Sugawn Folk Kitchen

Subject: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,ifor
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 02:06 AM

Back in the 1970s while living in Stoke Newington I went to an exciting folk club called the Sugawn Folk Kitchen on the Balls Pond Road near Islington.I only went a few times because of evening work commitments but remember it for its fiery singing and playing.Or am i looking back through rose coloured glasses?
ifor

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 02:21 AM

I remember it as very noisy and prone to punch ups.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: severed-head
Date: 11 Jul 07 - 03:32 AM

I also went several times with my wife-to-be (Mrs severed-head). We enjoyed the place and there was a certain buzz about it. I clearly remember one night they had advertised a young Irish guy who was going to be the new Van Morrison. We turned up to hear him. Unfortunately, when the time came for him to perform he'd consumed so much alcohol he could barely stand. He tried to do a couple of songs but had to be dragged off stage for his own good. I don't think he was ever seen again.
Someone else will probably post saying it turned out to be Bono.
Garry

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,mabel
Date: 12 Jul 07 - 05:44 PM

I remember actually being asked to dance and then asked which county I was from. I said East Sussex. It was downhill from there. Never been anywhere like it since.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Jul 07 - 02:50 PM

There is an interesting article from the Clare magazine Dal Cgais (No 2) by the guv'nor of the S.K. (circa 1972) which can be found on the OAC (OIDHREACHT AN CHLáIR) website.
My only memory of it was of going to see fiddler Tommy Peoples there - he didn't turn up! Never mind, I've seen him hundreds of times since and his playing has got better - if that were possible!
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Michael McDonnell
Date: 29 Jun 11 - 11:17 AM

I had some great nights in the Sugawn, when we were broke someone would get us a drink there was a gentleman there called "Spain" who made sure we were ok, the music was wonderful, the friendship and the fun. I heard Paul Brady there, Silly Wizard, the Fureys and of course the kindest banjo player in London, Mick O'Connor was a stalwarth member of the Sugawn Folk who kept the kettle boiling every weekend. Gerry O'Connor and his wife ran the place, I made friends there that I still have and cherish thirty tears later. There was a man called Ned Grant who always made sure a travelling musicien had a place to sleep and a breakfast. There were two Billy Connolly's no relation to the Big Un and a schelpe of Irish Nurses from Whips Cross who gave us hot dinners on Sundays. It was a home from home for me.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Dermot Drummy
Date: 20 Jul 12 - 05:42 PM

My mother took part in a couple of plays and i met the fureys there ,fantastic memories
We used to sit at the back of the theatre and thats where i began to love Irish music

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 10:56 AM

Hi, I used to play regularly at The Sugawn in a duo called Windfall. We recorded years later on Christie Hennessy's 1st LP. Christie was a regular too. Tony Bradley ran the club, Gerry O Neil the pub. Ned Grant was a driving instructor who got me through my test in Tottenham. Does anyone remember a singer called Fergus Ryan? I'd like to know what became of him. Great days, some might remember me Anthony Griffiths the Welshman!

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Doris M Daly
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 11:56 AM

I set up the Sugawn Theatre Memorial and I am plan to have a reunion in March 2013. Google info..OK

See the DVD posted ''The Sugawn Theatre'' for info.

[e-mail] please contact me and join in this celebration.??.

I did not hold a memorial last year as I was hospitalised but next March we will celebrate in earnest.D.V.

Beannacht í ngac áit in a déannan tú seasamh

Doris M Daly

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Doris Daly
Date: 19 Feb 13 - 06:06 AM

The Folk/Music part of the Pub worked in conjunction with TheTheatre, which was The First Fringe Pub Theatre in London and it was conducted with manners by professionals and thespians and never ever was there fisti-cuffs offered or given. Drunks were not admitted to the Theatre,
nor were they served in the Bar having arrived the worse for wear there.
The Manager, the late lamented Jerry O'Neill, playwright and novelist, kept order with his charismatic personality and benevelence. It was an Oasis of Irish Culture at its best. It has not to date been surpassed nor replaced. Alas! His novels OPEN CUT and DUFFY IS DEAD are master pieces of observation of the Irish building workers of that time.

A History of The Sugawn Theatre is being compiled and if anyone wishes to add to it please contact me ASAP. I guarantee you will be included.

And our March commemoration has been changed to October as there will be too many Irish events in March. We hope then the book will be launched.

Doris M Daly.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Maria
Date: 05 Apr 14 - 01:01 PM

I wasn't familiar with this site until a friend of mine pointed out that somebody was wondering what became of Fergus Ryan. He came to live in Bilbao (north Spain) in 1974 and died in 2011 of colon cancer. He was my husband and his death was a shock for all of us. He started a folk group here also called Sugán, and played in several festivals in northern Spain and local venues. He was the lead singer . It was not a full time thing because you couldn't live off the music . For him it was an outlet and a way of connecting with Irish folk music, which was one of the passions of his life. He was a real character, very well known by lots of people. I can't believe it that he's gone forever!

