UK Folk Revival 2018

Subject: RE: UK Folk Revival 2018
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Sep 18 - 11:04 PM

He's the one you used to get on with! In the real world we get along very well - he says what he means, no bullshit. I like that.

Subject: RE: UK Folk Revival 2018
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 13 Sep 18 - 11:34 PM

And I think he moved the Rainsong along. The guitars I see him playing nowadays are all made of tree-wood! ;-)

Subject: RE: UK Folk Revival 2018
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 04:19 AM

Well I get welcomed in most folk clubs that know the standards that I work to. Out of respect for their club policy, because I've been round about a million years, I can generally play something that won't cause too much outrage.

However I didn't come out of the box like that. There was a time when I worked hard at a day job, and my week revolved about the ten minutes they'd put up with my 10 minute floorspot at The Beggars Bush, Sutton Coldfield, under the benign stewardship of Bob Lines.

For me it was an exciting experiment every week. The audience was always kind and forgiving, Bless them for that. but my God sometimes it must have been rank.

I'm sorry if you don't get that function of a folk club, because you're an unelected curator of your vision of folk music. But please take my word for it - its an important function.

Subject: RE: UK Folk Revival 2018
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 04:41 AM

I couldn't agree more, Al. It was the openness and inclusiveness of the club's i first attended that encouraged me. They had a good mix of styles, they were non-judgmental of my dithery efforts, and they made anyone and everyone feel welcome to 'have a go'.

And I read all my lyrics from a loose leaf binder for many years, until I suddenly realised I was actually not reading most of the time - I just had it in front of me as a 'comfort-blanket'. So I started singing and playing (mostly) without it - still have my iPad as a prop when I do a new song the first couple of times, and I feel no shame.

Subject: RE: UK Folk Revival 2018
From: Will Fly
Date: 14 Sep 18 - 07:06 AM

Familiar to me too - my first performance in front of a tolerant folk club audience... fingers shaking... sweating with nerves... and the elation at my first experience of applause. This was the 1960s and the clubs, at that time, were (mainly) where you went when you wanted to be a solo, acoustic performer.

All too soon I joined up with others, got an amp, and spent much of the next 50 years in pubs and clubs - Trades & Labour, British Legions, Con Clubs, Working Men's CLubs, works staff clubs. I still did the folk clubs occasionally, but I have to say that the club and pub circuit hardened me up no end as a performer - because they were certainly not as forgiving as the folk clubs.

When I started doing the odd spots at folk clubs again, and then eventually guesting, the hard sweat of the commercial club and pub circuit paid off in terms of presentation, getting to grips with audiences, etc.