Liverpool Folk Club 1970

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 04:48 AM

Just got back from Whitby after a great week there. Its our first time there since we honeymooned at the Festival in 1972 and thought it would be great to celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary at the same place. It was great to see Southport Swords still going strong but sadly none of the present crew seemed to remember the (in)famous wallpaper roll dance.
Saw a lot of familiar faces without putting names to them , so, if I almost ran YOU over with my mobility scooter -apologies

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Keith Price
Date: 29 Aug 12 - 09:39 AM

Snap Peter, Mary and I spent our honeymoon at the festival in 1973, I'm glad you and Maggie had a good time.
       What's all this about mobility scooters ?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 05:43 AM

Hi keith great to hear from you. I remember meeting you and Mary in Whitby in 1973 when we were celebrating our first anniversary. Time flies so quick.
As to the scooter - well age has caught up with me a bit and I dont walk very far. Still playing banjo and now make them for my sins. I still have the old Windsor that you swopped for what I think was your first melodeon. I have rebuilt it a couple of time so it now tunes up and plays well. Its just one of my "Vast" collection (26). Maggie is still a fine recorder/whistle player and now also plays banjo and she is pretty good at it.
Hope to get to Liverpool some time and would love to meet up again.
Pete

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Keith Price
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 09:03 AM

Peter give me a call 0151 228 0696 when you come up.

Keith

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 30 Aug 12 - 10:01 AM

Thanks Keith - recepricol if you ever get near Hampshire 01256 781898

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Mal Auton
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 02:16 PM

Regarding Colin Brown. The green moose folk club was in the cafe area not the cellar--it took a strong person to go into that cellar. Colin was one of the key figures in the folk revival of the 60s. I knew him for a few years but did not really know him as he didn't give much away--he did have a fine voice. Fergy and Silkie (Brian and Irene Ferguson) probably know more about him than most people I can remember..they still do a bit in the old Kirklands if I remember right. They will be doing it somewhere.

Good luck
Mal

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 06:25 AM

Interesting item on BBC 4's Midweek this morning. Rod Davis, brother of Rosie and Bernie and nowadays playing old timey music in London, talking about his early days with the Quarrymen in Liverpool.

For anyone who's forgotten, the Quarrymen was the skiffle group from which the Beatles were eventually formed.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 31 Oct 12 - 06:30 AM

Sorry folks. I should have added that Midweek went out from 9-00 to 9-45 this morning. I've just had a look on the Radio 4 site where they say it is not yet up on Listen Again. Presumably it will be uploaded later on today.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Sue Webster (Jack Ketch Band)
Date: 11 Nov 12 - 03:36 PM

Just spent sometime reading all these posts and having a giggle. I remember so many of these evenings and people from the past. Now inspired to get back onto the folk scene. Hope to go to The Bothy next Sunday and definitely organize a JKB reunion.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: LesB
Date: 12 Nov 12 - 10:36 AM

Hi Sue. Great singers night at the Bothy last night 13+ floor singers inc A young relation (Nephew I think ) of Pete Rowley playing Northumbrian Pipes. Next Sun Sarah McQuaid.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Cathy Hornby/Ormston/O'Dea
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 01:50 PM

Well, I'm very late to this party but I've had a great old time scanning this terrific thread - a roll call of the amazing singers, musicians, larger-than-life-characters and general all-round-good-eggs of the Liverpool folk scene. Hello everone - there's loads of people mentioned/writing on here deserving of a big wave and a hug :)

I pitched up to the Trad club in 1980 about two weeks after my 18th birthday having come to Liverpool to train as an occupational therapist, and had been tipped off about the club by folk-club chums from Middleton where I'd begun singing (Cathy O'Dea in those days). Chris (Ormston) and I, along with Ruth Eccles (whistle/flute player) and some chap called Tony from Sheffield were the 'youth section' I guess(!) - I loved those Thursday nights at the Trad club, and the Bothy nights too (when I could cadge a lift). Stayed in Liverpool for the next nine years - highlights included seeing Nic Jones (more than once I remember); seeing Sam Sherry perform his songs, dances and show his archive film of the Sherry brothers; Jill Burns - always brilliant; and the usual suspects aka 'the residents' who were such great performers, but mainly the general quality of the audiences' singing of rousing choruses and enjoying competing with Tony Gibbons for the high harmonies (he always won).There was Shay singing 'John Anderson my Jo', Barbara, Mike and Tony ('Bright Phoebus'?) singing erm 'Bright Phoebus'?; Judith and Jill singing about the 'Co-op shop',and of course all of the things mentioned already. There were so many events/parties/high jinks that were pure joy (the run of festivals mentioned by Clive were particularly noteworthy, even if it did take years to clear the debt :/ ) - I was in total heaven dancing in the Adelphi ballroom to Bernard Lasblez & Tijaz - remember that? Did I dream it or did the Elliots of Birtley visit from time to time (Bill Elliot being in Liverpool for a few years) - Chris and I had a bit of a spell playing/singing with Bill, Dave Allman (fiddle) and John Freeman (mandolin/guitar).

