Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007

Subject: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: jimlad9
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 03:19 PM

Westhoughton Folk Club is in its final season. Season ends Autumn 2007 it will be sorely missed here in S.E.Lancashire.
The resident Group 'Auld Triangle' have run this excellent club since 1974 and have kept the tradition alive since then and have given us many great nights since then.

Thank you "Auld Triangle".

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: andrewq
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 05:10 PM

I'll miss it too. I was surprised to hear it was closing as it is always full and regularly needs to hire larger premises for many of the top names on the touring circuit. Pat Batty and her cohorts have done a splendid job over the years in giving us so many great evening. I suppose there's something to be said for going out on a high.

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Scrump
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 03:21 PM

That's sad news indeed - sorry to hear it.

What's the reason for the closure?

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: jimlad9
Date: 05 Feb 07 - 03:39 PM

A combination of illness and the ageing process (not Pat of course!) apparently.

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Scrump
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 09:14 AM

Is there no-one that can take it over then? (Don't look at me though, I live too far away)

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: jimlad9
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 09:36 AM

Scrump

We would like you to give it a try though 'cos I believe you have a gorgeous voice and 44DD
boobs

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:08 AM

Although not a folkclub in the general sense, Westhoughton had a great guest list. I saw the marvelous Lucy Kaplanski there a few times. Somebody should try to keep it going - in its present format.

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Flash Company
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:34 AM

I've known Auld Triangle since the Norman Prince, Jim Berry days, Pat has done a marvellous job keeping this going all the years.
Surely there is someone in the younger generation who will take it on.

FC

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:44 AM

I saw the club change from a more traditional style club to a concert club. I did not go often after that as it is not my cup of tea but what they did, they certainly did very well indeed. It just goes to show that even clubs that change and put on all the big names can be as under threat as the small places. Different reasons of course but with the same result:-(

Going back to the old days - Who remember Phil Atkinson being with Auld T? He is still going strong and if anyone wants to be remembered to him I will be seeing him in about 10 days.

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Scrump
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 10:53 AM

Why thank you jimlad9 - what a night of passion that was, eh? ;-)

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Mick Tems
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 12:19 PM

Calennig were guesting at Westhoughton - sorry if I'm mistaken or have forgotten somebody, but I think we were the only Welsh duo to do the club. In the interval, Pat Batty said: "We've got a youngster here who wants to try out his act. His name's Phil Cool. Do you mind if I put him on before you?"

Yes, put him on, we blithely said - and, open-mouthed, watched our 40 minutes being smashed to pieces as Phil tore the place apart.

Phil, who was to become a thinking man's comedian with his own TV series, joins a long line of folk celebrities, which includes Jasper Carrott, Max Boyce and Billy Connolly. And thank you, Pat, for putting him on. Shame about our 40 minutes, though!

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: jimlad9
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:05 PM

Ohmigod Scrump! now half of humanity knows our secret. It will be on the front page of the 'Sun' tomorrow. Headline "Mudcatters do it at a Distance"

I am betrayed!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:07 PM

Didn't Huw and Tony Williams play there? December 4th 1998 for example?! ;o>

Yes, I remember when Phil Atki was in AT.

Maybe Pat is right to close the club on a high - it would be a shame to see it change hands and deteriorate until forced to close...

Something on the lines of 'Why are they closing?' instead of 'Why aren't they closing?'.

I must admit I've never been since the Red Lion days, and am one of the few people who got to do a floor spot on a guest night!!

Good luck to them - and here's hoping for a last minute reprieve!

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Scrump
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:28 PM

Thank Heaven I was wearing that bald wig and false leg as a precaution - with any luck no-one will know it was me, jimlad9. It certainly had you fooled, anyway :-)

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:35 PM

It's worth mentioning how dedicated Pat and the team are - they usually set the room up on the Thursday - sound check and everything - ready for Fridays's concert.

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:36 PM

I've got one of the "I did a floor spot at the Red Lion" ties as well as Bernard - a pretty exclusive club by all accounts.
Whilst you'd never call Westhoughton a "Folk Club" in the widely accepted meaning of the term, it certainly has a place in allowing people to see big name guests in a venue more akin to a "folk club". I always remember seeing small adverts in the local paper every week for the Red Lion - the only folk club in the area that did that sort of thing. Presumably this was a cost effective way of advertising and no doubt made the general public aware of the club. Many other folk clubs were - and still are - well kept secrets from the general public!
Sorry to see it going.

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Ruston Hornsby
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:48 PM

Shocked to hear this, really. It's only a few years back that they won BBC Folk Club of the Year. It's true that it became a concert club - particularly in recent years, and it's "you can't sit there, that's Gladys and Arthur's seat" approach could be seen as a tad unwelcoming, but it never the less leaves a hole that needs filling. Surely something can rise out of the ashes, can't it?

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: jimlad9
Date: 06 Feb 07 - 02:57 PM

Scrump

Sod the 'bald wig and false leg and no one will know it was me' bit. If the Sun can get hold of that cockpit video they will have photo's of you and me at you know where and you know when.
I am emigrating tonight to Y**k**ire no one will expect a 'Lanky lad' to hide out there.
But before I go thanks for the night of passion,I haven't been able to walk in a straight line since

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: Scrump
Date: 07 Feb 07 - 10:18 AM

Yer welcome owd lad.

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: GUEST,Message Board
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 11:50 PM

Message board has now been set up at the WFC website:

www.folkclub.org.uk

Subject: RE: Obit: Westhoughton Folk Club 1974-2007
From: GUEST,Season tickets
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 12:23 AM

Quote: "It's true that it became a concert club - particularly in recent years, and it's "you can't sit there, that's Gladys and Arthur's seat" approach could be seen as a tad unwelcoming"

I believe that Westhoughton was one of the first clubs in having "season tickets" where you pay up front (with a discount). As a perk for this they are the only people to get to choose a seat, just the same as a football season ticket for example. These are the people who keep the folk club going and I personally don't think that's unreasonable.

Ian Austen