Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: theleveller
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 08:01 AM

I enjoyed the clips shown on the Beeb 4 programme on John Martyn on Friday. Especially poignant was the fleeting glimpse of Jackson C Frank. Brought back long-forgotten memories.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 08:09 AM

John Martyn at the BBC

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 06:29 PM

I regularly used to go to Les Macabre and Cafe Des Artistes. Also the Troubadour in the Earls Court Road which I think, is still there. Halcyon days.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Piers Hayman
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 07:15 PM

Jeez! This takes me back! Early 60's? I shot off to Holland in '73 and teamed up with Dutch guitarist John Kuiper as a duo. We made three albums of our 'contemporaryt folk' music in the late 70's. Mox came by on his travels and played harp and flute on the third one!All three aqlbums are still available online as downloads here and there - google my name) Now living happily in NZ (since 1982)
Cheers to all.

Piers

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Lucy Allen (was Hubbard, Jordans Ear ly 1960
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 07:03 PM

H Piers,

Don't know if you'.ll read this. I was at a gig tonight of John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett.They are both from Aylesbury originally but when I told them I was from Jordans Willy told me he knew Piers Hayman and asked if I had your e mail address. If you want to get in touch with Willy you can get him at [e-mail]

Cheers,

Lucy

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 07:19 PM

I used to go to Les Macabre and Cafe Des Artistes regularly. Also the Troubadour.Late nights in the golden egg in Piccadilly.Living in Dulwich/West Norwood it was so easy and life was sweet.The Purple Pussy cat. The Phoenix folk club. Anyone know a guy called Brian Flax? Played a Left handed Levin. Oh, you can reminisce for hours. I used to love the cafe Des Artistes, you never knew who you'd bump into or who was there. The Marquee, saw tons of superb music there as well. Where did those years fly past to?

The rock machine turns you on !! Superb sampler, silver cover. Introduced me to some great music. It's the time of the season...................... (Well it was)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Claire (Bonito) Allen
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 01:42 PM

Several years ago Alan wrote:

Speaking of the Enterprise, my old friend Dom Bonito (who was a resident there)has a tablecloth signed by most of the guests who appeared there in the late 60s and early 70s.

"Those were the days ..... "

I currently have that tablecloth to launder and lend to my Mum (Frances) having seen Dad at the weekend. We hope to photograph it and get it up on the web for all to see.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Sue
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 06:16 PM

Conrads Bistro. I worked as a waitress there for a few yars in the mid 70s for the formidable Ulterwoman Daphne who sadly died in Spain a few years ago aged 69. She was a great partier after the bistro closed and would have parties with all the late nighters from theatres and the Belsize Tavern. Spag bols were a favourite, gammon with pineapple and Negresse en Chemise desert.   Al Stewart used to go there. Anyone remember those times.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Chris Scheybeler
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 10:23 AM

Does anyone remember the guitarist John Lamont? I remember jamming with him and Mox in Cousins one evening. John and I used to hang in St Ives in the summer, where he taught me the basics of folk-blues guitar. He didn't have a guitar at the time, so he borrowed my then new Harmony Sovereign while I played harp. I still play the Harmony which, like me, miraculously survived the 60's & 70's. Is anyone still in contact with him?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,PiedPiper
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 10:32 PM

Sue,

Do you know Al Stewart's song that reminisces about Conrad's bistro and Belsize in the 70s? It's called "Belsize Blues".

http://www.alstewart.com/lyrics/belsizeblues.htm

It's available on a 2001 reissue of the "Year of the Cat" album.

Al does namecheck a waitress, but her name is ... Annie!

I would like to read more about your memories of that era.

PP

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Rick Norcross
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 04:49 PM

