Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: JennieG
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 07:24 PM

Sandra - can you check the third of the links you posted? It wouldn't open for me, although the others did.

Memories.....I was at the 30th anniversary, 40 years ago. Many of the original and early members were present and spoke about the club's early days, which was very interesting to those of us who weren't around at the time.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 07:48 PM

oops - I'll ask Joe or Stilly to replace the bad link

70th Anniversary - Reunion of Members & friends @ The Goulburn Club, Sunday 26th May 2024 - photographs

Bob Bolton's pics of the 30th Anniversary 1984

pic of you @ 50th Anniversary

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: JennieG
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 09:51 PM

Thanks, Sandra!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 06:33 PM

Another one for 1965


"The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] at the Crown, Abbey Foregate.

If you were there at The Boathouse in 1965, or the festival weekends, or the sessions in the Severn Stars, The Castle, The Globe or The Crown then please come along to raise a glass and sing a song on Wednesday 19th around 8 pm."

Shropshire Folk Musicians
https://www.facebook.com/groups/shropshirefolk/posts/9130167963688230/

(they don't have their own web page)

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 02:31 AM

I did sing at the Seven Stars, lovely weekends. give my regards to pat sheard

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 02:50 AM

I can only repeat what I said in May 24 when I last updated the list -

You're doing a good job adding to our list, Freddy, I think you've contributed the most entries! Gold Star & Pat on the Back to you


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - Dec 1964?
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) 1974
Nettlebed Folk Song Club (UK) - 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 May 25 - 09:36 AM

some local clubs I'd forgotten (oops)

Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - Dec 1964?
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 May 25 - 10:37 AM

one of the above are no longer going, folk at royal oak lewes

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 May 25 - 10:40 AM

potteres folk club is 60 years, but used to be weekly but is now monthly

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 12 May 25 - 05:25 PM

I kept scrolling down to see when Glasgow Folk Club, started by me and Drew Moyes at the instigation of Janey Buchan in a lunch venue in the Trongate in 1960, would be inserted in the fascinating list.
Emergent resident group was called The Broomhill Bums [named for the site of Hamish Imlach's 19 month party], including Josh Macrae, Archie Fisher, Ray Fisher, Hamish Imlach, Jackie O'Connor and me masel.
Moved to Glasgow Folk Centre run by Drew after a couple of years.
Ewan

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 May 25 - 06:03 PM

Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965 will be removed!

Ewan, I just searched 'Glasgow Folk Club site:mudcat.org' & saw lots of mentions of Glasgow, but no Glasgow Folk Club, looks like no one has mentioned it before, unless it's the Star - https://www.livingtradition.co.uk/folkclubs/StarFolkClub but it started in the late 70s.

A search for 'potters folk club' gets 'Do you mean potteries folk club'
https://www.potteriesfolkclub.com/ - founded over 60 years ago

The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - Dec 1964?
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 12 May 25 - 07:06 PM

btw re Royal Oak , Lewes
"This main function of this website was formerly to advertise events at the very successful Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes venture which was organised by Vic & Tina.
We decided that, after 50 years of running folk clubs, the last 23 at the Royal Oak, it was time for us to step down. The club was still running very successfully and we did hope that others would step up to take over the organisation.
Sadly, this did not happen and the club closed at the end of 2013.
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tinvic/

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 May 25 - 10:12 PM

definitely sad.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 15 May 25 - 05:33 AM

I expect someone will kindly change this link to a blue clicky - I just tried to but got an offer to to make a PDF instead!
https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/ewan-mcvicar/
You will see I was wrong, the Glasgow Folk Club started in 1959, not 1960. Also see my book 'One Singer One Song'.
Goodness, Mudcat is after all not the fount of all folky knowledge.
Ewan

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: GUEST,Ewan McVicar
Date: 15 May 25 - 05:49 AM

