Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester

Subject: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 05:53 PM

Harry Boardman

Oldham Tinkers
Mike harding
Bernard Wriggley

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 06:22 PM

How great is this greater Manchester?

I though Wrigley was from Bolton.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 06:39 PM

Ewan MacColl

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 06:43 PM

Harry H.Corbett

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 04:19 AM

How great is this greater Manchester?

Good point Drummer

Oldham, Bolton, Ashton under Lyne,

Coalpit up at Burnley? Probably a bit far.

Rochdale, Bury, Salford, Thameside, Stockport

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:17 AM

...My old mate Maartin Allcock

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Grimmy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:41 AM

I thought Ewan MacColl was Scottish ;-)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Grimmy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:50 AM

Ay up Les, you rascal, if any of these people were born pre-1974 - and I suspect some of them were ;-) - then they're Lankies not Mankies!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Sugwash
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:54 AM

The Matthews Brothers

Mike McGoldrick

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Larkin
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 05:58 AM

Stan Elisson ( Black Stan ) was one of best guitarists i ever met.
Gypsys Kiss were bloody good but then I'm biased!

Martin

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:46 AM

Manchester is a terrific music city. No getting away from that. Its just that you seemed to have annexed a great deal of the north of England.

You last territorial claim being.....

At any rate, stop at Poland.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Mr Happy
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:49 AM

Les Ackroyd?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: GUEST,Dartford Warbler
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 07:15 AM

Clive Gregson

Keith Hancock

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 08:03 AM

All the best folkies have come out of Greater Manchester at one time. The hard bit is getting them in there in the first place:-)

Dave

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: VIN
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 08:34 AM

Mary Asquith
Tony Downes
Mike Canavan
Martin lynott (great fiddle player of Beggermen fame) now performing as part of the legplaiters with M.C + each Monday night at the Oddfellows Arms in Middleton   

(Harry H Corbett? - always thought he was from the sarf but yes i did once have an ep of sea shanties with him singing on it!)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: nutty
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:25 PM

Ted Edwards

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 12:40 PM

Tony Dean of No Fixed Abode is from Manchester originally.

Kirsty McGee lives there now.

weren't that comedy duo - The Hooters from Manchester (one for the teenagers there!)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 01:42 PM

Grimmy, Lancy and Manc is a good point. I think all Mancs, myself included are just migrant workers from some other place

Cheers

Gorton Tank!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 07:13 AM

Nothing any good ever came out of Manchester except the East Lancs road to Liverpool where the real folk revival began and continues

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: VIN
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 08:42 AM

Ouch!! Not nice Mr banjoman. I think London may have had a hand in it somewhere, with places like the Troubadour (near Earls Court i think) and Les Cousins etc.

And her's this from John the Fish in Truro......

Halcyon days. Where to begin? In London the 1960s began in the 50s. The Skiffle Cellar in Greek Street, with Russell Quay and the City Ramblers, Rambling Jack Elliott and Deryl Adams, Red Sullivan, and Steve Benbow. I saw Margaret Barry and Paddy Gorman there. The Ballad and Blues Club in Wardour Street with Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies, Long John Baldry, Rory and Alex McEwen and Nadia Catouse.

But errrr back to Manc......

Tom Yates
Marie Little?
Jack Lee

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 10:13 AM

Dave and June Brooks, Harry Boardman............. MIKE HARDING, are you insane ?

eric

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Betsy
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 10:16 AM

Yes Vin - Marie Little , now living in Durham .
Sugwash - I thought Matthew brothers Larry and Terry were Wakefield -in spite of the heavy Irish accent acquired from their Mam.That's where I last visited them but that was yonks ago
I thought also there was a guy from Bolton, - Bob Williamson a good mate of Wriggers.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 04:03 AM

Eric, this seems like just the place to discuss Mike. I will try to be polite. Sang some excellent songs, played a range of instruments very well, was always very, very funny and wrote some excellent songs. Lots of people hate his programme and his role in Smooth Opps - but that doesn't alter what he did for years.


Banjoman:
"Nothing any good ever came out of Manchester except the East Lancs road to Liverpool where the real folk revival began and continues"

I like this bit: "Liverpool where the real folk revival began

"Not sure about this: and continues"

I spent many happy hours in clubs in Liverpool:
Pete McGovern's club in a basement on London Road
Tony ????? in a pub near the tunnel entrance with cinema seets
Willy Russell in the Green Moose Coffee Bar
Never went to the Spinners Club but saw them a few times at the Phil
Jaqui and Bridie
Stah Huggill
Bernie Davies, Frank McColl, Tom Brown, John Howson

In the 60's Merseyside seem to have massive potential I am not sure that was ever really fulfilled?

Tell me otherwise Banjoman

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 04:31 AM

Les, I was only joking about Mike Harding, he was doing the folk clubs when I was getting into it, and as a performer ie. singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and comedian he was [ maybe still is ] excellent, but as a radio presenter he is total shite.

eric

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Grimmy
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 05:17 AM

He's certainly a naff presenter (like some ex-footballers I could mention). However, there's a copy of 'Folk Songs of Lancashire' on my bookshelf, for which I am very grateful.

BTW Les, you Mankies do a fine job guarding us Lankies' southern flank (does that make you Flankies?). Mother Nature kindly supplied our other defences ;-)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 05:52 AM

Fair enough Eric, he was also graet fun as President of the Ramblers Association, a writer of good hiking books, if more than a little purple in the prose, and much fun on a bike.

Maybe it's only us greyists who know the Mike of Old.

Stands back for a torrent ofprogramme haters?

It's a good book Grimmy I have one myself.

As for the South flank "Cheshire - The Runway County" I understand their is a plan to bulldoze Mobberley to biuld a whole new runway and terminal. I guess the station will be left if nothing else!

Before someone else points this out I have to confess that Cheshire / Stockport of a much bigger folk scene than Manchester itself then things pick moving north and east.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 06:21 AM

Only joking really - I knew Harry Boardman quite well and Marie Little before she moved north east. I even saw Johnny Cash live in Mcr once (if that counts) There has always been rivalry between both cities ever since Liverpool Football Club became the most successful in English Football history - but thats probably for another time & place.
Cheers to all my friends in Greater Mcr.
Pete

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 06:32 AM

I think you have an important point Pete, I think Liverpool was really exciting in the 60's with tons of tallent and great clubs but after the Spinners and J & B nothing of the significance of Harry Boardman and all the Deep Lancs people or the folk rock bands or the dance bands really appeared out of Liverpool. Or did I just miss it?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 07:03 AM

Very interesting - did you guys ever come across the Liverpool poets. I used to love that album, with Andy Something playing slide guitar. Henri, McGough - all that lot.