Sure have enjoyed reading the Mudcat accounts and memories of those all-nighters at Les Cousins! I played there many times during late '65 and the first two months of '66, emceeing the midnight to 7 am sessions on Saturday January 15, February 5th, 19th and March 11th. Pay was 10 Quid and I was glad to have the bookings. One of the February bookings was Paul Simon's "Going Away" party when Paul was finally going back home to work the "Sounds of Silence" success (under duress from Columbia). That was an amazing night, Derroll Adams, Sandy Denny, Jackson C. Frank, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn and the usual suspects. Meg came down and sang her "I'll Fly Away." I lived in a house in West Dulwich owned by Hylda Simms where Diz Disley also lived and we cruised around the folk clubs in his 1929 red-label Rolls. I arrived in London from my home here in Vermont (New England) in June of '65 and went directly to the Troubador where Redd Sullivan kindly allowed me to do a few tunes as a floor singer and immediately booked me from there on a regular basis. I worked for Graham Wood at London City Agency (Paul Simon and I were his "American folk singers"). There has been reference to Art Garfunkle living in London at that time but that was not the case. He was still in college back in New York. Artie came over for two weeks in the late fall for a visit during that period. Once Sounds of Silence put them into the big time, then of course they came back many times. Yes I am still working/singing after all these years with my western swing band, Rick & The Ramblers (www.rickandtheramblers.com) and unfortunately have not played back in London since 1974. I am heading to Murcia, Spain on May 6th to play for the Brits who live there by invitation from Hugh Aldous who ran a very successful folk club in Bedford back in the 60s. I thoroughly enjoyed my years playing the folks clubs, over 50 of them all over England from Haverford West, Carlsile in the north all the way down to Cornwall and Devon. I will never forget the kindness and the friendships I made, particularly Noel Murphy, Redd Sullivan, Weston Gavin, Derek Sarjeant, Diz Disley, Sugar Bill Robinson, Brian Leake, Dana Gillespie, Bill Clifton, Luthier John Bailey (who built me an 18-string guitar), the aforementioned Hugh & Nancy Aldous and so many more wonderful musicians and characters who took me under their wings.

Thanks so much for sharing your memories of Les Cousins!
Rick Norcross

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 05:58 PM

Remember you well Rick, nice to hear from you.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Ben.
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:17 PM

Hi there,
I am looking for the Jimi Hendrix connection with Les Cousin.
Anyone out there can give me some information on that ?.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Ben.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,jim abbott
Date: 03 May 10 - 11:18 AM

Anyone have specific memories of Jackson Frank paying in London, whether at Cousins or elsewhere? Working on his bio and eyewitness accounts are a good thing! Also if anyone has any pix of Jackson that aren't already viral, please let me know

jim abbott
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,PiedPiper
Date: 28 Jun 10 - 07:22 PM

I have just read about a reunion Les Cousins tour to happen in the UK in April of next year (2011). I gather that it will feature Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch, Roy Harper and Al Stewart.

I wonder if they could get Paul Simon to take part?

Should be great, anyway.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,adrian
Date: 30 Jun 10 - 04:24 AM

thanks you guys for the great memories of days long gone and nights far longer...

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 09 Aug 10 - 03:31 PM

I was standing outside Nos 49 this afternoon, first time in the best part of 45 years. Wow. Anybody reading this that spent their Saturdays - midnight to 7am, sitting on the floor down in that truly magical hole in the ground doen't need me to remind them of the wonder of those glorious days of our youth.
Sandy Denny's first set at at 4am. Long John Baldry on a 12 string playing Jack Frank's Christine. Spider John Koerner whacking his 7 string and telling those awful, wonderful jokes. And on, and on, and on. I've a cassette tape somewhere I recorded at the time of one of Spider's sessions.
I've still got my membership card tucked away, just in case . . .
Off now to tuck the grandchildren in.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Dave D.
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 07:50 AM

I spent many an allnighter in there in the late 60s. The Pillars of Hercules pub was close...a friend told me he saw Bert Jansch drink so much in there one night that he couldn't stay on his stool...then went down Cousins and played brilliantly all night!

I saw Stefan Grossman down there several times too. One character I remember as always being there was a blues playing accordionist who dressed like a frenchman in Breton T shirt and beret...I think he was called Paris Nat but I've seen no mention of him in the previous memories. Anyone know anything about him?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,carole
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 02:30 PM

I do have a few pictures taken in the witches. one of mox and john playing. if anyone wants to see mail to [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 05:31 PM

To guest Tony--you mentioned seeing long John Baldry playing Jack Frank's Christine at Cousins. Was that a song you remember anything about, or are you thinking of Jackson' version of Kimbie?
Please let me know if you recall anything about Jackson. Im working on a book about him. Someone out there using my name has been causing some confusion about a book about Jackson, but Ive been working on one for a few years now and just need to wrap it up. Recently acquired a tape with 7 new recordings, studio quality, from sessions in the early seventies--absolutely lovely stuff for the most part, and so the story keeps evolving. Anyway, if anyone knows Tony or if Tony himself sees this please let me know at [e-mail]

