Any London folk clubs on 30 April?

Subject: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 06:01 AM

A friend of mine from the US has a lengthy stop-over at Heathrow the evening of Saturday, 30 April (leaving the next morning). I'm planning to head to London (by train) to get together with her. She's a folkie too, and I'd love her to have the chance to experience a good English folk club. Are there any folk clubs running that evening -- ones we could get to easily via tube or bus? (If it's too complicated or takes a long time to get there, we'll have to pass). If you can, please mention whether the club is smoking or non-smoking (non-smoking much preferred, but if it's only slightly smoky, we might still manage it).

Any suggestions much appreciated!

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: Leraud
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 07:40 AM

The Old Rose and Crown Folk Club in Walthamstow. Martin Simpson on Sunday 30th April.

http://www.walthamstowfolk.co.uk/

Lynne Heraud

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: Leraud
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 07:49 AM

I forgot to say - you need to phone up either 24 or 48 hours beforehand to put your name on the members list (free of charge)

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: GUEST,manitas
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 08:00 AM

April 30th is a Saturday according to my calendar!

Manitas

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 09:13 AM

Yes, Lynne you're a day out - Martin Simpson is at the OR&C on Sun 1 May.

The only entry for the day in the Folk London Diary is the fact that "The Cellar Upstairs" is closed that night - perhaps they assume that most folkies will need to be up at dawn on Sunday morning for various summer welcoming ceremonies.

Has your friend got the time to jump on a train to Rochester (about a 1 hour journey) for an evening of "The Sweeps Festival" there's a lot happening down there. The last train back (to Victoria station) leaves about 11.15pm. Linda (Essex Girl) might even be driving down there from our place at Mottingham. The caravan (a newer, posher one)would probably be available for a sleepover.

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 11:19 AM

Thanks Dave, and extremely kind of you to offer, but going to Rochester sounds a bit more ambitious than what I think she'll be up for (she'll have just flown 7(ish) hours from Zambia). I've actually checked a few websites (including the Folk London Diary, EFDSS, and Folk and Roots UK Events) and not found much. It seems there aren't many folk clubs on a Saturday evening (or maybe just not on a 5th Saturday). I have found Julie Ellison on at the Blackheath Halls in Teddington(ish), but getting there looks complicated -- and it looks more like a concert than a folk club, though I might well be wrong about that.

The point about May Day is well taken, though. My friend might well be interested in attending a *proper* English May Day observance at sunrise, with Morris dancers and all.

Perhaps I'll start another thread asking about May Day celebrations... am still interested in any London clubs on the Sat evening, though it's not looking encouraging.

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: breezy
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 05:02 PM

Poor old Lynne, will have to keep an eye on her.!!

Head for Rochester YY, its well worth the visit.

St Albans re-opens Fri 6th with George Papavgeris, Duke of Marlborough

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 04:32 AM

Sweeps is definitely the most intense folking experience within range, but the trains are indeed a problem.

There is a seedy guesthouse called the Great Eastern by Strood station (easy walk from Rochester) that real folkies may not have cottoned on to yet, if stopover becomes desirable (or within permitted timescale). Never been in it myself but ot looks really rough from the outside - the sort of "Rooms from £10 per night" thing (might be a bit more)

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: Leraud
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 04:41 AM

Anyone can make a mistake. It's the drink and the stress you know.

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 07:28 AM

I always find that drink cures the stress Lynne.

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 10:23 AM

Rochester does sound wonderful, but IF her plane arrives on schedule, by the time she gets out of Heathrow, it'll be 7 pm at best... and while Rochester may be an hour from London, my husband tells me it's a couple of hours from Heathrow. She'll have just spent 6-7 hours on a plane, so I don't think she'll be enthusiastic about a 4-hour round trip (thanks for the suggestion of the guest house, Richard, but she already has a room booked at a hotel near Heathrow) to Rochester -- however brilliant the doings there.

I will, however -- now that I'm aware of Rochester -- mentally bookmark it for next year...

Thanks to everyone who's contributed.

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: GUEST,Alan day
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 10:30 AM

Put the flight back a day and go to The George nr London Bridge on the Monday.
Al

Subject: RE: Any London folk clubs on 30 April?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 29 Apr 05 - 05:10 PM

Now why didn't *I* think of that...