You're absolutely right - there was a real buzz about Liverpool in those days- the whole country felt it.

All those fabulous ATV plays - Alun Owen - and I suppose the Z Cars was quite a phenomena.

Perhaps it read better than it lived, but as a country hick, it was a city I dreamed of when i was a kid.

there are some people who will tell you, none of this has to do with folk - but I think they're wrong!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 07:12 AM

I remember the Liverpool Poets Adrain Henri, Brian Pattern, Roger McGough, Mike McGear (McCartney) and lots more. Andy Roberts(?) The Liverpool Scene?

It's true Drummer that the Scouse invasion of all things was a real phenomena of which the folk scene was a part. The Spinners were refered to as the other "fab four" at least by the Liverpool Echo.

Perhaps the scouse folkies don't get to the Mudacat but if they do perhaps they can tell us of great folk on a par with Harry et el and Fairport etc never came out of Liverpool.

Perhaps it lies in Liverpool really being the Capital of Ireland?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Grimmy
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 07:35 AM

I remember John Cooper-Clarke reciting "You'll Never See a Nipple in the Daily Express" at Mancr Uni in the mid 70's (before he became 'famous'). Great stuff.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 07:49 AM

One abiding memory I had of those years was The Undertakers pop group playing The Plaza in St Helens and they turned up in a hearse and parked it, outside the gig.

It was so SURREALIST. you just felt ordinary life was tapping into the mainstream of a different culture. Something different from all the nonsense pouring past you on a day to day basis.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 08:10 AM

Drummer, what can I say,

The Undertakers!

One of my favourites. Saw them at the Cavern after the release of bugger what was that song that Brian Poole did a dreadful version of? saw them one New Years eve ar Ellesmree Port Civic Hall Jackie Lomax too drunk to stand or move, the others going out to get snowballs to pelt the audience!

Derry Wlikie and the Pressmen, 2 saxes and a black singer, how exciting could music get?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 08:18 AM

Exactement!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Phillip
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 08:19 AM

I think the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester pre-dates Liverpool becoming the most successful club in English football which happened only in 1983, before then it had been Aston Villa since 1897. I remember getting the sharp end of a Scouse tongue in Liverpool well before that! (United are four major domestic honours behind Liverpool, by the way.)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 08:54 AM

Yeah Les, I've got several of Mike Hardings books including Folk Songs Of Lancashire, Walking The Peak And Pennines, You Can See The Angels Bum Miss Worswick and The Armchair Anarchists Almanac, every one a gem.

eric

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 09:23 AM

The Boy dun gud or what. Although it might be time for a change of presenter on that programme?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 09:46 AM

Lots of other good bands around the time of The Undertakers and Derry hey Drummer, sorry the cells are going.

I got into the Spinners and the the Clancy's because they were high profile, or at least a bit, and they had tunes and stories but when I heard the Dubliners and the Watersons they had something that the Undertakers and Derry had.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies to come out of Greater Manc
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 10:12 AM

I'll tell you what I think it was.

They had charisma. They brought a kind of landscape with them to the gig.

With the Watersons it was a fantastic act of imagination. the idea that there was this wild family living in an out of the way Northern encampment on the edge of modern civilisation and holding the key to this ancient knowledge and lore. the Frost and fire Album was just so clever. According to a thread on this page - maybe they took the pace egging song from Peter Paul and Mary!

With the Dubliners - it Behan, OCasey, Joyce, the rebels, the religion, the subculture of Irish pubs, and Irish men working away from home and living the kind of lives that made 'Irish pubs' a synoym in England for places where you had to be able to take care of yourself.

They suggested a rich(probably imagined) background, I think in actuality both groups were probably nice middle class kids. The backgrounds were perhaps as much a s fabrication as david Bowie's Ziggy Stardust.

In the same way - the mersey groups knew all these r and b songs which weren't common knowledge in the early '60's. they certainly seemed to KNOW more than ius provincial kids. It gave them an aura.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 11:22 AM

True enough. I think you have a dissertaion before you!

I bought a CD by The Coasters - lots of songs sung by the Mersey Boys a bit different to The Coasters but good in their own way - a bit like "You've really got a hold on me " on the Beatles first album not the original but still pretty good.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 12:29 PM

The undertaker's biggie was that one that started - 'I don't want it all, I just want a little bit....

was that a bo diddley song?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 12:42 PM

I am surprised no-one has yet mentioned the internationally known Brian Peters who lives quite close to Manchester. He spent many years singing in the local clubs, particularly Harry Boardman's club at the Unicorn.
Mark Dowding has recorded many of Harry's songs and is known nationally.
The late lamented Terry Whelan was a Mancunian born and bred. Dave Bishop although originating from East Anglia still sings in the area. Sue vG and Nine pints are also Manchester singers.
Come on, there are lots more out there!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 01:29 PM

That Mary Humphreys isn't bad either!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: JohnB
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 02:10 PM

Beaten again, having just read the thread I was about to add:
Marie Little, Brian Peters and Mary Humphreys and Jack Lee.
I will add Mavis, who Vin is now in deep trouble with for not mentioning before.
Also the Edison Bell Jug Band if anyone remembers them, or their frontman.
Rosemary Hardman too and many others who I will kick myself for not mentioning, or may kick me for forgetting them.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 05:57 PM

Technically I'm a Lancastrian born and bred and live about 4 miles from the Greater Manchester border if it still exists. Does living in Salford for a couple of years count?

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:33 AM

We welcome all migrants workers Mark. How could we do otherwise with our history? Now I think of it Greater Manchester sounds a bit Imperalistic. It's hard to get a simpler name.

The value of flexible borders is that we can include and exclude as we choose.

How about:

Werneth Low and Tom Shepley's Band?

Canny Fettle saw them at Harry's Club a few times.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 06:14 AM

goodness me-enough to fit into a super casino!!!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Y_Not
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 12:08 PM

Over the years we have had some great talent come out of Manchester & the North West.
Gentlemen Soldier
Mary Asquith
Tom Shepley's Band (I had to say that)
Gorton Tank
Tom Yates

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Alio
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 12:57 PM

I agree with Mary - there are some excellent ones around the area now, many of whom you would never know about if you didn't pop in to the club where they usually appear. I'm trying to get some CD's from all of them for Oldham Community Radio, so if anyone can help, that'd be great!
Has anyone mentioned Stanley Accrington, Dave Molloy, or Tony Downes (ex Beggarmen)?
Ali

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Dave Bishop
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 07:42 AM

Thanks, Mary!