And Clive, remember doing a one off ceilidh gig with me, Chris, Cathy Goss and Andy Hornby? We were - very briefly - WD40 ?! Ah - what fun!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 04 Apr 13 - 05:29 PM

A heart-warming post there from Cathy - where are you these days? Somewhere in the North-east? Are you still erm, "active?"
The Liverpool Fest. we had at the Adelphi was a memorable one for me too. Had to find a private backstage area for two artists to (better not go to press too much here!) do some evening toking, and the mighty Pyewacket's storming cover of The Police's "Spirits In The Material World" on Saturday morning was sheer inspiration.
Cathy, I still have a ticket for that WD40 dance in a scrapbook. 19th Feb. 1987 at St. Johns Hall was the date. Were we any good?
Yes, I do have more scrapbooks than Bill Wyman.
What about this JK Band reunion too Ms Webster? I started to do a blow-by-blow account of gigs and rehearsals (oh yes we did!) but got lazy. Must resume that project. Tried to get our old bass drum down from the loft recently and found I couldn't, as the new access door is smaller than the original! It'll be up there for ever!

Subject: RE: mr blundells arms k
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 04:35 PM

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 07:32 AM

This question goes back to the '60s but as a great deal of this mighty thread concerns the early days of the Liverpool 'folk scare' I thought I'd ask who was Hilary Watson?
Her name crops up in a Bothy guest list from 1965 (we paid her £3/10/0d!) and maybe she's the same Hilary who was on the very first flyer from 1964 when 'Hilary and Joan' were listed as 'Resident Guests.'
Odd term that I've always thought, but I wasn't actively involved at that time, being more concerned with getting the nuances of 'Louie, Louie' right with R&B outfit The System!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 07:32 AM

This question goes back to the '60s but as a great deal of this mighty thread concerns the early days of the Liverpool 'folk scare' I thought I'd ask who was Hilary Watson?
Her name crops up in a Bothy guest list from 1965 (we paid her £3/10/0d!) and maybe she's the same Hilary who was on the very first flyer from 1964 when 'Hilary and Joan' were listed as 'Resident Guests.'
Odd term that I've always thought, but I wasn't actively involved at that time, being more concerned with getting the nuances of 'Louie, Louie' right with R&B outfit The System!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 08:29 AM

I have a memory of the first guests I ever saw in a Folk Club around 1964. The Jug of Punch at The Princess Hotel Ellesmere Port.

Could have been Hillary and Joan from Chester? If so I think Hilary may have been Hilary Whatmough / Whatmore?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 08:59 AM

You could be right Les. I'm just going from Godfrey Boardman's typing from his notes and his sight isn't 100% these days. He still does the door for us though! Any other viewpoints?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Steve Jessop
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 10:37 PM

Just been reading through this thread and can across the comments regarding The Knowl Brow Folk Club in Skelmersdale & Dave Hockley. I was Daves flat mate at the time and so was dragged in to play bass with the resident band at the club. In the original line up as well as Dave H & I were Dave Armour who worked for Skelmersdale Development Corporation and had the remit to run the club on their behalf. Also there were Mike & Val Green on mandolin and voice and another singer called Chris whose second name is lost to me in the mists of time. When the club moved from fortnightly to weekly we did turn and turn about with Derek Griffifths. The guest list was pretty impressive for the time and a small club and all for 50p. Sadly Dave Hockley (David Ennion as a published poet) died in 2007. It'd be interesting to see if anyone rise has memories of that club.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 16 - 11:37 AM

I'm informed that Hilary Whatmaugh (not sure of the spelling) was half of the Hilary and Joan duo (I don't know Joan's surname), neither do I know Hilary's maiden name. A bit before my time I think.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Sam Bracken
Date: 18 Nov 16 - 02:06 PM