Well, I'd better add some more about the Glasgow Folk Club. One book credits Norman Buchan and Morris Blythman with starting it, but they were both school teachers who encouraged/taught some of the youngsters like me who started the club.
[Morris had in 1956 started the Allan Glen's Ballad & Blues Club at break time in the school where he taught and I attended.
Norman brought along young singers in Rutherglen Academy where he taught. I don't know what his sessions in the school were called or when they started.]
The trams rattling along the Trongate would drown out singers in the Glasgow Club, till three weeks in two university types brought in a thing on a pole and a box that plugged in to the mains, and singers became louder than the trams.
Our first guest, eight weeks in, was Jimmie MacBeath. I was the treasurer and paid him £8, more than he had ever being paid for singing in his life till then. He called me MR MCVICAR, I was an 18 year old who was in awe of him.
Ewan

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 15 May 25 - 07:38 AM

Thankyou, MR MCVICAR

to create blue clickies I use DaveRo's simple linkifier

Ewan McVicar - Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Glasgow Folk Club - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Newcastle and Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - Dec 1964?
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Oct 25 - 10:56 AM

adding another local folk club - 50 years old in a week or so.

MACQUARIE TOWNS MUSIC CLUB
Macquarie Towns Music Club 50th Anniversary Concert, 12th October 2025

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Glasgow Folk Club - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Macquarie Towns Music Club (Aus) - Oct 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 25 - 08:22 AM

Cellar Upstairs, run by Sheila Miller. I think it was (then just the Cellar) the first folk club I ever went to in London, in 1976, and it wasn't new then.

Also, the Cornell Folk Song Club (now Society), which is old enough that Peter Yarrow, John Roberts, Howie Bursen, I, Maren Cooke, and many others are all past presidents. Bill Steele talked about going to their concerts in the 1950s, when he was a student. Also notable for hiring Pete Seeger when he was blacklisted (for which he repaid the club by performing for half the gate about every five years for the rest of his life, bless him.)

I want to congratulate the people who can give their lives to keeping these clubs running over so many years.

wg

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Oct 25 - 10:17 AM

thanks for your post, wg, I'll add it to the list

Pete Seeger & the Bush Music Club

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Oct 25 - 05:34 PM

Cellar Upstairs is still going! Cellar Upstairs folk club. Traditional music and song in central London. Monday evenings at 8pm
Upstairs, downstairs: the story of the Cellar club The Cellar folk club seems to have begun in December 1960 – at any rate, that was the month in which it was first mentioned in English Dance & Song (now EDS).

Cornell website last post was 2018 - ... we know that it existed in spring of 1957 ...
facebook is current Promoting traditional and traditionally-oriented folk music on and off campus since the 1950s.


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Cornell Folk Song Society (US) - spring of 1957
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Cellar Upstairs (UK) - December 1960
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Glasgow Folk Club - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Macquarie Towns Music Club (Aus) - Oct 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 08 Dec 25 - 08:12 PM

Unity Folk Club    London

"Unity Folk Club is actually Unity Theatre Folk Club (we dropped the 'theatre' in the early 2000s).
It was started in the late 40s / early 50s by Jack Firestein Unity Theatre management committee chair, and the front of house face of Unity Theatre, running the bookstall in the foyer during every performance (weekends only) and the folk club in the bar on Wednesdays."   
,,, "The folk club had to move after fires (two) shut the Theatre. Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson were two famous singers connected with the Unity Theatre and Jack.
The Unity Folk Club was at the Enterprise in Chalk Farm Road until 2003 when it moved to its present venue.
The central point of the club is to help to keep political folk singing alive, which is particularly necessary in the present climate."
www.unityfolkclub.org
YouTube
https://youtu.be/R0wzfcnyIfA
   
2025 meets last Monday of the month
@
Torriano Meeting House
99 Torriano Ave, London NW5 2RX
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064681837215

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Dec 25 - 10:14 PM

Australia's New Theatres also started in the 30s as part of the same movement. Sydney's New Theatre had an enormous hit when the founders of the Bush Music Club provided the music to the new Australian play "Reedy River" about the 1891 Shearers strike! Club members were associated with the New for years, & folkies still are. Oops, one of the folkies is also a BMC member.

Now getting back to business, Freddy you are amazing ferreting out old clubs, thankyou once again.

