Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance

Subject: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: shepherdlass
Date: 09 May 05 - 09:52 AM

I'm doing some research about folk music in the north of England and have come across some less than familiar (at least to me, here in Durham) names of dance groups who appeared on the BBC radio and TV show Barn Dance during the 1960s.

Do any 'Catters remember the John Peel Dancers (who I gather came from somewhere near Shap) or the St Helen's Dance Band? Also the Greensleeves Dancers or Dance Band? Better still, were any of you members of these groups?

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Mitch the Bass
Date: 09 May 05 - 12:14 PM

There was (is?) a Greensleeves dance club, morris club and band based in North London. May not be the same one but I think the band made records for the EFDSS. Try the EFDSS at www.efdss.org

Mitch

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Compton
Date: 09 May 05 - 01:46 PM

Shepherdlass...I posted a thread, perhaps a year or so ago, as I appeared to be the only one who remembered the Barn Dances on BBC..(Before 1 and 2) and in Black and White!!. The Band I think was Jack Armstrond and the Cheviot Ranters Country Dance Band. Bill Cain was the Caller...and dispersed librally among the dances were songs by The Barry Sisters, Steve Bembow and Val Doonican. Presenter was Brian Redhead.. The bearded one from the Today programme on radio 4.
Halycon Days..but no, I don't remember the dance groups.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 09 May 05 - 07:25 PM

I think Jack Armstrong's band was usually the Barnstormers. The Cheviot Ranters was a separate band. Jack's Barn dance programme on the radio dates back to the 40s I think, and was outside the folk dance revival. It is certainly something worthy of further investigation. There was a strong folk dance club in St Helens, and there was a Greesleeves Band (separate from the morris team in london)

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Compton
Date: 10 May 05 - 01:29 PM

Bravo, Derek...the mind, certainly after 20+ years isn't what it was...The Barnstormer it was...but that makes three of us(at least) ...50 somethings if we can remember the show. A time when we were nice, innocent and enjoyed watching Folk (Barn) Dancing on the telly!

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: shepherdlass
Date: 17 May 05 - 05:24 PM

Thanks folks - this has helped sort things out a bit!

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: greg stephens
Date: 18 May 05 - 07:28 AM

I picked up a Jack Armstrong EP in a charity shop recently, a nice curiosiy to own. A strange sort of style. I think most folkies of my generation(the one after his) all made a point of trying to sound as little like that as possible!

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Liz the Squeak
Date: 18 May 05 - 08:50 AM

You could try Cecil Sharp House - they often have archive material.

LTS

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 13 - 12:35 PM

Hello! My mum JOYCE WALKER (and her friend DOREEN HETHERINGTON were in the John Peel Dancers - most were from WIGTON - recorded at the Oxford Rd Studios in Manchester I think. My dad went to one recording and was seen with a pint glass even though he didn't drink! Val Doonican was the famous guest. Racey jumpers and a rocking chair! Things were wild in those days! My mum is still with us and remembers it very clearly!

email me for more info. on [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 09:55 AM

the name was Billy Miller and the Cheviot Ranters. I know this because he was my father.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Guest Kingsman
Date: 27 Oct 14 - 10:36 AM

Good to see the mighty Jack Armstrong getting a mention! Not only fiddle player with the Barnstormers, but also piper to the Duke of Northumberland.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Vic Smeltzer
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 06:12 AM

I was leader of the St. Helens Band which did several broadcasts in the BBC "Barn Dance` series. Also made 8 records.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 07:16 AM

Surprised no-one's mentioned the BBC's Genome database of RT listings. There's at least 680 references to "barn dance" - incl. mentioning the dance bands.

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=0&q=barn+dance#search

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 07:43 AM

Hi Vic. Did the St Helens Band become The Poachers (which was active till recently)? They taught me a lot about calling for church groups etc.

I remember dancing round the kitchen to a radio Barn Dance in the late 60s / early 70s. That was Dick Witt's band, and the caller always said "thank you band" to start them.

Then in the or early 80's (when I'd persuaded Jim that he would enjoy it) we went to Manley dance club (nr Frodsham, Cheshire). A dance from there was broadcast on the radio Merseyside folk programme (Folkweave?)

In Oct 1993,there was a series on Radio 2, and they offered a free booklet with instructions for all dances the programmes. Just when I was thinking about calling for the general public I'd been calling at club for 4 years but beginners is quite different, very useful.
There were 2 Series each with the same bands, but new dances
Pete Coe & Hookes Law
Dave Townsend & the Mellstock Band
Sarah Vanstone 7 Dartmoor PixieBand
Hugh Rippon &High Level Ranters
Eddie Upton & Peeping Tom

Norma still calls The Rock and the Wee Pickle Toe at Manley, from prog 1 of that booklet, and Pete Coe's the Heartbreaker seems to be well established in the Cheshire repertoire.