The cheques in the post!

Looking forward to listening to 'Fenlandia'. Noticed that Pete Coe had one in his CD box at the 'Spring Sing' the other weekend - but someone snaffled it before I could (think it was that '8 pints' person). Still, I'm sure he'll get another one.

Aaaaah, I can feel myself getting nostalgic for that freezing wind off the North Sea (well, perhaps not ...).

Regards to Anahata,

Love,
DB

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Llanfair
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 06:57 PM

I'm amazed that no-one's mentioned the MSG, where everyone washed up sooner or later.

I remember Tony and Arthur, Rosie Hardman, Marie Little, Mike Harding, the Oldham Tinkers, and Harry Boardman, whose club I went to all the time. Whatever happened to Bryn Pugh? He was a distant cousin, I sang under the name of Bronwen Pugh.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: VIN
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 09:07 AM

Errrrr humbly sorry Mavis. Some of those mentioned above e.g John Howarth of the Tinkers, Mike Canavan, Martin Lynott (of Beggermen fame) and Tony Downes (occasionally), Jack & Mavis Lee + Des Friel can be seen (and heard)down at the Oddfellows in Middleton on Monday nights.

As we're being Mancy nostalgic, who remembers the great nights at the Black Lion run by Pete Farrow and where John Cooper Clarke often 'starred' afore 'makin it big'? and a favourite local poet who sadly passed away a year or two ago - Paul Connor.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:22 AM

phillip
>>I think the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester pre-dates Liverpool becoming the most successful club in English football which happened only in 1983, before then it had been Aston Villa since 1897.<<


If onoly the Villa were great again :-)

How about the Beatles :-)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 11:13 AM

Staff Folk (although strictly speaking one half of the Swinton Folk Club duo is a sandpiper!). Pete Ryder (Salford lad, now living in exile in Bolton). Geoff Higginbottom - Stockport. Fiona Simpson - Stockport. Ok, they will say Cheshire but it WAS in Greater Manchester for a while:-) Has anyone mentioned the late lamented Tony Hill? Talking of late and lamented - our very own recently deceased Pied Piper, John Snelson.

And what about the Smiths? OK - Morrisey isn't what you would really call folk but some of the ballads are destined to be sung at folk clubs. They are as depressing as anything by Cohen anyway;-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Phillip
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 12:25 PM

Villa are fourth, with 19 major domestic honours, five more than Everton in fifth, and safely ahead of Russian's trying to buy glory till at least May 2010.

Villa never stopped being great, anyway. As Liverpool fans like to say, class is permanent and form is temporary. (They speciously use it in a different context, of course, but it is definitely applicable in the case of Villa.)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: the fence
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 12:40 PM

Saw Pete Ryder on Friday nite at Swinton, thoroughly enjoyable performance!!!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: VIN
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 01:20 PM

Yeah Llanfair, MSG - Manchester Sports Guild, brill; Don't think it's ever been bettered really - Jenks in charge (and i mean in charge! or Mr jinks as the late and great Alex Campbell called him and got away with it - whatever happened to Jenks i wonder, after it shut down).

Monday nights with Drony? - who was Drony? I can't remember. Saw Magna Carter when they made their first lp there when it was upstairs.

Barkis - was he from Manchestu? Played quite a few times at the Sunday Ring-o-Bells nights with Pint & Half (Martin Gittins and Rick the clog maker) and poet John Ashurst.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: VIN
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 01:27 PM

Errr, didn't mean Magna Carta made there lp at MSG and the lp wasn't upstairs, the room was until it moved downstairs - not the room, the folk club, cos jazz used to be downstairs --- help!!!!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Stu
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 09:01 AM

"Villa never stopped being great, anyway."

Amen to that - and good times will come again if we can hang on to O'Neill . . .

As an expat Brummie living just south of Manchester there seem to be heaps of folkies in the area, and with the city's thriving Irish scene this spills over into the surrounding area giving a very healthy provincial session scene.

Mike McGoldrick, John Joe Kelly, Desi Donnelly, Tony 'Sully' Sullivan, Emma Sweeney plus a whole host of others who contribute to a very lively folk community indeed.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,sinky
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 09:35 AM

hey nonny nooasis

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Llanfair
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 10:54 AM

Was that the "seasons" LP Magna carta made then, because I was at that gig, too, and I'll never forget seeing Carthy and Swarbrick for the first time there, too.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 07:00 AM

Yea its me again - just to agree about Brian Peters - a great guy and a great performer - knew him in the early days when he guested at Whitchurch and later with Sarah Grey & Lost Nation Band.
As to the rivalry between Mcr & Liverpool - it really started with the building of the Ship Canal (Brian has a great song about it) which meant that the cotton barons could sail right past Liverpool & so deprive that city of one of its main sources of income - import duties- and things have never been the same since.
Old resentments die hard

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 08:09 AM

The Manchester Ship canal song that Brian sings is one of the "Manchester Ballads" that Harry Boardman compiled along with Roy Palmer. Apparently it was cheaper to send goods from Manchester by road to Hull and ship them from there than it was to go through Liverpool.

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: VIN
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 08:40 AM

Hi Llanfair, when i saw Magna Carter at MSG they had just made or were making their first album which pre-ceded 'Seasons'. Still have Seasons but no longer the first. The first album featured Chris Simpson on Guitar and Vocals, Lyell Tranter on Guitar and Vocals, Glen Stuart on Vocals; Danny Thompson on Bass; Harold McNair on Flute; and Johnny van Derek on Fiddle (1969). Great album.

I remember seeing Carthy & Swarb upstairs at MSG so we must have been at the same gig mate. Smal world. Do you rember seeing the Pennine Folk and Blackpool Taverners? Legend has it that Paul Simon played there once.

Speaking agin of Mancy folkies - Roy Harper was born in Manchester tho maybe not strictly a folkie he's part of the revival and played at the beginning with Jansch, Al Stewart, Renbourne etc.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: JohnB
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 01:15 PM

Thanks VIN, I was trying to remember Roy Harper, it just wouldn't come out of the dark bit at the back, hidden in cobwebs.
Damned good guitarist anyhow.
JohnB

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 06:30 PM

I remember the Pennine Folk - wasn't Steve Heap part of that group?
And yes, I also remember Bryn Pugh - he was the first person I ever heard singing Matt Hyland. He had a beautiful voice and I often wonder what happened to him. Is he still singing? He was the only other Welsh person I ever met in Manchester.

