The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #97791 Message #1929034
Posted By: Mick Tems
07-Jan-07 - 07:59 AM
Thread Name: Pontardawe Folk Club
Subject: RE: Pontardawe Folk Club
Pontardawe Folk Club, after travelling round the pubs of the town, still meets in the Ivy Bush in Brecon Road. I think I can safely say that it is the longest-running Welsh club, which is quite a feat. The club's programme is on the Listings, maintained by myself on behalf of the Llantrisant Folk Club website (www.folkwales.co.uk - sorry, can't do these clickies.)
Pontardawe FC was started by Bryan Harris, Labour councillor of the former Pontardawe Rural District Council. I came down to the Swansea Valley as Editor of the South Wales Voice in 1971, and I soon became immersed in an exciting little club. Bryan booked (for example) Muckram Wakes, Fred Jordan, Shirley and Dolly Collins, the Exiles, Nic Jones, Anne Briggs, Diz Disley and the Rev. Kenneth Loveless, to name just a few. Club performers were Bryan, 18-year-old Ruth Exell-Stevenson, Lynne Gent, Paul from Scunthorpe, Meryl and a host of singers. I (with Mike James and John Howes) was one the founder members of Swansea Jack. John left and was replaced by Peter Davies -we travelled to Brest Festival, which was the start of Ponty FC's and later Pontardawe Festival's love affair with Breton music and dance.
Bryan discovered the Crympyn John mummer's play, and he really whetted my reseacher's appetite (which took root in my still-unfinished South Wales Archive of English-language songs.) Bryan died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage, and I have a photograph of Mike, John, me (as Indian Dark) and the brothers Lyn and Stuart Martenson as the full Crympyn John cast, carrying on as Bryan would have wanted.
My fortunes took me away from the Swansea Valley, and the four of us started Llantrisant Folk Club, which celebrated its 25th birthday a while ago. Sorry this is rushed, but I'll have to go to a Tredegar House Festival meeting at Newport this afternoon. Congratulations, Anne, on appearing at the oldest folk club in Wales - give 'em hell!