Thank you

Jim Abbott
Accord, NY

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,jim daking
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 05:19 PM

i remember when i was 14 thank you

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 05:32 PM

JIM AGAIN IM 61 NOW AMSTERDAM I SAW MOST OF WHO YOU ALL TALK ABOUT NOTHING TO ADD OH ROUND THE CORNER WAS A CLUB CALLED LE DUCEE MOST LIKLY GOT IRTT WRONG WENDSDAYS ALL STERERT J FRANK SOMETIMES NOTHING IMPORTANT BUT WITH ALL YOU MIGHTY MEN THOUGHT I MIGHT MENTION IT THANK YOU LES COUSANS

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 06:20 AM

worked at Les Cousins from its inception for about 4 years on and off behind the bar, inbetween working at Ronny Scotts when I had rows with Andy or his parents. Les Cousins was started as a french disco by a couple of french student cousins. Andy was 17 and used to act as dj. His parents owned the restaurant above and supplied all the sandwiches for the allnighters. I went in one night with some friends (I was 16) and got involved. After a short spell as a rock venue we went over to folk music. I hears some phenomenal music over the years, worked my socks off and adored it. The first night in England Jimi Hendrix came in with Chas Chandler and Alexis Korner was playing & chas asked if Jimi could jam with the band &when Jimi played with his teeth better than most can play with their fingers we were all gobsmacked. Memories of hearing some wonderful artists -Bert, Jackson C Frank, Sandy Denny Martin Carthy Watersons Paul Simon.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 06:35 AM

That name rings a bell, I know I met someone called Bredda a long time ago, {senility you know]it's such an unusual name.
I do remember Andy on the door though.
Come to think of it, that place was a death trap, what on earth would have happened in an emergency?

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 08:07 AM

Looking back at this thread the memories of the wonderful music are still with me - Noel Murphy singing a patriots game - Bert singing blackwaterside, pentangle playing with Jackie McShee's truly beautiful voice singing Jack Orion, Sandy Denny had such a lovely voice. So much good music. - Andy took over when the french boys went back to uni & as he was still only 17 his dad had to bring in Phil, who moxy introduced to Andy. He left after a couple of years and andy took over. I worked 6 nights a week there behind the bar including all nighter, usually singlehanded, unless I could get my friend Didi to help. Incidentally the coffee was terrible but the sandwiches were pretty good.
Reply to previous posting - it wasnt that much of a deathtrap - the entrance to the club was down a flight of stairs from street to a very small hallway where Andy & Phillip used to sit. a door opened up beside them into the club. Behind where Andy sat was a corridor running the whole length of the club which led to another stairway, which ran up to the kitchen of andy's dads restaurant.Just by the foot of the stairway up to the restaurant was a door leading into the club which was the 2nd exit in case of fire! There were also lots of small barred windows that end, which was oppisite the bar where I worked. that was really our only ventilation.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Gypsy Annie
Date: 29 Oct 10 - 11:12 PM

Mr. Mathious, Andy's father used to call me Gypsy, but no one else does any more. I found Les Cousins after being at Bungies, and going with the crowd from Bungies roughly around 1966. I worked there behind the counter for about a year or so when I was still in grammar school ( called high school in the USA). I remember that Al Stewart was very friendly, and we used to go and eat at the "As You Like It" restaurant between the evening and overnight shifts. Artists that I remeber hearing were: The Young Tradition, Stephan Grossman, John Martyn, Sammy Mitchell, Alexis Korner, Victor Brox, Long John Baldry, Ralph McTell, Noel Murphy, Davy Graham, Ian Anderson, Al Stewart, Roy Harper,John Renbourne,Champion Jack Dupree, and many others. I also remember Old Meg and Paris Nat Schaffer, and Mox. A reunion might be depressing as about half of those artists have died.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Bredda
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 10:46 AM

Gypsy - we must have known each other but can't place you at the moment, although the nickname rings a bell. I don't remember getting breaks in shifts! used to work straight through. We all used to go to Ronnie Scotts after a late night. The Young Tradition, Ralph McTell & Martin Carthy, Long John Baldry, Duffy Power, Al Stewart,Davy Graham and of course Donavan at the beginning-so many memories of evenings of great music. On of Andy's school friends was Cat Stephens - hence Mathew & Son. (Matheou & Son does not quite have same ring)

I didnt always get on with some of them it has to be said.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 31 Oct 10 - 02:58 PM

I managed to answer my own question.

