My World Tour of the North-West (UK)

Subject: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:21 AM

Well, not quite. I'm cutting loose for a few days - the first week of May, to be precise - and thought I'd do a ramble round one or two of the folk clubs of Lancashire and Cheshire while following up a bit of family history. I've roughed out an itinerary and, if any local 'Catters are up for a pint and a natter, it would be good to meet you.

It's not been easy sorting out where to go and, as usual, I've emailed one or two clubs to see (a) if they're actually doing the business as advertised on the web (you can't always be sure) and (b) whether there's floorspot space for an ageing guitarist... And, as usual, some emails never get replied to and I shall have to resort to the phone.

However, here's the plan - any comments or insider info welcomed:

Monday 4th May (Bank Holiday) - Four Fools Folk Club, Crown, Worthington, nr. Standish (no reply yet)

Tuesday 5th May - Wigan Folk Club, Fox & Goose, Wigan

Wednesday 6th May - Greyhound, Penkhull, Stoke - this day has been very difficult to decide on, with so much good stuff around. I've had to very reluctantly defer the Beech and the Sandbach clubs in favour of the Greyhound as my taste for Cajun got the better of me... but I will get to the Beech at a later outing.

Thursday 7th May - night off to jam with an old friend in Congleton

Friday 8th May - "Arthur's", Dog & Partridge, Bollington (no reply yet)

Saturday 9th May - back home for the Saturday night gig...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:27 AM

Friday 8th May - "Arthur's", Dog & Partridge, Bollington (no reply yet)

Arthur's dedication to and turnaround on emails is, what shall we say, sub-optimal.

I'd save yourself the wait and get straight on the phone for that one :)

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 04:32 AM

Thanks sfman's - that thought had occurred to me!

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:33 AM

Hi Will,

If your Congleton expedition falls through, there's always Chorlton Folk Club at the cricket club on Thursday...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:39 AM

Thanks SC - I'll put that in the diary, just in case. I might actually be wandering around Chorlton sometime during the week. I had great-grandparents who met and married there, and it was where my grandmother was born.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: BobKnight
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:47 AM

That's not N.W. UK - that's a tour of NW England - different thing entirely! :)

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:52 AM

You mean there are other parts of the UK apart from England? Good lord, what is the world coming to!

Actually, you're quite right - I was going to leave "UK" out of the thread title, then put it in at the last minute to clarify matters for 'Catters in, say, the US.

Sigh.. I'll get me kilt...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 06:03 AM

Shame we won't see you at the Beech. I'm sure something could be arranged if you're in Chorlton some other night (or day) - PM me or Spleen.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 06:24 AM

It's not all not set in stone, by any means, and I'm up for anything - particularly if it's a jam. Basically, my week consists of:

1. Travelling up to Horwich on Monday morning and staying at a B&B there on Monday & Tuesday nights. (Used to live there in the early '50s).

2. Travelling over to Congleton sometime on the Wednesday to stay with old friends Tony & Mu on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

3. Penkhull on Wednesday night - this is a given.

4. Probably just stay in on Thursday night and gossip, jam, eat, drink at Tony's - can't go "clubbing" every night at my age, tha knows...

5. Probably the Bollington club on Friday.

So, basically, I'm open to temptation for anything musical within spitting distance of Chorlton on Monday night, Tuesday and daytime Wednesday. Though, to be honest, if Monday night at Standish isn't on, I shan't mind doing sod-all after a 5-hour drive up during the day...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST,Patrick
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 06:25 AM

The UK includes Northern Ireland so Will Fly has got it wrong on many account. Are you saying that 'Catters in the US and elsewhere don't know the difference between England and the UK?

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 06:34 AM

No GUEST,Patrick - if you read my post properly, you'll see that I added "UK" at the last minute only to make it clear that I didn't mean the North-West of the USA!

I'm not intentionally saying anything about anybody - and this is my last word on this point before I fizz with irritation... SIGH...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST,Patrick
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 07:32 AM

Then why didn't you add England instead of UK?

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 07:35 AM

The North West of the North West

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 08:15 AM

Then why didn't you add England instead of UK?

Because I was in a hurry! Now - fer chrissakes, give it a rest.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: BobKnight
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 08:31 AM

Aye, you should have put "middle west," so our American cousins couls get really confused. :)

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 09:04 AM

A lot of people called GUEST Patrick would be of the opinion that Northern Ireland shouldn't be part of the UK at all, but that's another story.Anway, I'm glad Will Fly is coming to Penkhull and not going to McGilligan Point(though there is an excellent pub there where the Boat Band plays. But on this occasion we are in Penkhull, so it's more convenient).