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen - Fergus Ryan
From: GUEST,Cathie
Date: 28 May 14 - 11:22 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about Fergus passing. I knew him very well and sang for a short time with the Sugawn Folk. We used to sing a duet called 'Dainty Davy'. He had a wonderful voice and a great sense of humour. We were the youngest in the band and frequently got into trouble for giggling and not taking things too seriously. we had some very good times and I too can't believe he is gone as I was sure we'd meet up again someday. I can believe that you miss him terribly

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Oct 15 - 08:13 AM

I sang, played guitar and acted there 1974-76. I remember Paddy Jackman and parties at his place when the pub closed, also late nights in the Sugawn after hours. I heard Edna O'Brien read one evening. Joahn Quinn wrote and directed some plays. An Anerican folk singer, I was one of the few women who played.
Jerry and Mary were always very welcoming.
Virginia Lee Gillespie - would like to connect with those from that era.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,MIKE WALSH
Date: 05 Aug 17 - 09:17 PM

I attended Sugawn kitchen regularly between 1974 - 77. I had two. lines to say as Warder 2 in a production of The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan which included some actors who had been in the original Theatre workshop production at Stratford (East). Amazed to see Peter O' Toole no less in the bar with our producer. The critic Bernard Levin was known to show. up at these shows in full evening dress.

I also went on a very bucolic coach trip from the Sugawn to the Fleadh Cheoil in Ennis. The music and dance in route to the Fleadh was much more fun than the. actual Fleadh itself, Apart from Gerry, I remember Tony Bradley and his group each sat and Sunday evening.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Derek Hayes
Date: 05 Sep 18 - 08:41 AM

I was a regular at the Kitchen for several years and watched the Sugawn Folk originally led by Tony Bradley gradually morph into Shegui for whom I was privileged to look after the sound side of things for a few years whilst they built their reputation around London pubs.
Amazing characters in that pub. Gerry was an absolute gentleman as well as a literary giant. I can still hear Tony Nolan on the door shouting "Make way for the cripple" when someone turned up in a wheelchair. Paddy Jackman playing his party piece, The Lonesome Baoatman on the whistle. Back to Paddy and Yvonne's or the Longs for more tunes and drink. Very fond memories.
Some of the real greats stopped by to play there whilst they were in London - Paul Brady, Clannad,etc. etc.
I remember being there when I heard that Sandy Denny had died.....

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Guest, Friends
Date: 21 Dec 18 - 06:15 AM

My folk group played our first ever public performance there in 1969/1970. The audience were absolutely fantastic and so supportive
. Have been sign and playing ever since, always for pleasure. Loved the place. What was the name of then actual pub then?

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 21 Dec 18 - 09:21 AM

I did a gig there when I was a shy 23 years old. The nearly ate me alive. It really did me the world of good. Just about everything went wrong, including an exploding light bulb behind the bar which nearly gave me a heart attack. I really did not stand a hope, but it was a lightbulb moment (sorry about that!) It turned me from a nervous floor singer into a club act in one painful night, but I stuck it out to the bitter end. I went away and did some serious work on becoming a singer. I honestly think you need gigs like that to teach you how to make it work. I remember I played a gig in London two nights later and remember thinking 'this time I'm going to do it right!' I didn't of course but I was about 200% better than the Sugawn gig, and winning an audience over stood me in good stead for working in Finland and Sweden. So thank you the Sugawn Folk Kitchen! A good kick up the backside every now and again is essential IMHO.

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Guest, Kevin Dolan
Date: 22 Aug 21 - 12:29 AM

First heard of Sugawn Folk at a memorable folk evening at Cockfosters Golf Club..they headlined and I opened for them..they were great and very approachable..the first time I heard 'The Iron Men' was their rousing version...the gentleman who led the band invited me to do an evening at the Kitchen, and I arrived suitably rehearsed for a 1 hour gig..'No, no, Kev..you do two 1 hour sets!' he informed me..oh, man..I ran out of material about a quarter of the way through set 2 and bumbled and stumbled through til the end when virtually no one was left! Needless to say, I wasn't invited back, but I went anyway to watch several acts, always loved the place..

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Bill Sweeny Guest
Date: 12 Jan 23 - 02:57 PM

Annie Power put this on her Facebook page today:

It is with great personal sadness I share the news that my dear friend of fifty years, Sean Madigan, Cork born, architect, musician and beloved father of SarahLee, died this morning at 7am in London. Sean had been suffering from dementia for years, but he continued to be the same cheeky, genial soul he always was. Full of laughter and jokes to the end, still singing together the songs (of many genres) he played down the years. Sean played with many well known musicians over the years, as well as forming Sugawn Folk who played in the Sugawn Kitchen for years, and then Shegui, which is where I first met Sean, when invited to sing with them. We played to packed, smoky pubs up and down the Holloway Rd, Camden, Kilburn, church halls, Sean’s golf club, foyers of galleries, parties of Irish actors. Sean just had the contacts and knack of persuading people that they really wanted and needed to book the band. He was a brilliant organiser, getting gigs everywhere, and ensuring they paid well. He also played with many other musicians, and I will try to find and post photos of any that Sarah and I can find. We all have so many memories of Sean down the years, and I’m sure people will want to share some of those. SarahLee will give funeral arrangements when they are confirmed, and if anyone wants details message me. Please pass this news on to anyone who may have known Sean. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Sing on in that session in the sky my friend. Hup! ??

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: Felipa
Date: 12 Jan 23 - 03:59 PM

thumbnail photo of "irish band standing outside the Sugawn Kitchen" circa 1970s from the Brent Archives http://www.culturegrid.org.uk/static/showResource/1804430

Subject: RE: Sugawn Folk Kitchen
From: GUEST,Joe Fenton
Date: 27 Mar 23 - 10:18 AM

Just to let you all know the sad news that Tony Bradley passed away yesterday 26th March 2023.