I used to go to MSG on a Monday for the singers night - it used to be Frank Duffy as the MC, then Drony, if I remember. I think Drony was Dronfield, though his first name escapes me. The Saturdays were fantastic - MacColl, Seeger, Bert Lloyd, Martin Carthy, Swarbrick, Christy Moore.
Happy days! But I really should have done a bit more work and got a better degree.....

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: VIN
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 06:02 AM

Hi Mary, yeah i think Sat nights were my fave night tooo. Noel Murphy was a fairly regular guest and Alex Campbell.

I currently work a M/c Uni in Stopford opposite the Students Union. Didn't you have something to do with a folk club at the Uni some years back? Must of bin nice days. Remember the Unicorn with Harry and a group called Gorton Tank mentioned earlier.

Anyone remember the line-up of G/Tank anyone?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 10:21 AM

Chris Cole,Leader, singer, melodeon
Ash Lathom Washboards
Paddy MGinley various drums
Keith Hancock melodeon
Janette, later Hancock, melodeon
Tony ? trombone
Barry thing's sister Bb horn

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Y_Not
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 10:28 AM

Vin you have just saved me some sleepless nights, I have been trying to remember the name Noel Murphy for a week Thanks!

Gorton Tank had many members over the years and the band would vary in size depending who turned up, it was crazy but brill at the same time.
If I forget anybody please forgive me!

CHRIS COLE (MELODEON)
ASH LATHAM (WASHBOARD)
ALAN ????? (BANJO)
TONY NYLAND (GUITAR)
KEITH HANCOCK (MELODEON)
JAN HANCOCK (MELODEON)
TONY MANION (MELODEON)
DAVE TUCKER (FIDDLE)
TONY REAGAN (TROMBONE)
ALISON ???   (TUBA)

There were other members in the brass section but their names escape me.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Y_Not
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 11:54 AM

Barry danced for Gorton Morris and I think Alison was his sister, and it was a horn, there was a young lad with red hair who also played in the brass section I only remember his name was Steve.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 12:10 PM

I wonder if any of you lot ever knew my cousin. He was Barry Halpin of St Helens. I only net him once when I was four, but he was a page boy at my Mum's wedding.

Many years later someone wrote a book confusing him with Lord Lucan.

As far as I know this is only link my family can claim with the aristocracy.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 05:57 AM

(This is Flick Lawes using Geoff's sign in) I don't make any judgements about 'best folkies', but these are some of the ones I remember. During the mid-sixties I and my singing partner used to go every Monday to the singers night at MSG (Manchester Sports Guild), compered by Frank Duffy, who played banjo and sang traditional songs. I think Frank was also connected with Sunday nights at MSG, but am not sure. MSG was a focus for singers in the area, and Frank did a lot to encourage singers. I have forgtotten a lot of the names of the people singing then, but there was Rose Hardman, singer/songwriter who had a lovely song about Ontario, the Pennine Folk, John(?) Dronsfield ('Drony') who sang a song about being weighed down by change in halfpennies and pennies on a corporation bus, amongst others. One year there was a visiting Dutchman called Joost Pak, who taught me a song I have never tried to sing about a knife grinder in Dutch.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 06:36 AM

Surprised tharrit took so long for Geoff Higginbottom to get a mention - Well Done Dave Polshaw!

Geoff wrote a 'mini folk-opera' aboot the Man Utd air crash using his own songs and others written about the tragedy. Crackin album.

Aah've worked wi' Geoff for best part of 15 years noo and he's purrup with a lot of grief from me but he IS a true talent and a fablious lad. Crack on Stockport's Foghorn.

Aah nevver knaah'd Fiona Simpson wez from Stockport - She speaks so well - A voice like an angel!

And aah love Marie Little te bits - We're hopin' te et a small tour arranged in October doon here in Hampshire/Dorset so if anyone can help, give us a PM and aah'll pass the details on to Sam & Sandy who are organisin'

Love yez aall
G-P (Married 25 years t'day)
(Some of the train robbers didn't get that lang)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 06:50 AM

Who's that demon fiddle who plays with Geoff?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: BanjoRay
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 07:50 AM

Anybody remember Brian(Tiger)Moss who was originally from Salford? I was at University with him in Aberystwyth in the early sixties, and we started the first Aber folk club in the Angel Inn. Brian had been heavily McColl'ed in his early years and was just getting into blues guitar and sea shanties. He had a great voice and knew a lot of people in the Manchester (and the rest of England) folk scene, so we had some great guests like Pete Boardman, Terry Whelan, Cyril Tawney, Ewan and Peggy, Stan Hugill (a regular from up the coast at Aberdovey). We formed the first Old Time band in Wales called the Virginia Bootleggers (would you believe) with a couple of Londoners (Paul Darby and Barry Keywood), and performed on BBC Wales TV.
In later years I'd run into Brian at a few festivals, and apart from having wife and kids he never changed. He died around 1990 in York, and I went to his funeral where a lot of of his old mates turned out.
Ray

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: BanjoRay
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 07:52 AM

That should of course have been Harry Boardman, not Pete Boardman who died on the North West Ridge of Everest. The tricks your brain plays when you're getting on ...
Ray

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 09:18 AM

How important was the Millstone pub in all this then?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Dave Bishop
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 12:57 PM

Hi Les,

I was a resident at the Millstone (and the Bay Horse before it). The other residents were Terry Whelan, Pam and Alan Bishop (no relation), Steve Mayne and Rowdy Yates. In addition there were loads of great floor singers (who I daren't try to list in case I forget someone!).

The club had a mainly traditional policy and we had some great guests including: Paddy Tunney, Lizzie Higgins, Willy Scott, Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, Mike Seeger, Bert Lloyd, Kali Das Gupta, Kevin Mitchell, Alison McMorland, Donal McGuire and Heather Heywood.

We also had theme evenings which gave a chance for the non-singing members of the club to participate through reading linking passages of prose or poetry.
In addition we had a thriving singers' workshop to which such luminaries as Charles Parker occasionally turned up.

On a personal note, I moved to Manchester in the early 70s and this club was to form the basis of my new social life. Many of the friendships that I made then are still important to me now. Terry Whelan, who sadly died last October, was one of the best and most loyal friends I ever had. Underneath his rather argumentative and contentious exterior he was a fine person - and, of course, a great singer! He was always proud of the part he played in the development of the early Manchester folk scene.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 02:56 AM

We moved to Manchester in '78. I think the Millstone had ceased to be a folk venue by then but I visited Manchester once in around '73 and had an amazing night their. The guest list above is some else.