The English cover version of Homeward Bound was by a band called The Quiet Five - not the Tea Set, as I previously said.

The main mover seems to have been a geezer called Kris Ife.

Kris's website is here:

http://www.craftweb.org/web/kris/index.html

On his website is the version Homeward Bound (and quite good it is) and also a lovely picture of him and the Burns Acoustic which I also mentioned, but had totally forgot about. As you can hear - he's no slouch on the old guitar either.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 10 - 11:13 PM

Hi Breadda. I think that you were before my time by a little bit. I was working there at about age 17 in 1968 but I first started giong to Les Cousins when i was 15 in 1966. I remember someone called Toby selling coffee behind the counter when I first started to go there. I worked the evenings and then the overnight, so there was a break in between, but I was rather young for hanging out at Ronnie Scotts. It would have been amazing to go to all of those famous clubs like Ronnie Scotts, the Bag O Nails, but I did get involved in the amazing UFO Club, MiddleEarth, and the like at the time. It was just such an amazing time and place in history -- now that I look back.The British Blues musicians were like a huge interconnected family, because if one knew one blues musician, that person was connected to a bunch of others, and each of them was connected to others, so it was like a gigantic family.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: Bredda
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:08 AM

I have just watched on i player the bbc4 programme about folk clubs in the sixties and relived so many good memories. I feel so lucky to have been there and listened to so much good music. I have to admit I was in tears during the programme quite a lot of the time, especially watching Bert singing "Needle of death", and seeing Sandy singing. There was a sequence about Les Cousins showing Judith Pieppe walking along greek street and going down the stairs into Cousins, and then Jackson Frank was shown singing - and then I nearly fell off my chair when a clip showed me behind the bar talking to Judith. Judith lived in a council flat in Shadwell, and I remember groups of us going back to her place after sessions to talk and argue about life, politics etc.   We were all very politically aware. The Jackson clip was very short - it didnt do him justice. He had such a beautiful voice, and as a songwriter he was superb, his lyrics were so full of poignancy and wisdom.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:19 AM

I watched it too, and enjoyed all of it. I think I have met almost everybody that was in the programme, including Judith.
Made me feel very happy, and very very old too :)

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,David Wheatley (of David and Barrie)
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:51 PM

I used to play (banjo) and sing regularly at Les Cousins with Barrie Webb (guitar). We moved into the London circuit from playing a season in Bournemouth.

We played with Noel Murphy and with Mox with his leather wallet full of harps in every key. Also played at Bunjies and at The Round House. I met and jammed with many of the other famous names mentioned above.

Also played at The Cock, St Albans with Donovan, Tin and Maddie and Micky Softly and 'Cuddles' before moving on to Edinburgh and Aberdeen folk circuits.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:44 AM

to Gipsy Annie....Thank God someone remembers Paris Nat at last...beginning to think he was a figment of my imagination.
Schaffer? Didn't know his surname but wonder what happened to him. No longer with us I imagine. Do you know any more about him? Schaffer's not a very French name but then I think he just liked the clothes and then, of course, the accordion.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:36 AM

Paris Nat was English from a Jewish background, as I remember. The 'Paris' bit came about because he busked in Paris in the early sixties or maybe even before. He used to knock around with a man called Ralph Levene who wrote a cult classic book called 'The Camel's Back.' He was a great guy with a sharp - if mordant - wit and brilliantly compered the Albert Hall Buskers Concert in 1969 (put on by Don Partridge). Some time afterwards he won a lot of money on the horses and bought a house in Colchester where he had been living with his wife, Jane, when he wasn't out busking in Paris and in London (where he used to play a lot with Meg Aikman). Sadly he died sometime in the early seventies - don't remember the exact date as I was out the country a lot during that period.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Dave.
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 04:42 AM

Roderick...thanks for all that. Fascinating stuff.I shall try to find that book too. I had never realised there was any kind of link between Paris Nat and Don Partridge. Before I met my wife, she and some friends stumbled across Don P. on holiday in Wales. He was post 'Rosie' then and a bit poorer again. They all ate pigs trotters over an open fire outside Don's horse drawn caravan. Such a small world!