Do you have digitised newspapers that might have noted the earliest productions & earliest meetings of the folk club? Here we have the Communist Party's Tribune -1939-1991

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9th DECEMBER, 2025

Unity Folk Club, (UK) - late 30s/early 40s
San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Cornell Folk Song Society (US) - spring of 1957
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Cellar Upstairs (UK) - December 1960
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Glasgow Folk Club - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Macquarie Towns Music Club (Aus) - Oct 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 01:05 AM

Hi Sandra,

I started going to folk clubs in Coventry, UK around 1971 when they were already well established, but unfortunately I cannot remember the clubs' names. When I arrived in Leeds, West Yorks in 1971 there were again a number of established clubs, including the University club (with which I was involved as an organiser from around 1975-78) and at least half a dozen others within a few miles around (again, memory does not serve that well); however among them was the Grove Folk Club (original name: The Seven Hills Folk Club) which was certainly going by the mid sixties, according to this article: The Grove Folk Club ... still going or not, I cannot tell you unfortunately, maybe others can. One for your list maybe??

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Tony Rees
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 01:09 AM

The Grove Folk Club - possibly started before or by 1962, per the section "The Holbeck Moor Mummers" on the page mentioned in my previous post.

- Tony

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 06:17 AM

Thanks, Tony - Grove Folk Club 1962 - date

a search brought up The Grove Folk Club next find was Finding a tradfolk singaround near you where I found Dragon Folk Club Welcome to the official blog of the Dragon Folk Club, which meets for a singers night every Friday at The Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol. Everyone is welcome whether you sing, play or just listen.

My final find was Chichester Folk Song Club "running for over 60 years. It started in the autumn of 1962. The club, whilst not the oldest in the UK (being the third oldest in the UK) ... "

I've had fun!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 06:22 AM

the Dragon Folk Song Club is already on the list


10th DECEMBER, 2025

Unity Folk Club, (UK) - late 30s/early 40s
San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Cornell Folk Song Society (US) - spring of 1957
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Cellar Upstairs (UK) - December 1960
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Glasgow Folk Club - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
The Grove Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Chichester Folk Song Club - 10962
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Macquarie Towns Music Club (Aus) - Oct 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Johnny J
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 07:50 AM

"Folk clubs exist so that one day they no longer need to exist" Karl Dallas.

Have we got to that stage yet?

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 08:54 AM

Not quite the 70 year bracket yet but Swinton (Manchester) has been gong since the early 70s and we are about to celebrate our 45th year at the same venue (White Lion)

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Dec 25 - 04:06 PM

the list keeps growing!!

10th DECEMBER, 2025

Unity Folk Club, (UK) - late 30s/early 40s
San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Cornell Folk Song Society (US) - spring of 1957
Bridge Folk Club Newcastle (UK) - 1958
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Cellar Upstairs (UK) - December 1960
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - est. 1959 as Bush Music Club of Victoria, name changed 1963
Glasgow Folk Club - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
The Grove Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Chichester Folk Song Club - 10962
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Denver Folklore Centre (US) -1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
Marsden Folk Club (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Rhyl Folk Club (Wales) 1964
Darlington Folk Workshop (UK) - 1964
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Cambridge Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Potteries Folk Club (UK) - before 1965
The Shrewsbury Folk Club will be celebrating its 60th year on Wednesday 19th February[2025] - 1965
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Yellow Door, Montreal (Can) - 1966
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
BACCApipes Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club (Aus) - 1968/69
Dragon Folk Club (Bristol, UK) - 1969
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Hoy at Anchor (UK) - 1970
Folk federation of New South Wales (Aus) - 1970
Devonport Folk Club (NZ) aka The Bunker - 1970
Chichester Folk Song Club (UK) - over 50 years (as of 2023)
Maidenhead Folk Club (UK) - early 70s
Monaro Folk Music Society (Aus) - 1971
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - 1971
Swinton (UK) - 1972
Cross Keys Folk Club, Saddleworth (UK) - 1972
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Dartford Folk Club (UK) - 1973
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Irvine Folk Club (Scotland) - 1974
Bluegrass & Traditional Country Music Society (Aus) - June 1975
Macquarie Towns Music Club (Aus) - Oct 1975
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Folk Club (Aus) - 1978
The Star, Glasgow (Scotland) - late 70s
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Illawarra Folk Club (Aus) 1980