would call club ahead of time to ask if they served meals or if there were any restaurants nearby. That way, I could get there early and eat at club or restaurant near the venue.
Made it more convenient for me to find the club and then have a meal there (if that is possible) or close to club.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 03:39 AM

Helston, Blue Anchor has folk nights on thursdays., and brews its own beer

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 05:41 AM

Thanks to all.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Ged Fox
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 06:30 AM

Folk Music Map

This map shows a dozen or so clubs within an hour's drive of Exeter, and a shed load more in Cornwall.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Ged Fox
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 06:34 AM

Oh duh! That's the same as "Chris Rust's map" already mentioned - still it's a good map & it does no harm to advertise it twice.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 06:36 AM

Mr Red's selection within a 26 mile radius of Exeter. as I only list down to about Exeter and on the periphery of my area I advise you ring if going any distance to a venue. The Uni Folk Soc have a session in the Rusty Bike, Exeter and they should be back, hard a work (!) by Feb. I know a couple of medical students who are pretty keen members.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,adathecadre
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 07:20 AM

Dreamers Folk Club on Sunday nights
Meets at the Sportsman's Arms Inn in the Cornish village of Four Lanes. (near Camborne & Redruth, not that far from Helston) Guests once a month, singers nights every week. Do come, it would be great to meet you, and hear a song or two from 'up-country'.
Find us on http://www.dreamersfolk.co.uk/ or on FaceBook.
Bodmin Folk Club meets on a Friday night & is already on this thread.
If you are down in the right week the monthly Stithians sing, at the Golden Lion Pub has to be heard to be believed. It is only on from September to may but is worth travelling for, visitors come from as far as Poole.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,adathecadre
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 07:35 AM

Websites for several Cornish Clubs here
http://www.dreamersfolk.co.uk/friends%20of%20dreamers.html

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: bubblyrat
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 12:31 PM

My new home is in South Zeal on the edge of Dartmooor , where there are various "sessions" in the Kings Arms, the Oxenham Arms, the Devonshire Arms in nearby Sticklepathh, and various locations in nearby Okehampton . There is a Folk Festival here every year, just after the Sidmouth festival, and the whole place comes ALIVE !! Tomorrow (Sunday) I shall be running through a HUGE list of Christmas Carols with Simon, owner of the Oxenham Arms ; we will be playing from midday on Christmas Eve until midnight !! ; If you are ANYWHERE in the area, come and join us ; the weather is great . Well no, actually ; it's CRAP !!

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Marje
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 04:09 PM

Re the Scillonian: yes, Dick, I've been on it several times. It's a boat with very little keel, because it has to rest on sand sometimes, which makes it less stable than a deep-keeled vessel. The locals refer to it as the Great White Sick-Bucket, which is reason enough to avoid using it in winter.

Cornwall and Devon are big counties with lots going on - more than enough to entertain and occupy visitors for a weeek or so, without undertaking a time-consuming and expensive trip across the sea.

Marje

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 04:25 PM

"Cornwall and Devon are big counties with lots going on - more than enough to entertain and occupy visitors for a weeek or so, without undertaking a time-consuming and expensive trip across the sea.

Marje".
Marje clearly knows best.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:32 AM

The Scillonian Ferry does not operate from November to the end of February.
Only Skybus operate in winter.
From Newquay the fare looks like £95 pounds each way

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 07:35 AM

I don't think we'll be taking that Thank you. We would like to follow the southern coast down and the northern coast back if at all possible.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Girl Friday
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 05:57 PM

Topsham is a great club. Check whether it'sa club night or a guest night though, as they are in different venues. A very welcoming club.
Also reccomend Totnes Folk Club,Alternate Tuesdays and if you like a friendly open mic the Acoustic Warehouse near Newton Abbot is great.Mondays.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 04:53 AM

folk news kernow
www.dreamersfolk.co.uk/folknewskernow.html, massive info there, alternatively contct chris ridley trenillocs st colum cornwall tr96jn, phone nought one six three seven 880394.
Marje have a fantastic solstice

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 05:00 AM

From the link I gave re Topsham, you can see that the guest nights are middle of the month, so at the time specified by Fred it should be Singers' night at The Globe.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Marje
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 07:19 AM

Thank you, Dick! And likewise to you.

The Totnes sessions mentioned above are singarounds, strictly unaccompanied, mainly traditional songs. Back bar of the Bay Horse, always good company and good crack. 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. I run a mixed session in the same pub, mainly tunes with a few songs, on the 1st and 3rd Mondays, newcomers and visitors all very welcome at both.

The regular folk club in Totnes (pay to get in, get up and do a couple of songs, occasional guest artists) is on the 2nd Thursday, in the Dartmouth Inn, Totnes.

Marje

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: bubblyrat
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 11:00 AM

Does Dave Stanley ( "Stan") still live and play in Totnes ?? I used to hang around with him in various places in Singapore in 1967/68 ( just to remind you old we both are !).Jonny Collins, Terry Silver(Leadfingers) and submariner Tom ; we were all "at it " !
But ,getting back to the thread , you should try Bude in Cornwall ; it is BRILLIANT !!

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 06:06 PM

Glad you like Bude. ;-)

If you aim to go to the Isles of Scilly JUST for folk music, you may have a good time but wonder why it cost so much. But if you go to the Isles of Scilly for a break, see all the islands with their fantastic and varied wildlife and scenery, go for a boat trip around the Western Rocks AND take in some folk music, you'll never forget the experience. Don't forget to go to the Abbey Gardens on Tresco and buy the best ice cream in the world at the Troytown campsite on St Agnes. Have a pint at the Turks Head while you're there.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 07:21 PM

There's no chance of us going to the Scilly Isles, apart from the cost. We only have 5 days to spare after the Wedding. So Sunday, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs. We'll be driving back home (450 miles) Friday.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 07:23 PM

I was just making a general point, Fred, in riposte to the Scilly naysayers!

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Dec 15 - 07:30 PM

Incidentally, I should advise that, to the denizens of that lovely archipelago, it's either "Scilly" or "the Isles of Scilly", never "the Scilly Isles".

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: The Sandman
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 02:44 AM

I had the most wonderful time on the occasions that I visited Scilly, we used to do Bodmin club then take the boat[Brenda Wootton was singing on tape]do the Scilly club and spend a couple of days there, Iloved it and I love Cornwall.

Subject: RE: Devon/Cornwall folk clubs
From: Marje
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 04:00 PM

Bubblyrat: No, I haven't come across "Stan" here, as far as I know. (I mistyped that as "Satan" first!).

And just for the record: I'm a great fan of the Scillies, and have had three lovely holidays there. What I was cautioning against was the idea that it was worth attempting a quick detour there, on a short break starting out from Exeter, in February. It's a place worth savouring for a good few days at least, and ideally in summer.

Marje