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Folk stuff around Reading
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Subject: Folk stuff around Reading, UK From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 05 Jul 01 - 04:44 AM Hello... SOS from romatic traditionalist: I'm about to move to the Reading area and I was wondering if there are any decent folk clubs close by, or any venues that get folksters in to perform. Please help!! TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: GUEST,KingBrilliant Date: 05 Jul 01 - 05:30 AM Ah! Welcome to the fair town (wannabe city) Reading. There's TONS of stuff in & around Reading - so you're in luck. Monday nights - session at The Butler pub (not been yet - but should be suitable). Tues nights - not sure if there is anything Wed nights - bohemian night at the 3Bs (anything goes), and on alternate wednesdays a Country-oriented (but anything goes in reality) amplified thingy (take turns for 2-song spots) Thurs nights - sing/session thing at The Retreat pub Fri nights - occasional things in various places. Sat nights - Singaround at The Swan pub. Sundays - afternoon session thing at The Queens Head pub, then Readifolk folk club at The Lion pub (no smoking). That should keep you going!!! Mike Tierney has a hand in most of the things going on, and produces a monthly sheet detailing upcoming sessions etc, which he hands round at the various sessions. The sessions tend to be the variety where people take turns to do their thing, with varying degrees of joining in. Everything I've been to has been very welcoming and inclusive. Readifolk is not everyone's cup of tea as regards folk club. Other very good clubs nearby include Fleet and Long Wittenham. Can't help with performing venues - but I'm sure you'll hook up with people in the know if you come along to any of the above mentioned session thingies. Let me know when you get here - it'd be nice to meet up. Hope the move goes smoothly. Kris
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 05 Jul 01 - 07:37 AM Kris, Wow, that's great! I had a horrible feeling that I was about to be cast adrift into a sea of urbanisation, void of the joys of sing-arounds and sqeeze-boxes... I'm moving in September if all goes to plan, so yeah, that would be great to meet up! It's always good to have someone around who knows the places to avoid and the places to flock to... Any other Mudcat users you know in the area? Thanks for the encouragement for the move, I'm dreading it actually, I HATE moving house! Always seem to lose my favorite CDs and guitar picks... Take care! TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Gervase Date: 05 Jul 01 - 08:11 AM Cw, It's a bit of a schlep from Reading, but Maidenhead Folk Club (which is actually in Cookham) is a good, friendly club, and there's also Wycome Folk Club nearby. |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 05 Jul 01 - 08:13 AM Where are you coming from? Is it a big move? Other mudcatters in the area include KitKat, Morticia a bit to the south and Wandering Minstrel. But I've probably forgotten someone... so apologies for that. Take care of those CDs and picks. See ya Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 05 Jul 01 - 11:31 AM Hey... Big move? From South West Wales? Oh yes! I think I deserve first prize for the person who's collected the most junk in 4 years EVER! And I am unfortunate not to be owning a car, so I will be relying on good pals here to give me a lift... Or several lifts... There are LOADS of you out there! Where do you all spring from? It's great. I could certainly do with some company going to some of these clubs cos I know no-one in the area. Thanks Kris and Gervase for all your suggestions! See you there... CW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: GUEST,A Wandering Minstrel Date: 06 Jul 01 - 09:53 AM As Gervase recommends Maidenhead (only 1/2 an hour by car)has an excellent singers club which meets at the Ferry In Cookham Thursdays 8pm. Parking is a bit sparse tho :) Another local club is Nettlebed http://www.nettlebed.freeserve.co.uk/ who run more of a concert style on Mondays. Good for seeing big names! Also there are monthly guest concerts at Norden Farm Arts Centre in Maidenhead. Bohinta are performing next week and Kate Rusby in September Look us up when you get here AWM |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 05 Oct 01 - 06:12 AM Hello people! Okay, I am in Reading Right Now and DYING to go to some folky stuff in the next few days, can anyone tell me the best place to start? How about Readifolk? Can you give me directions??! TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Mr Red Date: 05 Oct 01 - 06:47 PM Is Long Wittenham, Wed nights still going in the Plough? Wallingford seems to have something. Abingdon Coach & Horses Fri. all SAR/session. Shirefolk (Oxon centre) has the guff. |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Herga Kitty Date: 06 Oct 01 - 03:42 AM Try e-mailing Bob Hambleton, who produces the Broadsheet(listings for folk clubs and sessions) - broadsheet@kestrel-folk.demon.co.uk Kitty |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: A Wandering Minstrel Date: 06 Oct 01 - 09:54 AM Singers night at Maidenhead this coming Thursday 20:15 hrs AWM |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: GUEST,manitas Date: 07 Oct 01 - 07:37 AM Next weekend sees the Reading Cloggies' step dance workshop at Reading Girls School. There is a link here http://freespace.virgin.net/anne.garrison/festival.htm . There will be a festival dance in the evening. |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 07 Oct 01 - 10:21 AM Long Wittenham's still going, yes. Readifolk is in The Lion in Great Knolly's Street - which is quite near Reading town centre. here's a map Readifolk is on Sunday evening from about 8pm-ish - in the function room. There's a guest tonight so I think its something like £3 to get in (not totally sure though...). There's usually a table with flyers etc & that would be a good place to look for a list of what's on. I'm not sure if the Queens Head afternoon sessions are still going - but it might be worth a look. The last open mic thing on alternate wednesdays was on 3rd Oct, so next one will be 17th. That's at the Millers Arms in Caversham. The Swan is still good on a Saturday night - that's just south of Reading over the M4 in Three Mile Cross. I believe the thursday thing is still going at the Retreat which is off the King's Road in Reading. I've not yet been, but I know it must be good because lots of people I know do go there. How did the move go? - did you lose any CDs & picks??? Which bit of Reading are you in? See ya Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Rana@work Date: 07 Oct 01 - 10:31 AM Out of curiosity does anything still go on at the University? I was there 1972 - 1975 and saw numerous folk events - including Richard and Linda Thompson with Simon Nicol for 2 shillings. It was also funny bumping into Hilary James at a folk alliance meeting in Toronto in 1997 (or so) and realising we overlapped at Reading (Simon Mayer was in my Hall of Res. for a year - I even remembered a concert she gave (though not the name) while I was there. Rana |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 07 Oct 01 - 10:38 AM Don't know Rana - but I'll ask - I know a folkie or two that work there. However - I expect if there was anything much then they'd have mentioned it. Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Morticia Date: 07 Oct 01 - 11:10 AM My daughter is at Reading Uni. She has never mentioned anything folkie going on... |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 07 Oct 01 - 11:14 AM Is she, Morticia? What is she studying? & is she in a hall of residence? Mark is working as a 'Handyperson' (!!) at Child's Hall. Doesn't mean he's handy enough to fix my garden gate though, apparently!! Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Rana@work Date: 07 Oct 01 - 11:55 AM Kris, Bit of thread creep I suppose (sorry) but I spent my 3 years living at Child's Hall, latter 2 when the New wing was opened.
The one major concert I remember was Sandy Denny - bit of a delay since a Bouncer mistook their soundman for a gate crasher. Anyway the concert went on - the encore included Trevor Lucas etc so we were basically treated to a Fotheringay concert after their demise. |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: SharonA Date: 08 Oct 01 - 11:18 AM And here I thought you meant Reading, Pennsylvania when I saw the thread title! Oops. |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 09 Oct 01 - 04:52 AM So what happens in Reading Pennsylvania? Is there lots of folkie stuff there too? KRis |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Morticia Date: 09 Oct 01 - 05:21 AM Fiona is at Sibley,Kris....reading psychology and sociology and drinking her grant cheque *BG* |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 09 Oct 01 - 05:25 AM Oh wow! I bet she's having a brilliant time. psychology's quite hard though isn't it? lots of dates & facts to remember. Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 10 Oct 01 - 06:23 AM Yikes! Erm... Well, I'm actually at Reading Uni as well, AND I'm in Sibly Hall AND I think I know who Fiona is! It's such a small world, isn't it? I can't say that I know if anything folky is going on, I think not, though there is a large number of music-orrientated clubs around, Nu-metal, Indie, Orchestral etc etc. Rana, I can't BELIEVE you saw SD in concert, that is something I would have loved to have done, but unfortunately I was born into the wrong generation :o( Thanks for all the advice though people, I will certainly give Readifolk a go, perhaps this Sunday coming. Hadn't managed to get myself together enough for the last weekend! I hate moving house, moving town is worse, but moving country as well is even more difficult! I hope to see some of you there... Byeeeeeeee!! TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 10 Oct 01 - 06:34 AM Blimey! small world as you say... Let us know later in the week if you're likely to be going to Readifolk on Sunday. It might motivate me to get off my *rse...... I've been meaning to go for a while, but can't quite get around to it. Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: Morticia Date: 10 Oct 01 - 08:45 AM Good Lord, what a coincidence!If you are at Sibley, you are bound to know Fiona, she's President of the JCR.( And when she tells you it means you have to buy her beer, don't believe her!). |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 11 Oct 01 - 04:48 AM So - C-Whisk & Fiona - if there isn't a folk scene at Rdg Uni already : are you going to start one??? Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 12 Oct 01 - 07:04 AM I'm off to my parent's house for the weekend, but I will definately be back in time for Readifolk, so I hope some of you guys can make it too! Yeah, I do know Fiona, but I'm sure she hasn't a clue who I am! Just another person on her list of people who haven't paid their Common Room fee I expect! Ummm.... Well, see you soon I guess...! bye bye TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 15 Oct 01 - 07:58 AM Erm... Couldn't someone have told me it was an easy listening club??!! TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 15 Oct 01 - 08:44 AM I did say it wasn't everyone's cup of tea..... I didn't go, so please give us a review. What kind of easy listening was it - I'm intrigued now. Was it really aweful? :>) What is it you'd prefer? Perhaps I can point you in another direction. Can you give some examples of what you're looking for? Do not dispair....there's bound to be something more your cup of tea. Kris
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: The Cat's Whiskers Date: 18 Oct 01 - 12:12 PM Well... Someone sang "Somewhere over the rainbow" - a band called "The Last Straw" I think they were called. The female singer had a trained voice that sounded ridiculous in a folk club, though she was incredibly good. The floor spots before that were mostly pubby folk, sort of American honky tonk silly bassline stuff, I don't know how to describe it really, I didn't know any of the songs!! Everyone had really nice guitars and didn't always do them justice - except one guy who was excellent and sang a song about the American thingy then forgot his words and left the stage! Ummm... Maybe I'll go this Sunday as it's a singers night and a little less intimidating - I took my fiddle but I didn't play! And what's all this "Theme Night" stuff, I've not heard of that before!! Generally I like much more traditional stuff, you know, jigs, reels, all the squeezy instruments... Then all the "contemporary folk" like Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Lenard Cohen, James Taylor, Kate Rusby... I hate cheesy basslines!! My pal Jo gave me a lift down and I felt so awful cos this was her first folk experience and she tought it was funny! She has offered to drive to places outside of Reading though, so if you can think of anywhere that would be more in my line of thinking then let me know! Maybe Readifolk will grow on me if I give it a chance.. Maybe... TCW |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: A Wandering Minstrel Date: 19 Oct 01 - 10:00 AM CW, Singers Night at Maidenhead this coming Thursday.... :) |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: KingBrilliant Date: 22 Oct 01 - 05:54 AM Oh dear CW - Readifolk ain't gonna be your cup of tea at all. It is a bit pedestrian at times, and definitely not jigs & reelsy. I bet you were excruciatingly embarrassed, but I'm glad your friend saw the funny side!!! I think probably most of the pub sessions around Reading will be more lively. Don't know where you'd find the jigs & reels stuff - but someone must know. I'll ask around. You could try The Plough at Long Wittenham (Oxfordshire - about 40 mins drive) on a Wednesday evening. Quite a few people from Rdg go out there - I've not been to the wed night tho' - but I expet it'll be quite join-innish. Or Thursday night in the Retreat (off Kings Road Rdg) will probably be OK. How about blues? There's a blues session just started out near Basingstoke somewhere. You could try Sat night at The Swan (3 mile cross, just south of Rdg over the M4). That is VERY variable. You sometimes get some jigsy stuff there - fiddles & squeezeboxes have been known, but it just depends who turns up on the night. There's usually a mixture of unaccompanied trad stuff, a bit of music hall ish stuff, some bouncy american sounding stuff, some blues & some Richard Thompson type stuff. As I say - its variable, so its worth giving it a couple of goes. See ya Kris |
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Subject: RE: Folk stuff around Reading From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 09 Nov 01 - 03:45 AM I've just picked up the leaflet for Bracknell's South Hill Park, I see the Bracknell Folk Club is now on Weds at 8.30 in the Terrace Room with a contact number as 01344 649571 "All welcome to play, sing or just listen" Also on Weds at 8.30 in the Cellar Bar (sounds a potential clash of sounds!) is the "Blues 'n' Grooves". while on Tuesdays in the Cellar Bar is "unplugged and intimate" at 8pm. I wonder if early retirees qualifie for concessions! RtS |
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