I don't know how I managed to miss this thread from all those years ago. I noticed that John Howson mentions the group I was in with my husband, Mick (Johnson), Shay Black, Mick Coyne and Davy Brennan. He says that Tony Gibbons was in our group (Seoda Ceoil). This was not the case. Shay and Tony were later in a group together called Garva. When Mick Coyne went to live in Ireland, he was replaced by Martin Dunn (flute). As mentioned by Barbara Snape (nee Bennion) Martin did live in Bacup, but Andy Seagroatt informed me recently when he visited us that he now lives in Amble, Northumberland. I remember the very start of The Liverpool Traditional Folk Club at The Gregson Wells. We wanted to run it with as many residents as possible, so that we would always have a good residents evening when we didn't have a guest on. I remember John Howson and Barbara Bennion performing together, Tony Rosney, Gron, Frank McCall. I remember Trevor Owen and I'm afraid other names have faded into the mists of time. When it was Mick's (Johnson) turn to book the guests, we had Tom Anderson and Peerie Willie Johnson, Alison McMorland, Ray Fisher, Kevin Mitchell and lots of other brilliant artistes around at the time. Mick and I left Seoda Ceoil when we had children (3) and subsequently moved to Cumbria. We kept in touch with Shay and Martin for many years. Lost touch with Mick Coyne, albeit his mum came to watch Sam and I when we were on at The Bothy Folk Club a few years back. Mick was killed in a cycling accident 15 years ago. I have met up with Davy Brennan a couple of times recently. He now lives in Edinburgh. I live in Settle, North Yorkshire with my husband Sam Bracken, who used to be in a band called Five Hand Reel and Therapy. We now have a band with an old friend of mine and Micks from the Liverpool days, Steve Keene (fiddle), then there is Andrew, Service, Gaye Woolard, Mike Harding, Sam and myself. We go under the dubious name of 'Giggleswick Temperance Band'. What would we do without music in our lives? Best wishes to all. Elaine Bracken (Johnson that was)

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Nov 16 - 06:17 AM

I know nobody will read all this but feel i ought to lob in the heroic Tony Wilson - I feel sure he will have been mentioned many times above

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 21 Nov 16 - 06:16 PM

Yes, a heads-up for Tony Wilson. I owe everything I know about presentation and making an 'occasion' of every event to Tony. Allied to his showmanship was a deep and eclectic knowledge which he was always willing to share.
He asked me to become a Bothy FSC Resident in February 1974 and a year later I stood in as Organiser for him when he went on a teaching secondment to Hull. I'm still doing that 6-month stint(he assured me that's all it would be) now!
He was fearless, a veritable force of nature and he told it like it was. He is missed as indeed are Stan Ambrose and Dave Boardman, 2 more of the original Bothy Folk. However the Club they founded 52 years back is still going strong and I think that they'd all take pride in that.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 07:08 AM

Hilary Whatmough is my cousin and in regular contact with us.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 22 Nov 16 - 02:34 PM

Wow banjoman - a small world. Please pass on by thanks and best wishes to Hilary. Great songs, lovely harmonies - I know this sounds daft but I couldn't understand why they were not on the TV!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 24 Nov 16 - 05:20 AM

Will do Les. She lives in Chester and I have asked her to have a look at this thread. Her maiden name was Lunney if that is any help.
Pete

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 27 Nov 16 - 07:09 AM

Hilary confirms she was the Hilary of Hilary & Joan . They lost contact some time ago but believe Joan lived in Derbyshire.
I have suggested Hilary have a look at this thread so expect a lot more.
Pete

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Nov 16 - 12:20 PM

Thanks Pete,

the Jug of Punch was the first folk club in Ellesmere Port. I went from around 1964 until it closed around 1965.

I cannot believe that Ellesmere Port now has 2 folk festivals!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 05 Dec 16 - 07:20 AM

I had an email from Hilary who confirms a lot of what has already been said. She and Joan were sort of residents at the Bothy when it was at the Cattle Market- She says they were asked to provide some alternative to what was presented by Tony Wilson Dave Boardman & Stan Ambrose and received a drink as payment. The Cattle Market seems ti figure a lot in the history of the Liverpool Folk Scene.
Maggie & I had our wedding reception there in 1972 with the Acme ceilidh band. Also involved with the Old Rope group (Not to be confused with a group currently touring with a similar name)who ran the Ale House Club there.
The Spinners also graced those halls before moving to Gregsons Well.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 07 Dec 16 - 05:30 AM

Hilary has now told me that Joan's surname was Watson. They met at Mount Pleasant school where they both attended. Now lost touch but Joan was last believed to be living in Derbyshire. As well as the Cattle Market, they were also regulars at the Irish Centre and won several certificates for their harmony arrangements..