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 07:17 AM

Nat was a big friend of Don's - and mine. He frequently used to stay with me and my late wife Barbara when he was up in London busking - as that's what I was doing as well. Nat was from an older generation than us, had fought in WW2. But he was more of an old bohemian than a lot of the older buskers round the West End. Don's friend and onetime busking partner Pat Keene met him in Paris circa 1960 when he started busking there - Nat was part of the scene with Derroll Adams and Alex Cambell and others. In London, Nat used to busk a lot with Meg - well known down the Cousins, of course. They had a weird relationship as they seemed to hate each other but made money together! All this is fresh in my mind because Don Partridge, Pat and myself were/are writing a book about the busking scene as it developed in the sixties and we have a section on Nat. Don's recent sad and unexpected death slowed things down a bit - but the book is almost finished...
Re Ralph Levene, he was Nat's lugubrious sidekick for some years. They were knocking around in Amsterdam at one point with some peripheral involvement with the Provos there (the Dutch anarchists not the Irish terrorists!) - white bicycles etc. I don't know what happened to Ralph - I met him in Amsterdam in the 80's when I was playing a gig and had a few meetings afterwards over drinks - he seemed on good form but I lost contact. 'The Camel's Back' is a good read - there are still copies around on Amazon.

A lot of the West End buskers used to go to Cousins on the weekends especially, when we had finished doing the late night queues.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 04:37 PM

Roderick...sorry to hear about Don. Please do the book though. That's two you've sold me!... be fascinated to read about all that.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Steve Bromfield
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 02:03 PM

Do I remember Cousins!! The memories below are as they come

I started playing at Cousins in 65 and I think then the youngest muso there (17) I played instrumental guitar and was introduced to Mox who was looking for a regular guitarist to play with we played at cousins most nights virtually lived there also taking out the rubbish for Andy's dad for a free meal upstairs in the kitchen. We had our own night on Tuesdays (like an open night) Jackson C Frank was a wonderful guy 'Blues Run the Game' and many more. He arrived all-of-a-sudden at the club in his Aston Martin DB5 which he'd just bought silver I think. I was amazed. So folk singers really make money (little did I know). Jackson and Sandy Denny hit it off at the time. I remember the first night Sandy came down to the club and was practicing in the passage and was very nervous.

Bert and John were my biggest influence at the time, John would invite me over for Sunday lunch to go over tunes that I was playing. They lived in a communal house with Les Bridger who had a Martin which Bert used on all his gigs and on his first album (and which Les used to busk on!). They had a reel-to-reel which they used to record all their instrumentals prior to going to the studio. Les Bridger and Noel Murphy used to alternate in running the all nighters at Cousins. At one time I played with a girl named Terry Redwing a blues singer we did a few all nighters at Ken Colliers and during the night we'd pop across to Cousins where Bert & John were playing and do a set whilst Bert & John would help us out at KC the all nighters were very long and we needed guest artists to make it to 7 in the morning at both clubs. We would then have breakfast in a cafe at Covent Gardens fruit & veg market, hitting daylight out of the club was the worst part!

I'll sign off for now if there are any old friends out there please get in touch
they were the times of my life

Steve Bromfield
Rochester UK
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 18 Jan 11 - 07:42 PM

Hi Steve - you wouldn't remember me, possibly but I saw you with Mox many times down the Cousins and you were very good! We had a mutual friend - Frank Brown - who was also a busker. I knew Les Bridger as well - used to crash at his place just off Marble Arch in 1966 with my girlfriend Babs, a Soho character, indeed - whom I married later on.
Don Partridge told me (before he died) that Les was still about in Scandinavia...

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Steve Bromfield
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 04:57 PM

Hi Roderick and friends from Cousins ,

I think I do remember you and possibly Babs, did she work in Soho? do a fire eating act? no maybe not. Frank Brown and I were very good friends we shared a bedsit around Mornington Cres. He used to busk with a Gibson 12 string with six strings on which I liked (giving a wide neck) I used to borrow it to play at the Abbey Rd. Studios.

I use to 'crash' at Les Bridger's place as well, he was a very hospitable chap. Are you still in touch with Frank? I would love to get in touch with him again also with Les.

I have much more to write about Cousins, Al Stewart, Judeth Piepe, Alexis Korner, John Baldry and many more.

I'll write again soon.