It is a shame that Central Manchester has so little trad music outside of the Irish sessions. With the current upsurge of younger bands and singers and lots of excellent recordings perhaps it is time for something to happen?

I think we met at the Volunteer Rifleman a couple of years ago. It was good to be at a club where the songs we traeted so well. I suspect we have crossed paths before. We used to go to the Unicorn between '78 and '84. I remember Terry and Steve Mayne, is Steve still singing?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Y_Not
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 12:25 PM

Les asked who the fiddle player is who plays with Geoff.
It's Ken Thompson who also runs Hobgoblin Music at Johnny Roadhouse Music on Oxford Rd, Manchester.
Ken was a member of The Cheshire Folk many moons ago.
Rob Carroll from Gentlemen Soldier is also seen with Geoff at many a club, Rob plays Mandoline, Banjo & Guitar

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 03:20 PM

Didn't Tony and Marge Hill run a club at the Millstone in the early 80's on a Friday night? I'm sure I went along a few times and I think Tony gave me a booking there but I'm afraid I can't remember - it was 25 years ago!

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Peter Hood
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 03:28 PM

I used to go round all the clubs in '74/75. With my two buddies Pete and Brad. We were about 10 years younger than everyone else. Something I do remember is that there were some dirty holes with about three people and a dog in them even then.
Cor, the Rising Sun In Manchester. Who ran that club then? It was a real dump.
It was a bit of a shock after Poynton and Heaton Moor Rugby Club which were buzzing. Who played banjo nearly every week at Heaton Moor? I remember him but not his name.
Peter

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Anglo
Date: 07 Apr 07 - 10:00 PM

Nice to see Frank Duffy mentioned above, I remember him well from my time there. He was part of a Salford group named Folksong Northwest, as I recall (My Brother Sylvest was one of the numbers I remember them doing). But he split and "went solo" and the group reformed as the Northwest Folk Four. I always wondered what happpened to him.

Meic Stevens was around at that time before he went back to Wales and became famous as a TV personality. I learned a song or two from him. And Mike Richards and his brother Howard were on the scene. Mike and I used to go up on the bus as regulars at the Bury Folk Club when it first opened.

I also remember Mick Taylor who played in a duo with (I think) his wife - can't remember her name - I learned Rawtenstall Annual Fair from them.

And talking of Rawtenstall, someone mentioned Steve Heap. He of course was one of the Valley Folk, with John Dickinson and the Carruthers sisters (were they twins?)

Well, not many of these went on to "folk success" but they were all good, and I remember them fondly as a big part of my own development.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 01:23 PM

Frank Duffy died quite a few years ago - some time in the 1990s I think.
I remember Meic Stevens too, now my memory has been jogged. He used to sing Cosher Bailey and could sing the Welsh verses ( Y Mochyn Du) too!
Of course Steve Heap was a member of the Valley Folk, not the Pennine Folk as I said earlier.
Jean Carruthers used to run the Bury Folk Club with her husband in the 1980s & 90s. I remember that was where I saw the Threlfall sisters do one of their first gigs together. Jean was the caller for the ceilidh held to celebrate Harry Boardman's life. Gorton Tank was the band, if I remember rightly. Jean's sister and her husband used to occasionally come to the singaround that Dave Bishop, Terry Whelan and I used to hold at the Ducie Arms. I haven't seen them for several years now, but used to bump into them at the Bacup Nutters or the Midgely Pace-Egg play.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Anglo
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 01:37 PM

Mary, I think I must have just missed you at Manchester U. I was there from 63-66, then went on VSO, and I was back in Manchester for a few months in 68 before I moved to the States. As I recall the Bury club started in 65 or 66. Thanks for the news about Frank, sorry to hear it.

John Roberts

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 06:03 AM

"Jean Carruthers used to run the Bury Folk Club with her husband in the 1980s & 90s. Jean's sister and her husband used to occasionally come to the singaround that Dave Bishop, Terry Whelan and I used to hold at the Ducie Arms. I haven't seen them for several years now..."

I saw Jean and Alan Seymour, and her sister Sheila, at a ceilidh the Rising Sun Band played not so long ago for the birthday of Ann Nash, another of Bury Folk Club's regulars. All were in good fettle and contributed songs from the floor. Bury was a fine club in its day - before becoming yet another casualty of venue problems.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Dave Bishop
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 01:13 PM

Hi Les,

Yes, I remember you and your mate coming to the Volunteer. Unfortunately, we couldn't rely on the room being available - sometimes we would turn up and find that some other group was occupying it.

The Millstone ran from around 1972 to about 1978 (if I remember correctly). It was a great club and I can't remember why it fizzled out now (people moving away I think).

I last saw Steve Mayne at Terry's funeral. Unfortunately, he doesn't sing much now (but can sometimes be persuaded to sing at parties etc.).

I think that there's still a lot of talent and enthusiasm in Grtr. Manchester - but there are problems finding suitable venues.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 03:14 PM

We are having a session of some kind on May 21 at the Lloyds in chorlton, how are you fixed?

Cheers

les

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Dave Bishop
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 03:39 AM

I'll be there Les! Thanks for letting me know.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 04:58 AM

Thanks Dave,

When I have more details I will start a fresh post. Basically it is a night of mostly trad songs and tunes as part of the Chorlton Arts Festival.

If you pm me I will give all the details as they firm up

Cheers

Les

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 03:31 AM

Anybody remember the Shaw Brothers from Poynton or there abouts?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Apr 07 - 05:35 PM

No

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Y_Not
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 04:16 AM

Who was the banjo player at Heaton Moor Rugby Club?

The only singer I can remember who played banjo at the club was Ian Sidebottom who was one of the main residents along with Pete Astles.

Canny Fettle were a good oufit with guitarist Bob Morton

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Y_Not
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 04:27 AM

I don't remember "The Shaw Brothers" from Poynton

Are you thinking of "The Hughes Brothers".

Dave Hughes and Judy can still be seen as (The Sad Pigs)
Pete Hughes (Deceased)
Tom Hughes

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Edmond
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 10:47 AM

Greetings and love to my cousin Bronwen.

Alive, well, living and working in Northamptonshire.

Don't sing any more - after all the whiskey and all the Woodbines there's only a croak left.