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 07 Dec 16 - 01:55 PM

As Bruce Scott's name has been mentioned a few times already on this thread I thought it would be appropriate to pass on the sad news of his passing. He was a Liverpool singer and songwriter, who described himself as an FBI man, which used to alarm people until he went on to explain it meant Foreign Born Irishman!
He grew up in the Scotland Road district of Liverpool, but moved out to Kirkby. He married Dot, who he always called Polly, and wrote many lovely songs for his "Rose of Liverpool". He won the All Ireland Fleadh in 2004 with his song for Dot "My Collen By the Shore".
Bruce came to some public attention when a reporter claimed to have discovered Lord Lucan in Goa. Bruce identified the person as his old singing mate from St Helens, Barry Halpin!
Bruce was a great character - on one trip to Ireland the Ryanair pilot lost his way and landed at a military airstrip instead of the intended destination of Derry. Naturally Bruce made a song out of that!
May he rest in peace

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 07 Dec 16 - 03:12 PM

Thanks to Banjoman for clearing up the 'Resident Guests' terminology on the initial Bothy FSC flyers! That has always puzzled me, and I also wondered just who Hilary and Joan were, not being a Bothyman in those early days. A drink as a thank-you eh? I must ask Godfrey, Treasurer still, to reinstate that practice!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 08 Dec 16 - 06:30 AM

Sad news about Bruce Scott. We knew him quite well as he was part of the Melia clan in Liverpool. I cant recall ever seeing him sober although his singing seemed to get better and better the more he drank.
Clive - Hilary says she has a poster advertising the first Bothy at the Cattle Market. I will ask her if there is a date on it. Although we are first cousins, our paths never crossed on the Folk Scene, or did they and we were unaware that we were so closely related. We met online through an American site looking for info on the family name Finucane) to which we both submitted information. The rest is history.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 19 Dec 16 - 11:59 AM

I have that same small flyer banjoman - its date is 23rd November 1964, with Tony Wilson having to add his name in biro as the printer must've missed him off! Goodness knows how many they'd had done!
If there was a full size poster, I've never seen it.

I have a second cousin with whom I'd lost touch until about 25 years ago at Whitby Festival when my name was mentioned in a singaround and Judith came up to me at the end to announce that her Mum and mine were cousins. As I have so little family, it was quite an emotional moment and we'd no idea that we had this common interest. I see her regularly now and there's only 160 miles between us - funny old world eh?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 20 Dec 16 - 07:08 AM

We are hopeful of getting north in the New Year to see my sisters who both live still in Maghull. We will take the opportunity to visit Hilary in Chester and possibly see a few more old friends (Keith Price ?)
It is the same poster as yours although what condition its in I don't know

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jan 18 - 12:55 PM

Jimmy Smith, I used to go to the Yankee clipper (folk night with a good mate of mine, Bob Carter, who as sadly passed away. I remember a lot of students there and some of them were sitting there and knitting yes KNITTING. When I told some of my friends this recently, they thought I was on drugs, You also, could not talk if a performer was on They also had the yard-of-ale competition. Does any one remember this, if so please reply, and shut these doubters up.    Great days

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 05 Oct 18 - 05:02 AM

BBC Radio Merseyside
30 September 2018 - Folk Scene
Mike Brocken plays some clips from some reel to reel recordings of the programme from ~40\50 years ago.
Lots of references to local clubs and characters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06kdw09 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
bbc iPlayer Radio app
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3yvdp3zQJWLtl204z9nxgRt/download-the-iplayer-radio-app 
(then click the '+' on the programme's web page
    then on the app click 
            Menu > My Radio > Listen Later)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 06 Oct 18 - 12:24 PM

I went to the Yankee Clipper a handful of times in the early '70s - funnily enough I was only walking down Temple Street where it was situated the other week and tried to locate its exact location. I think I got it nailed but here has been a lot of development down there.
In those days it was a pretty dark and dingy club but atmospheric and that was true of so many of the old venues detailed in this thread.
I recall seeing Cliff Aungier, the folk/blueser there.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Steve Elliott
Date: 11 Jun 19 - 09:23 AM

I remember The Hooters fronted by 'Artie' Shaw with Robbie Jones and a lady called Annie who wrote some great songs. They occasionally played at The Traveller's Rest Folk Club in Little Sutton Anyone got Robbie's contact details?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Alison John’s Daughter
Date: 04 May 20 - 07:21 AM

THANK YOU SO MUCH for replying with the full song lyrics this is absolutely amazing, I had lost hope and also lost the link to this page!
I'll now be singing it to my 12 year old son, seems only appropriate! X