New venture at Swinton

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 04:21 PM

Hi Dave,
All the best with the new venture. The Staff Folk and Pete Ryder do on the 23rd was really special, can't tell you how much I enjoyed it.

Sorry I didn't get to speak with you, but you had obviously deserted Mrs. Polshaw for Mr. Robinsons!

Regards,
Myrtle.

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Mar 07 - 08:28 AM

Damn! I was keeping it a secret until I had sold tickets to all my mates:-)

Yep, folks, weather permitting and a good wind behind us it will indeed be as Greg reports!

Looking forward to it already:-D

D.

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 06:43 PM

On Union Quay, in Cork, there are four bars in a row. No houses in between, no shops. Just the bars on the river. Two are venues of international status. The Lobby is one (currently closed when last I heard, some kind of management problem). The other is Charlie's. The Lobby is(was) big, sessions downstairs,free, all the acts you've ever heard of upstairs, pay to go in. Next door, Charlie's, is not like that at all. A good old one room bar, where you will meet the characters of the city, and the world. And every Monday, pretty nearly solid for the last ten years(the odd tour permitting) you get to hear serious musical legends, Hank Wedel and Ray Barron. Hank Wedel is one of those laid back Californian Irishmen(or laidback Irish Californians) who blew into Cork and stayed. Ray barron blew in to Cork from Waterford twentyish years ago and likewise stayed. Hank knows every song written since 1960 and a few trad ones as well. Ray Barron's mandoline is rightfully an international legend. So if it's a bit of Bill Monroe, some Eagles, or the lads giving the lash to Chuck Berry, you receive a musical education and an amazing Irish experience when you cram into Chalie's on a Monday night and experience the heaven of a slight Murphy's overdose.
    And, amazingly, the rumour is you're going to experience this in the White Lion in Swinton. Because Ray Barron, the aforsesaid mandoline player, is also an occasional agent for the likes of Andy Irvine and the Boat Band. And the Boat Band, ever grateful for the fantastic tours Ray has set up for them in Ireland, are reciprocating, and have lined up the amazing White Lion in Swinton to host Ray and Hank for an evening. Forget all that Dublin stuff which we are well used to. Experience that auhentic laid-back cosmopolitan ambience of Cork in sunny Swinton. You knpw it makes sense.

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 05:14 PM

Something embryonic but very exciting for May 18 - Watch this space:-)

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 03:06 AM

Very good Robbies, too JJ. The dark bitter is the best I have tasted in a long tome:-) It is not every Friday remember - Check with us first.

D.

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: John J
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 02:43 AM

Hello Dave.

I'll make the effort to get down on a Friday, is it still Robbies?

John

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: folk1e
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 08:15 PM

Sounds good to me Dave!

Subject: RE: New venture at Swinton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:00 PM

Refresh

Subject: New venture at Swinton
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 04:45 AM

Swinton Folk Club (Manchester, UK) every Monday night is alive and well and long may it be so! We are now also hosting monthly Friday club nights arranged by a few of the regulars and residents on the last Friday of every month. How lucky can the people of Swinton be?

Well, it gets even better. For purely selfish reasons, that I can now divulge, I want to add a few more Fridays as well. Yesterday I handed in my notice at work and I will be starting a new job which entails stopping up in Newcastle Mon-Fri for a year or so. So, Friday nights at the Lion will suit me down to the ground.

Last year I did an experiment and booked the Boat Band via Greg Stephens here at the Mudcat. It went very well. I want to continue by booking other artists that we would not normaly see in Swinton due to cost, location or any of the other various reasons that mean we cannot see them on a Monday. Remember that Mondays is and always will be the main club night at Swinton. All our regular Artists will still be on then. I am looking for the unusual.

Maybe a UK tour by someone with a Friday gap. Maybe a short notice booking by someone famous on at the Lowry on a Saturday. I am open to ideas. The thing is it does need to be someone who can potentialy fill our club with the maximum 40 people. I am leaving the door charge and format of the night to the artist concerned. They will get paid whatever we take or a pre-agreed percentage of the door. That way the artist can have a relaxed night, knowing that the format is one that they like and, hopefuly, they can make some money as well:-)

We already have our second booking - George Papavgeris on September 21st. That is absolutely as far as I want to book in advance because I do want to see who is available at short notice as well. I don't want to turn the Friday sessions into another folk club where the artists are booked 18 months in advance!

One word of caution - I was advised to book a US 'team' who were touring the UK. Seeing there was a Friday 'gap' in the schedule and they were in fact in the Northe West I contacted the tour organisers. They told me that I would not get them in the club for less than a £500 guarantee! I would be more than happy to pay the £500 if the acts believe that they could warrant a £12.50 door charge - But I cannot guarantee that all 40 seats will be sold - Sorry:-( Aside from that all comments, ideas and suggestions are welcome.

Cheers

Dave