South London Folk Clubs

Subject: South London Folk Clubs
From: *Laura*
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 02:44 PM

Hi,
Well I haven't been around mudcat for AGES and ages.... and I've just moved to London for uni (Elephant and Castle area) and I was having a browse on the internet trying to find info on folk clubs and such... and then I thought I'd probably do better coming straight here and asking what you think?
I'm looking for a FRIENDLY (as in non-threatening) folk club with mainly singing or a mix (but not mainly instramental) and that's not too far away (if possible!) from the SE1 area.
This sounds like a lonely hearts add now...
but if anyone knows of anywhere I'd like to hear about it....
thanks! and hope you're all well!

Laura

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: the button
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 04:28 PM

I started this thread not so long ago: -

http://www.mudcat.org/detail.cfm?messages__Message_ID=2130589

Although I suspect that most of them will be a bit too South East for you. Not even sure where SE1 is, in fact. Being a staunch SE13-er myself.

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: My guru always said
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 04:40 PM

Here's that addy as a link!

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: *Laura*
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 05:23 PM

thanks - I think they're all a bit far away for me. I need somewhere I can get to by tube... or bus. SE1 is pretty central - I live on the edge of zone 1 (tube map wise), and I want to find somewhere I can be a regular!

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: stallion
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 05:39 PM

Court Sessions Folk Club, Tooting Broadway

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Cllr
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 05:45 PM

elephant and castle tube to camden tube 5 mins walk (all northern line might even be direct no change) and your at cecil sharp house
cllr

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 05:57 PM

I should give Eltham - Folkmob - a go if I were you (very nice people) and I think there is some stuff in Greenwich

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: woodsie
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 06:56 PM

Here's a link to FolkMob

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: *Laura*
Date: 11 Oct 07 - 06:57 PM

cheers - some of these I found on various websites and things but I wanted to see if your recomendations were the same!

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 12 Oct 07 - 10:13 AM

Hello Laura,

Try Sharps at Cecil Sharp House, and Croydon Folksong on a Monday is only a short train ride away!

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 03:58 AM

"Court Sessions Folk Club, Tooting Broadway"
How is the Court Sessions going.
Pat and I were founder members along with Tom and Barbara Brown - good days.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 04:48 AM

Presumably uni is short for university?

Ram Club, Twickfolk - super places to go, Twickfolk recently had Richard Shindell, and the Ram Club had the Rainbow Chasers.

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: treewind
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:13 AM

Court Sessions has reputedly been in the doldrums but it was looking quite healthy on a recent visit.

The new venue is nice once you've got through the rather rough bar downstairs, and we had a decent audience size. There were some people new to the club that night too, so Dave & Doreen must be doing something right.

Anahata

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:18 AM

Thank you for that Anahata - best wishes to Mary
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 12:22 PM

Two clubs in Orpington . It has main line Station to Charing Cross and a bus-link to Lewisham. Here's the links.

Orpingon Folk Club

Orpington Friday Folk

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:23 PM

Whatever happened to the Greenwich stuff?

And is there no successor to the old Catford and Blackheath clubs?

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:42 PM

Laura - Fibula Mattock is somewhere down that way - NOT a Bad fiddle player !

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 12:58 PM

hello there Laura, I'd be more than happy to get to a session at some point - I've been meaning to but never seem to get round to it. I'm fairly central (Wapping) but I work in New Cross so Lewisham is do-able too. Drop me a PM if you're on for finding somewhere local!

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Alan Day
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 03:33 AM

Walking distance from you is the Monthly session in The George
1st Monday in the Month just South of London Bridge.
The George is one of the oldest pubs in London,worth coming just to look at.
We normally have about thirty musicians there and the evening is a mixture of English,French,Breton Swedish,or whatever anyone cares to play.
Al

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 08:45 AM

Does anyone sing, and what time does it end?

I teach at South Bank University until 9 pm most Mondays...

