The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #106396   Message #2211260
Posted By: GUEST,Dave Bishop
08-Dec-07 - 10:04 AM
Thread Name: New Singaround, Chorlton, Manchester
Subject: RE: New Singaround, Chorlton, Manchester
Actually, Les, I was a resident at the Millstone (he said modestly).

I'm not sure if the 'Singers Club' was really the model for the sort of singaround we had on Wednesday night. My recollections of my youthful pilgrimages to that hallowed institution, near King's Cross, are that they mainly consisted of Ewan & Peggy doing most of the evening with a couple of 'floor spots' thrown in ( apparently other notable singers, like Bert Lloyd, did the nights when E & P weren't there). This format never bothered me (as it still appears to do some people) as I was mainly there to hear Ewan sing ballads, anyway.

The Manchester 'Song Carriers' club, at the Millstone, was certainly inspired by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger but was much more like a conventional folk club - with a group of residents and weekly guests.   

It's a pity that Terry Whelan (another Millstone resident) isn't still with us - I know that he would have enjoyed Wednesday night (although, knowing Terry, he would have also enjoyed finding something to moan about! If he's up there now - he knows it's true - it was part of his charm!).

What we both would have agreed about (after the usual furious argument) is that it's really great to have somewhere to sing traditional songs, on a regular basis, with all of your mates.

Thanks for organising it, Les!