Steve Bromfield
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 21 Jan 11 - 07:32 PM

Yes, Babs did the fire-eating. I haven't heard anything about Frank in years - there was a rumour that he had gone back up north to Manchester but I don't know. Les is living in Scandinavia somewhere - will try and find out for you. Don Partridge told me some months ago that Les had not been well but was still knocking about. Do you still play? I remember some mighty fine guitar picking. Babs and I actually got together via Judith Piepe - we stayed at her place in the East End for a while before we got our own place. We moved out to Shepherds Bush later and Frank Brown crashed there a lot but I left London in the seventies for France and Ireland so lost contact. He never showed up on the European circuits. Don Partridge (up to his recent sad death), his old mate Pat Keane and myself have been writing a book about the busking years and Frank is mentioned a bit in it, especially at the Buskers Concert at the Albert Hall where he and I spent most of the first half sitting high up and smoking his favourite substance. A crazy night...

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,Haddenham John
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 10:44 AM

I was at college in Walsall of all places 67 - 70. Used to spend most weekends hitching down the A5 and M1, getting to Cousins in time for the all-nighter and hitching back at 7 the following morning.

As well as the usual suspects: Bert & John etc, I particularly remember John Lamont, immaculate and subtle guitarist, wish I knew if he was still going, Davy Graham being very condescending but brilliant at the same time and Duffy Power, one of the most absorbing and intense singers you will ever see! And of couse Mox, who I remember was pretty good on the flute as well as the harps.

After Laura Marling and Mumfords it looks like folk is finally cool again, but why does it all have to be so corporate nowadays? We will never see such freewheeling times as the old Cousins days, or so many uniquely talented people all breaking through at the same time.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: Max Johnson
Date: 16 Feb 11 - 01:27 PM

Used to see the Yardbirds/The Downliners Sect/Georgie Fame,Zoot Money & the Big Roll Band,all that stuff going on in town.

I was roadie for the Downliners Sect for a while! When they were playing with Elmer Gantry.
Their Album 'The Rock Sect's In' should win a prize for the decade's wittiest title.
Sorry everyone - back to the thread...

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: Bredda
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 06:39 AM

Was it John Baldry who did the Naz? I think it was. A post above mentions Duffy Power - beautiful voice and such a lovely bloke. There was so much creative energy in Cousins, and so much talent was there. Magical evenings of warmth and hope. Somehow we all had faith in the future, that things were getting better, and that we had a part to play in it.

After writing the above I am sitting here feeling very sad for the world we are in now.

The music business has been dominated by money and groups for so long - real creativity hasn't been needed or wanted. Make money is the mantra for the industry. My brother Paul was in a band - Orang-Utan. Never paid a penny - got ripped off. Do kids these days still start there own bands, or are they all stuck in front of a computer living a fantasy life, instead of getting out and creating a life for themselves. I am so sorry for kids today. I was so lucky.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: GUEST,roderick warner
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 08:28 AM

I think it was the American singer/actor Weston Gavin who used to do the Nazz and a very good Lord Buckley impersonator he was. He also used to sing 'They call the wind Maria!' But it worked... He used to get down Cousins a fair bit.

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousin's, in London's Soho?
From: Bredda
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 09:39 AM

Roderick - you may be right! I remember Weston and "they called the wind Maria". apologies to all for my grumpiness in earlier posting. I have osteoporosis and a very painful frozen shoulder and can get a bit mawkish. But seriously, further back in the thread someone said we should be going out and supporting the music and not sitting in typing and they were right. But with pubs closing all over the place, which were the usual starting point for live bands /acts it is going to get harder for new acts to get started. Next folk gig I see I will go to.

Its lovely reading this thread now with so many people posting now who remember great nights and great artists.

Subject: Les Cousins of Soho (London)
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 20 May 11 - 04:54 AM

I wonder if there are any Mudcatters from the 1960s that remember Les Cousins, nay even performed there?

For those in London - sorry about that - the latest free 'Soho Clarion' (issue 144) has a two page spread article with photos of Les Cousins and well known folk singers. This was one of the most important and influential venues of the folk music boom of the 1960s.

Beatle along to Soho and you'll probably find a copy in one of the shops say in Compton Street. Look for a magazine with the Les Cousins' cartwheel on the front. See pps 8/9.

Non-Londoners could see Wiki instead:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Cousins_(music_club)

Subject: RE: Les Cousins of Soho (London)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 May 11 - 05:00 AM

Ah! The evil apostrophe!

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Les Cousins of Soho (London)
From: GUEST,John MacKenzie
Date: 20 May 11 - 05:21 AM

Previous thread

Subject: RE: Remember Les Cousins, in London's Soho?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 May 11 - 05:50 AM

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