Great folkies ? Stan Ellison ; Pete Astles ; Pete "Fatty" Farrow ; Mary Asquith, to whom I raise my hat ; Big John Macatee ; 'Spider' John Graham ; Ivan the Banjo ; this in addition, you understand, to Frank, Harry, Terry W. (anyone remember a woman singer, Terry English ?); Mary Humphreys ; Maria Louden ; The Oldham Tinkers (OK, Greater Manchester) ; Jack and Lynn who used to have that Club on Bridge St. until they did the landlady up so that the Coronation Street cast could sup ale there and not be inconvenienced by folkies and other riff-raff ; Rosemary Hardman ; I could go on.

Bryn Pugh

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Edmond
Date: 25 Apr 07 - 11:00 AM

Vin, it isn't legend that Paul Simon played the Guild. He did - I was there.

In any case, that old fox Jenks used to take great delight, when PS charted, in bragging

'I booked Paul Simon for ten quid'.

Bryn P

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Edmond
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 11:36 AM

The oul' memory ain't what it used to be.

Jack and Lynn Taylor's club (see previous post) was in the Waggon & Horses, Bridge Street. Harry Boardman (God be good to him) also had a club there, as did Frank Duffy (ditto). The Gents (? !) was wherever you wanted it to be, before the landlady was re-decorated by the Brewery, and up went the dreaded notice : NO OVERALLS.

Which, of course, was interpreted by the landlord (tw*t) as no jeans.

Did I mention Tom Yates ? Stockport had a thriving scene. Indeed, the first time I ever saw Martin Carthy was October 9th 1966 at the Navigation, top of Lancashire Hill.

Iam Jentle ; Gray, Bob and Bri ; Mary and Sheila ; Joe Harrison ; Leo and Geek ; Tony Martin who played 'Anji' even better than Davy Graham IMO. Heigh ho. Bryn Pugh

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: jargarmani
Date: 27 May 07 - 03:37 AM

And still are!Bloody administrative counties created by gerrymandering twats. Look at the Friends Of Real Lancashire web sight or Russell Grant's book "The Real Counties Of Britain."
To paraphrase Jim Royle: "Greater Manchester-my arse!."

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Teribus
Date: 27 May 07 - 05:25 AM

Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester - Seamus Curley, aka Skirm, originally from Northern Ireland but has lived in Manchester for ages and as such is based there (from out of). Absolutely fantastic voice, terrific musician and a superb entertainer.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Lea Nicholson
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 11:54 AM

Nice to read this. Nice to see Brian Moss mentioned.

Little bit of history to set right (or record): Brian it was who started Bury Folk Club. Him and another guy called James, as i remember. I was along pretty soon after that as a resident (and then as one half of Nick and Dave)and John Dickinson and Steve Heap followed soon after. Then Dave and Bernard and after that the Caruthers family.

A lot of those people then I really rated - Joe Harrison, Sheila and Mary, Harry Boardman, Tommy Yates, Ian Chisholm, Meic Stevens, Frank Duffy, all of them. Different world, different era. Nice to see them mentioned.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 01:12 PM

I guested at Bury Folk Club everey year from 1978 TO 1990,a great singing club.
Lea Nicholson hope you are keeping well,enjoyed your two concertina recordings,excellent playing.DickMiles

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 05:45 PM

Not originally from, but living in.... Joe Kerins...

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: John Routledge
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 05:48 PM

Yes indeed Kitty. Joe Kerins has lived in Manchester for more than fifty years.Longer than most Mancunians :0)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: SussexCarole
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 06:03 PM

And what about our favourite lady from Manchester....Theresa Tooley!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Vin2
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 08:27 AM

Theresa can usually be seen at Saddleworth festival of which she is a 'firm friend' since it started.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Edmond
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 09:14 AM

Thanks for jogging my memory, Lea - Ian Chisholm was the only guitarist (and what a guitarist !) I ever saw who could 'bend' a harmonic a la Davy Graham.

I remember him from Mike Stephens' club at the Saddle in Bolton.

Sad about 'Tiger' Moss. Last time I saw him was at the Golden Lion, where he and his lady were handing out 'der-ders' for audience participation.

Anyone know what happened to Trevor Jones, Fallowfield Folkers, White Swan (Mucky Duck), Ladybarn ?

Bryn Pugh

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,june ratcliffe
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 04:23 PM

Would like to add my brother,the late Dave Weatherall to your list guess I am bias but always thought he had a great voice.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 05:19 PM

yes, Dave Weatherall part of the group Jolly jack,VeryGood

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 08:06 PM

That would be "Dame Ellen Terry" daughter of Benjamin Terry and Sarah Ballard I believe.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Jul 07 - 04:11 AM

Thanks for reminding us, June. Our loss was great indeed when Dave died and yours must have been even greater.

One of the classic memories I have was of Dave and Martin, dunno where Alan was at the time, singing 'Gungadin' at Swinton Folk Club when it was at the 'Sandhole'. I can still hear it in my mind and always thought that Dave would have really looked the part in a red coat:-)

He also gave me a good ticking off after we had moved to the White Lion for saying, after someone had tuned a guitar, "Good enough for folk". He was a consumate profesional and really believed that folk music, even on an amateur level, should be done well at all times. I believed him then and still do. Never used the expression since!

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Frank Duffy's daughter
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 04:05 AM

Hello,

Just to say that my Dad, Frank Duffy, isn't dead! He is alive and (more or less) well although he's in a home in Longsight with dementia. It's nice to know people still remember him. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Baggins 360
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 04:37 AM

I just thought I'd add this to the string. Most of us Mancunians know that Manchester/Salford is our City BUT our county is Lancashire we are Lancastrians. Those buggers in the Town Hall can call us anything they like, but most of us (of a certain age) that Manchester's where you come from but Lancashire is where you belong to. Nuff said. To add my vote the greatest Folkie from Manchester was Ewan MacColl (who was a Salford Lad, His Dad was Scottish) and to my mind the bestFolkClub in Liverpool was The Wash House.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Vin2
Date: 03 Aug 07 - 04:49 AM

Know what you mean Baggins. I was born at 2, Wellock St, Newton Heath, Manchester, Lancs, M10. (now a Sharpe's warehouse). Used to always (still do mostly) end our address labels as 'Manchester, Lancs.' even when moved to Middleton & Heywood, so there you go.

By the way do you remember a pub in Salford called the 'Two Brewers'(i think)? Sure i saw Ralph McTell, Dando Shaft and others perform there in (probably mid to late seventies)?? Then there was the Black Lion where Pete Farrow used to run some fab nights.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 02:44 AM

The Wash House Folk Club? Run by Pete McGovern? In a basement of London Road?