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 09:12 AM

McGilligan's Point is the most north-westerly part of N Ireland(where the Boat Band has played); the most north-westerly(inhabited) point of the UK is St Kilda(where the Boat Band has also played).
It's a bit difficult to define most north westerly, really.
Anway, we are at the Greyhound in Penkhull on May 6, where Will Fly, and anyone else, will be very welcome (no bodhrans or banjos please).
Mind you, is Penkhull in the north-west of England? Culturally, undoubtedly, but some would place it technically in the W Midlands.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:18 AM

No banjos at all?

L in C

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:20 AM

Certainly not. The very thought.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 11:48 AM

You're a hard man, Greg Stephens. Now... what was that wonderful multi-tracked tune on "A Trip To The Lakes" - you know - the one with multiple guitars and (gulp!) tenor banjos...?
:-)

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 12:41 PM

Monday 4th May - No reply from Standish yet so why not come along to Swinton (I used to work in Standish and travel there and back every day so don't say it's too far:-P ) to see Johnny Silvo. Well worth the visit, even if I won't be there to greet you bcause I will be taking Gregs advice and be on a trip to the lakes...

Get in touch if you want more details anyroads.

DeG

PS - The Crown was our 'canteen' when I used to work there and it is a fine pub.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 01:08 PM

Thanks David - may well do. I'll just see if the Four Fools is doing anything first...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 03:07 AM

Ever since I bought A Trip to the Lakes I have been practicing the tenor banjo. Has it all been a waste of time?

L in C

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 04:10 AM

Greg said: Mind you, is Penkhull in the north-west of England?

It's in Staffordshire. That is not the North West... Wolverhampton's in Staffordshire. Enough said me thinks.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 05:13 AM

Johnny Silvo, Standish??

I'm sure he told me he was based in Switzerland, though don't know if north west Switzerland.

****************

However, Mr Happy's Come-All-Ye is on every Wednesday in Chester - Free Butties & Mystery Gust every week!!

Check out this & other Chester events here: http://www.chesterfolk.org.uk/events.htm

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 06:59 AM

Free Butties & Mystery Gust every week!!

Have you tried locking the door?

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 07:18 AM

Sorry, that should read 'Mysery Guest'

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 08:11 AM

Sorry, that should read 'Mysery Guest'

Sorry to hear that. Have you tried locking the door?

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 23 Apr 09 - 12:55 PM

Thursday is Fleetwood Folk Club at The Steamer - a warm welcome and some good beers too...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 03:39 AM

Thursday is Fleetwood Folk Club at The Steamer - a warm welcome and some good beers too...

Bugger - another enticing venue - but Congleton beckons I'm afraid...

... as does the Four Fools Folk Club on Bank Holiday Monday, so no Johnny Silvo for me at Swinton. Shame really - I booked him a couple of times for "Clanfolk" (BBC folk club) in the late '60s, and it would have been good to have had a couple of minutes reminisce.

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 07:32 AM

..........or even 'Mysery Guts'!!

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Barb'ry
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 08:10 AM

I'll be at four fools on Monday! Look forward to seeing you there.
Barb'ry

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 11:15 AM

Excellent! If you see an old codger with grey hair, a black and grey beard and rimless specs, carrying a guitar case and looking bewildered - that'll be yours truly. First pint's on me!

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 12:03 PM

I'd be very surprised if Arthur has even heard of email - wouldn't you be better 'phoning him? I've got his number somewhere of you're desparate.
Ray

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 04:00 AM

Johnny Silvo, Standish??

I'm sure he told me he was based in Switzerland, though don't know if north west Switzerland.

Tsk! Do keep up Mr H:-P

Johnny is in the UK in May and at Swinton, Manchester on May the 4th (Star Wars day). He lives in Norway so I am not quite sure where Switzerland fits in!

DeG

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 04:55 AM

I'd be very surprised if Arthur has even heard of email - wouldn't you be better 'phoning him? I've got his number somewhere of you're desparate.
Ray

The telephone number's up there on the website - no problems. Mind you, so is the email address! I'll just give him a buzz over the weekend to say hallo...

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 09:56 AM

Website?!! Things must have looked up since his spell as "Mayoress" - give him my regards from Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Ray

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 12:30 PM

I certainly will!

Subject: RE: My World Tour of the North-West (UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 May 09 - 06:48 AM

Will Fly spotted in the Greyhound in Penkhull (Stoke-on-Trent) on Wednesday. Obviously the ambience of NW England is getting to him, as he was singing a Geroge Formby Senior song.