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: *Laura*
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 09:11 AM

Ah cheers everyone! Lots of options here.
I might go have a looksie up in the George... that's nice and close! And then maybe experiment a bit further...
Same questions as Richard - does anyone sing? (I'm at South Bank!)

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Alan Day
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 12:56 PM

The George is mainly a session evening.There is occassionaly some singing, but as the bar is open to the general public who's voices go up in volume with the music, then it really is a strain on the voice to sing above it.The music however normally wins and towards the latter part of the evening a song is welcome and appreciated by the musicians.Like all sessions they vary dependant on who turns up.The music normally starts at about eight thirty and the Office Workers leave at the same rate as the musicians arrive.The Session is in the first room which is under the Gallery.The drinks are obtained from the bar which is slightly further on.At about 9-30 the Tourists arrive as part of the History Tour fill our room for about fifteen minutes and then leave just as quickly.Request for "Amazing Grace" are normally ignored.
I look forward to seeing you there
Al

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 04:42 AM

I popped in last night. As you say, very "tunes". Indeed mostly continental European tunes I thought, only one or two English tunes and no (that I noticed) Irish or American tunes, so I could be thankful for small mercies. IPA expensive at £1.40 per half pint. I had to go at about 10 past 10 because of trains and getting back to (as TDL would say) "Upper Dogsbottom".

Not practical for me to take guitar into the Uni when lecturing, and although there was an unused guitar lying about, limited enquiries did not reveal an owner and it would have been bad manners to grab (and anyway I'd have had to push in to sing). And there were some yuppies right behind me with a bray of about 130 Db (and elbows that they did not control).

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Alan Day
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 08:46 AM

Sorry I missed you Richard.These sessions are different every time you go,but the beer does not get any cheaper.
I decided to keep mu chest infection germs to myself and not pass them on.I should be able to get to the next one.
We rarely play Irish or American tunes, but there are no rules.There may be a few more English ones if I am there.
As there is no admission charge you still get a cheap evening even at £1,40 per half pint.
Al

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: lady penelope
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 06:08 PM

I may go mad and pop down myself. I work along at St. Thomas', so it would be just the thing for me. I don't play, but am happy to instigate singing and can quite cheerfully drown out a moderate number of instruments (so long as they're not all melodeons!!). Sometimes it's just nice to sit and listen, as well.

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 07:17 PM

Yes, I'd rather sing too, but the yuppies are quite loud and it is just not practical for me to take my 12-string into the lectures I give and bring it home again afterwards.

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Alan Day
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 03:36 AM

Yuppies at the George can sometimes be a nuisance, but not always,they mostly leave at about nine oclock and the room is just left for musicians and those who enjoy the music.Each session and those present are different.
I shall be pleased to see you.
Al

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 03:41 AM

Maybe I'll give it another go next first Monday - and see if I can find a way to get 12-string in with me. I did not arrive last time until about 20 past 9 and the yakketeers behind me were still going strong when they drove me out at 10 past 10 (actually, I went to catch a train).

Do you sometimes get shantymen in? That would be fun in that room.

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,matt m
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 05:18 AM

I'll add the Easycome night – every Wednesday at the Old Nun's Head in (unsurprisingly) Nunhead. Not a sessions place, though it does feature a lot of traditional folk music. Tends to lean more towards american folk/bluegrass/Americana. Always busy and well worth a visit. You can just turn up and play if you're prepared to wait.

I'll also recommend the Green Note cafe in Camden. Obviously it's nowhere near Elephant but it's but a short trip up the Northern line. They have a great programme of upcoming gigs and an open mic session on Sunday afternoons.

Given your location, you should maybe also check out The Gladstone pub on Lant St in Borough. That's SE1. You could probably walk it. Again, hardly traditional music as such but in the same neck of the woods - rather more of a psych-folk Green Man festival vibe – but live music most nights of the week.

Subject: RE: South London Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,matt m
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 05:19 AM

oh and I meant to add a 'watch this space' – I'm currently talking to a few local landlords about putting on a monthly night in Brixton, where I live.