Sound historical point about Manchester being in Lancashire, can't argue with that. But for many of us migrant workers who have found a home and a warm welcome here, we see ourselves as Mancunians with out being Lancastrians

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 03:15 AM

Pleased to see Pete Farrow and Mary Asquith get a couple of mentions here. And Dave Tucker - beautiful, silky style. His fiddle-playing wasn't bad either. He played in Gorton Tank, did he?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 04:04 AM

1st April 1974 - I went to bed in Swinton, Lancashire after a days work at Worsley UDC and woke up in Salford, Greater Manchester and went to work for Salford MDC. It was a hell of shock to the system I'll tell you!

They did a TV show of Folk from the Two Brewers - All the big names were on.

Dave

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Vin2
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:27 AM

Yeah what a superb bluesey voice Mary Asquith had (probably still has - is she (are you still performing?). Got a copy of an album of hers somewhere; and of course Pete Farrow - the one man band, saw him a lot in the 70's with Paul Connor (rip) and J.Cooper Clarke - great stuff.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: doncatterall
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 08:55 AM

MSG - what a great club - why was it allowed to close????

One of the most memorable nights was when Carthy failed to show (Jenks was livid - "Carthy's off doing a gig with f*****g Steeleye Span"). Mike Whelan & Aly Bain took over the main spot and Tony Capstick came out of the audience as support.

There was also some terrfic blues in the jazz cellar when some legends were still alive:
Fred McDowell
Sony Terry & Brownie McGee
Rev Gary Davis
Larry Johnson (is he still around?)
etc, etc
plus the likes of JoAnn Kelly, Bob Hall etc

Also remember the Two Brewers in Salford & the TV programmes made there with Pentangle, Ralph McTell etc
Are Dando Shaft still around?
Anyone remember the Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Vin2
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 11:55 AM

MSG was terrific. Jenks was a smallish chap if i remember but his look could kill (Alex Campbell used to call him Mr Jinks - only one who could get away with it!). Remember Pennine Folk there and a band called Sticky George. Saw Magna Carta upstairs a couple of times, Carthy / Swarbrick, Noel Murphy, the Taverners and (Mike Harding (especially on the last night when there was a flood in the gents). Building stood disused for years after it closed. Great shame.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,sinky
Date: 08 Aug 07 - 02:17 PM

hey nonny nooasis

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Edmond
Date: 16 Aug 07 - 10:13 AM

Dear Frank Duffy's Daughter,

Thanks for the news about Frank. I knew your Lady Mother, Anna, and your Uncle Sean, who was a doorman at MSG.

Please tell Frank I was asking after him.

Kindest regards, Edmond Bryn Pugh.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Bert
Date: 17 Aug 07 - 01:53 AM

I didn't know there was a best ANYTHING from Manchester.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 07:50 AM

I'd nominate the three students who met at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and became Uiscedwr.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 08:12 AM

Thin ice amongst such distinguished names, Bert, thin ice...

:-D

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Edmond
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 08:48 AM

A mis-spelling, surely - BERK rather than BERT ?

Bryn Pugh

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: doncatterall
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 03:17 PM

well said Bryn - reminds me of Noel Murphy At MSG announcing "they say I'm a cult figure but they can't even spell it"

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 07 - 07:10 PM

What about the star folk club,salford ? Run by Martin Gittins for many years till about 1996 0r so. He had a guest every week, Jolly Jack, Jim Couza, Bernard Wrigley, Harding, Des Friel, some great nights, but I believe poor attendance put paid to the whole game. Sad, saw top performers in there with maybe half a dozen in attendance. I think an acoustic guitar still hangs on the wall in there which was signed by many of the acts.

---

Please remember to use a consistent name when you post. Messages with the "from" space blank, risk being deleted.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 04:25 AM

Martin did a few renunions taking it well past 1996. Got some of the top acts back as well. Not sure if it was the poor attendances or the corridor shaped room which was the only access to the very smelly gents!

Dave

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: rinso
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 11:14 AM

Hi Vin I've noticed you mentioned the Pennine Folk and wonder if you mean the Pendle Folk, Pete Nash,Roger Westbrook and I think their partners (late 60s early 70s)

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 22 Aug 07 - 11:28 AM

I'm sure he meant the Pennine folk - (Ken Campbell, Chris Swann, Pete Astles and a couple of other's I can't quite remember) not seen any of them for years.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Bill S from Adelaide
Date: 23 Aug 07 - 09:43 AM

Enjoyed reading this thread.
I was on the Salford Uni Folk Club Committee 1969-73, not that I knew much about folk then. We were the most community activity at the Uni by far and could draw up to 300 on Sunday nights from the tower blocks around us. We had contact with the MSG as they had the sole agency and we had to book through them in those days.
In the mid 70's, I returned to M'cr to work (?) for BR. I joined Adlington Morris, then Gorton Morris. Gorton's first dance out took place 200 years to the day since the last record of the old side in the Gorton Recorder in 1775 (the Morrismen failed to turn out this year). Chris Cole was the main musician and taught Keith and Janet Hancock. Alison was Barry Billinge's sister and she with Tony played in the Gorton Silver Band. We used to visit the old folks homes each year and dance to the full silver band, which was magic, our kid! Gorton Tank evolved from the morris musicians.
There was a folk club at the Bird in Hand in Urmston, I remember seeing Mike Harding there "I'll do this song for my mother, who is up there somewhere.... (she's not dead, she's nicking lead off roof)", nobody mentined that.
Harry Boardman and Chris ran a club in the City for a few years, can't remember the name, but the Bass was good.
And for those who ask, Wigan, Bolton and Oldham are in Greater Manchester (and I was born in what is still Lancashire)
On my last night in England, we were partied out and went for a quiet pint at the Grey Horse in Gatley. Harry and Leslie happened to join us and we had a great night with them. Harry would have to be the most important folkie from Manchester much as I enjoyed Bernard Wrigley and the Tinkers.
As one of less than a taxi full of lanky folkies in Perth, it is easier to pick one here.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,smiffy
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 11:47 AM

One of my fav bands from those days was Hindle Wakes - was and still is!
It's 30 years since they made a terrific live album at the Cross Keys - and I've recently seen a CD remaster of it. I remember them from a club run at Crumpsall Hospital (as was) in the 70s. They were resident with guests like Mike Harding and Dave and June Brooks.
And they're still going strong!