Then in the late 90s there was an excellent series televised. Maybe for schools. It showed the same dance being danced by adults and children - cut from one to another, very lively. Made it seem like a fun, living tradition not just a PE lesson.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 07:48 AM

Wel, Chris, that's because we never knew about it.Or thought you could search that far back.
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 10:59 AM

I've got both booklets from the 93/94 programmes

Gerry

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 01:50 PM

"band dance folkweave" lists nothing.

But there is

http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=0&q=barn+dance+folk&media=all&yf=1923&yt=2009&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Vic Smeltzer
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 02:11 PM

In reply, NO the St. Helens Band did not become the "Poachers", but, though based in the same village, were very different. My band was made up of the Scottish-type 2 accordions, fiddle, bass, piano and drums.
We played at many dances up and down the country - often travelling long distances. We played for Scottish dances as well as for English Barn Dances. Those were the days ! But I have made a few dance music CDs which can be accessed via YouTube or typing in my name.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Mo the caller
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 02:21 PM

No Folkweave may have been the name of the Radio Merseyside folk programme. The band at Manley used to be Foxes Bark they played on that recording with Doug Benyon calling I think, some years ago the remaining player amalgamated with the Acme Band and now Flaxmere band play for us (tonight, then May 6th then it's the summer break)

Chris link says -
"Folk on 2

Jim Lloyd introduces
Alex Campbell In concert, The Old Swan Band with caller, Dave Hunt , playing for a barn dance at the Maltings, Farnham. Sara Grey and Elite Ellis from Sldmouth Folk Festival. "
- something wrong there!!

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Bill
Date: 29 Apr 17 - 06:28 PM

I was in the John Peel Dancers in 1963.Recorded two series of 6 programs as a 17 yr old. Think I was paid £10 per program. We left Carlisle at 3am on a Sunday morning,recorded 2 programs at the Dickinson Rd studios Manchester( a converted church) and got back into Carlisle at 3am Monday morning. It looks as though all tapes were destroyed, I have been trying to find copies in BBC archives without success. Frank Bough was another presenter and the Countrymen were another group who were on. Dancers were from Maryport Wigton, Carlisle,Shap Brampton (me plus 3). Bill Cain called at many of the dances in the area. Good times.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Sue Allan
Date: 02 May 18 - 09:33 AM

Bill - I'm really interested in this as I have been researching BBC Northern Service radio programmes Barn Dance and Merry Neet (recorded in Cumberland) and the TV programmes which featured the John Peel Dancers. I have a few copies of the scripts, from the late Wesley Park who danced with the group as a boy in the early 1960s. Guests include people like Val Doonican, The Liverpool Spinners, Steve Benbow, Jaccqui & Bridie with presenters like Brian Redhead and Frank Bough! Do you have any more info on Bill Cain and his dancers, Brian?

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Sue Allan
Date: 02 May 18 - 09:39 AM

Oops *Bill, not Brian!! (end of previous)

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 02 May 18 - 02:00 PM

I know a bit about Bill Cain.
Derek

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: Sue Allan
Date: 02 May 18 - 05:33 PM

Ooh, do you Derek? Could you please email me?

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 03 May 18 - 12:31 PM

I remember 'Barn Dance' very well- in black & white with Jack Armstrong & band & the Barry Sisters & Five Smith Brothers among the guests- must have been the late 50s & early 60s?

There is a CD available of Jack Armstrong & the Barnstormers- it's available via the Northern Heritage website- it's a little rough at the edges, but I love it- the real thing.

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 03 May 18 - 03:27 PM

Yes, I have that CD as well Jim. Great!
Derek

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Keith Gregson
Date: 01 Jan 20 - 02:51 PM

I was in the Stanwix Dancers who appeared in a number of BBC Barn Dance programmes recorded in Manchester in 1962. I had already featured in two programmes recorded at Alnwick Castle in 1958 where I was interviewed and had to dance the Keilder Schottische with two girls. I was also in a radio programme from Carlisle Civic Centre I was taught at primary school and later at after school clubs by Bill Cain - a greatman. I have some photos and have managed to access the relevant Radio Times

Subject: RE: Dance Groups from BBC Barn Dance
From: GUEST,Keith Gregson
Date: 03 Nov 21 - 03:34 PM

Just found my autograph book from 1962 with the autographs of many of the Barn Dance cast with whom I performed with the Stanwix Dancers - also of members of the Z Cars cast. They recorded in the other studio in the Manchester Church and came to the post recording barn dances we used to have ( two recordings in a day plus a barn dance 'for fun'). I think the BFL also has film of us performing ( The Gosforth Dancers) in some Tyne-Tees TV shows in the 1970s.