Subject: RE: Hindle Wakes
From: GUEST,Oldtimer
Date: 16 Jul 08 - 11:56 AM

Just spotted comment on Hindle Wakes.Saw them at a charity folk do earlier this year in Denshaw - cracking night, exc songs and singing.
Even bought the CD mentioned!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Frank Duffy's daughter
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 03:03 PM

Hello,

Just to say that Frank Duffy died last Wednesday and his funeral is on Friday Sep 12th at 12 noon at St Catherines, School Lane, Didsbury. We will be very glad to see anyone that knew him.

Christine

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 05:37 PM

salford star,I played there many times,they had a one armed barman / landlord.
Martin Gittins,he had a mandolin player and side kick called rob rybichi who was a cobbler in Todmorden .

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 09:49 AM

Oh dear. Very sad to hear about Frank.

Living in Northants I can't physically be there, Christine, but will be there in spirit.

Ar dheis De go rabh a anam.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Sep 08 - 10:06 AM

Very sorry to hear about Frank. My condolences to all.
On another note, anybody go to the Urban Folk(New Islington) Festival in Ancoats on Saturday? I have ben working on the "Seven Tunes called Manchester Hornpipe" project with the rap collective Rhyhm'n'Grime for a while now, and we did some acoustic numbers in a very short spot on Saturday afternoon(blink and you missed it). Many folkies find rap scary, noisy and intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Have a listen to the two tracks labelled "rap" here at
Boat Band Myspace.
I hope you might find them interesting, even endearing. We are also making the full on drum and bassy stuff, but I wont scare you all with that yet!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Jack Taylor,Kendal
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 12:29 AM

The Waggon & Horses just off Bridge Street was the Wayfarers' meeting place before Harry; Terry and Dave moved to The Clarendon on Oxford Road (larger room to accommodate the ever-growing audience.) This left a vacant space for me to start my club at the Waggon.      
    Floor singers in those early 1960's included Tom Gilfellon and Dave Hillary. They both went on to become residents at Harry's club. We also had Christy Moore regularly as he was attending college in Manchester for a couple of years. Frank Duffy too was a regular singer with us until he went to host the MSG sessions and suffer Jinks. I had to contend with that problem later when Frank went on to follow his acting career and Jinks asked me to run the MSG folk programme putting Drony in charge of hosting the Monday night singers' club and compering the Friday and Saturday guest nights.
    Terry Griffiths also used to be a regular at Harry's club. She used to perform some lovely English songs, "Whistle Daughter Whistle," and "The Banks of Sweet Primroses," spring to mind.      
    I remember we recorded an LP at the MSG around 1964/5 featuring a number of our local singers, The Pennine Folk; Harry Ogden; Lyn Sidebotham etc. Must be a collectors' item now. We only pressed 100 copies!
    Amongst all the folk goings on I managed to publish regular issues of my folk magazine "Ballads & Songs" with the help of such folk as Mike Yates (now with the EFDSS at Regents Park)and Paul Graney's labrinth of recordings.
    Many good memories of the early days in Manchester before I was whisked away to Nigeria in 1969 and before it became "Greater."

Subject: RE: Greater Manchester Folkies - Pennine Folk
From: GUEST,Chris J Brady
Date: 05 Jul 09 - 09:33 PM

Hi folks.

Does anyone remember the Pennine Folk Group? I first heard them on a BBC folk prog. from Manchester in the 1960s when I was at college in Loughborough. There was a song they sang that is still maggoting around my brain called 'The Ballad of Gypsy Moth' just after Sir Francis Chichester's epic round the world voyage on the yacht - which incidentally has just recently been restored for sail training for youngsters.

But having crewed many tall ships and nearly been shipwrecked in force 11 gales at least twice (both in the English Channel), the chorus to the ballad still springs to mind:

"Hey, ho, roll and go,
Around the Horn in the months of snow,
How many time can a man defy
The raging seas and the rolling sky?"

Does anyone have the rest of the words, or better a recording please?

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 01:15 PM

I suspect the song would have been written by Ken Campbell if that's any help. (Not to be confused with the famous Ken Campbell of acting/producing fame who, incidentally, was also on the folk scene back in the 70's with the Ken Campbell Roadshow)
Ray

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Rob Hunt
Date: 18 Sep 15 - 11:05 AM

Best folkies to come from Greater Manchester for me Mary Asquith, Marie Little, Redmayne,Harry boardman, Mike harding. Best guitarist Al Lawrence. Only my opinion of course.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Sep 15 - 02:02 PM

Gorton Tank took some beating

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 09:31 AM

I knew all of them except for Redmayne.Harry Boardman lived not far from my home & i got to know him very well. Mike Harding became a good friend,& i knew Al Lawrence as well,but i think he went to live on the Isle of Man.
    Lots of good singers & musicians came & went over the years,almost too many to mention.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 09:38 AM

I forgot to mention my name - Ivan Kelsall.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: The Sandman
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:22 AM

Ewan MacColl

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 11:38 AM

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GSS

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Stanron
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 06:25 PM

Fond memories for me, and the order is NOT significant,

Tony Hill
Mary Asquith
Ian Chisholme
Pete Farrow
Lea Nicholson
Mike Harding
Harry Boardman

and, of course, all the others.

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Trevor Jones
Date: 30 Nov 17 - 12:24 AM

I used to play at the Waggon and Horses in the early 60s. Harry and Terry ran a great folk club.guests were some of the iconic writers and musicians of that time, the music was honest and wonderful .Every performer was treated with respect- we all learned every session.Harry was generous with his knowledge, as was Dave. I have been playing music in and behind bars since that time. Those two gentlemen encouraged me and every performer to nail it. No PA system, just people making music. It wasnt perfect,but it was great

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Trevor jones, I used to play at the Wagon
Date: 25 Jan 18 - 05:03 PM

I played at the Wagon and horses in the early 60s.Harry and Dave were great teachers. I have been a professional musician since the late 60s I saw some of the best folk singers touring through lancs at that time WONDERFUL MEMORIES thx Dave and Harry I live in MARICOPA AZ now, and I am still playing 5 NJGHTS A WEEK in bars casinos Irish pubs across the soutthwest USA. SAT AND SUN AT rula bula Tempe az

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: Paul Reade
Date: 26 Jan 18 - 05:18 PM

Referring to the title, I?d like to nominate myself as one of the worst folkies to come out of Greater Manchester! Still croaking after all these years.

Seriously though, never saw this thread before. What a great list of singers / memories!

Subject: RE: Best Folkies from out of Greater Manchester
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 29 Jan 18 - 11:54 AM

Mark E Smith?