Liverpool Folk Club 1970

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,joyce bennion
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 04:44 AM

The last ferry to Birkenhead was midnight and we often had to run to catch it. The landing stage was really scruffy and exposed.There was an all night bus through the tunnell that you could catch at the tunnell entrance which ran hourly. It was brilliant craic on the bus which stopped on the other side by the old Birkenhead market where everyone made a dash for the waiting taxis.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: scouse
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 04:32 AM

Thanks, Fred I knew there was a club on the Dock Road. Now all I have to work out is how I managed to get to Adrian House Folk club in Aigburth, and back again when I lived in Wallasey?????? It a long way to travel. Anyone remember what time the last boat left the Pier 'ead for Seacombe an was there a bus running up to Liscard???? I must have walked!!! Oh,shit.. Halcyon Days..

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 04:21 AM

Spin was excellent have nearly all copies and still trawl them for songs to sing,

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 07:45 PM

Somewhere up the thread there was mention of Adrian House Folk Club in Aigburth. Alan McMahon and I took over the organising of it when Kings Shilling split (I was then called Joan Harvey). Adrian House was a Knights of St Columba clubhouse. Somewhere I have a cassette tape of a recording done at the club of a number of the regular floorsingers and residents.

At that time there were folk clubs every night of the week in Liverpool, and all well attended.

There was an excellent A5-size monthly magazine, "Spin" (produced by the Spinners), which included a number of songs (with tunes) plus song histories, a ballad section, a sea shanty section, and club info, of which I still have a number of treasured copies. When you got up to sing a traditional song, the audience may well have known more about the song than you, and would be at pains to tell you if you gave out the wrong information about it, or conversely would congratulate you on good research if you were able to tell them something new.

Nowadays, audiences know more about the singers than the songs, and are more likely to tell you if your version differs from the most popular version. How times have changed...

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,joyce bennion
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 02:19 PM

Hi andy, am I right in thinking that Paul Simon played at the Green moose? The Green moose was before my time.
John Fellowes was known as ying tong John because he often sang a song that sounded like he was singing in chinese.
Oily joes sing around on a Saturday was hosted by Frank McCall.
Is there still a session at Ye Olde Crack Rice street?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 01:46 PM

True enoughski Barry Walmsley and Ken Wood. Ken was living in Mytholmroyd or some where with a similar spelling and Barry left for Brumish just before the last war.

Bernie and Pete were great fun for sure.

L in C
On the way to The Singaround at the Beech

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 01:11 PM

Ah yes Les, Barry Walmsley and Ken Wood.
I remember Pete and he was hilarious. He always kept a straight face which made him even funnier. I also remember Bernie Davies singing the Guiness song standing on one leg on a chair with a blow up seagull on his shoulder.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 10:19 AM

<>

West Kirby band still going (though probably with different members), Valley Folk starring young Steve Heap (now Mrs Casey!) and Hector Gilchrist (then from Crewe Sing Out Folk Club, now resident in the home counties and a visitor to Sidmouth FolkWeek for the last few years).

Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: LesB
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 09:46 AM

That's Southport Swords, not the teutonic one.
I remember at a Bothy ceilidh, Pete having this stuffed rat (not a real one, just realistic) to which he had a long length of elastic. One end of which was tied to a chair at one side of the dance floor (in front of the stage) and under his foot at the other side.
At just the right moment, when Mike Harding was in the middle of one of his rambling intro's, he lifted his foot.
Mike nearly fell off the stage laughing.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 09:15 AM

Musician with The SS as I remember

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Mr Happy
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 08:53 AM

If my memory serves me right, Pete Rowley, didn't he also play melodeon?

If it was him, then he'd play 'Billy Boy' beginning in'D', then partway through the chorus he'd change key to 'G', leaving the audience wrong footed - hilarious!!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 08:46 AM

Pete Rowley, I haven't heard that name for ages. What a character he was. I used to love him singing in that "pub style" voice, and that thing he used to do where he would sort of double back on himself in a chorus which left the audience ahead of its self - if that makes sense!Anyway, folkies out there who remember Pete will know what I'm trying to explain.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 08:06 AM

I seem to remember a Shirley Collins look-alike contest which may or may not have been won by Bernie Davies in a nice frock

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Jerry O'Reilly
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 07:58 AM

The first Liverpool Folk Festival was in 1966. The "competition" was judged by Shirley Collins. The Irish Traditional Music Archive have a copy of the vinyl L.P. entitled Liverpool 66,featuring, amongst others, The Liverpool Ceili Band, The West Kirby Band, Bill Bracken, The Valley Folk, Dave Hoye and Hector Gilchrist.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Andy Seagroatt
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 04:40 AM

I was in Mabel's Own Ceilidh band which used to play regularly in The Post Office pub which was round the corner from the Green Moose as well as at the Victoria on Saturday evenings. Mabel was the very sharp tongued landlady of the Post Office! It was put together and named in order to enter a competition for the first Liverpool Folk Festival which was held in the Bluecoat. Another entrant was The Liverpool Shantymen which was put together by Tony Wilson with the aim of having the maximum number of members allowed for a group (12 if I remember rightly - I also sang with them on that occasion). I can't remember who won, it was either Mabel's Own or the shantymen. It was judged by Bert Lloyd I think. This was probably in 1967 or 1968.

Members of Mabel's own were myself on banjo, Rod Davies (fiddle), Bernie Davies (melodeon), Stan Ambrose (Whistle), Tony Murphy (Triangle), Richie ? (Whistle and bodhran), Pete Rowley (whistle), Jim Byrne (Snare Drum) and maybe others but I'm not sure now. We were never very serious but it was good fun.
All the above are recollections some of which could be wrong of course!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 03:53 AM

Sue Webster it was with Ken and Keith, (she's into operatics now) though that was in the latter days when we'd become a larger unit with myself and Sean Murphy - 'Jack Ketch Band.' We added Mick Rimmer on electric bass and enjoyed some good years as an English Music Band, doing dances.
Could the original third member of Old Rope have been Ted Barwise? - now also deceased. Keith Price has started coming along to the Bothy recently and I could always quiz him. I can confirm that Ken Dunlop though isn't active in music these days and even Pricey hasn't seen him in ages.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: LesB
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 03:04 AM

Barbara Bennion(now Snape) & Peter, are booked at Whitby this year. So if anyone wants to catch up, she will be there. By the way I'm not a nurse either.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 02:26 PM

Well Guest,

Barbara Bennion was indeed the excellent young singer I remember. I was not a male nurse but a male teacher and ran a club, The Bag End Folk Club, in Ellesmere Port. 72 - 73 the residents were, amongst others Ken from Chester and Barry from Birkenhead who were both friends with Barbara,

Best wishes to all

Les in Chorlton

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 02:05 PM

Ah sorry banjoman. Old Rope at The Cattle market, of course.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 01:57 PM

Kieth and Ken were in a trio and I can't remember the other guys name.Can't remember what they were called. They ran a folk club on a Thursday in a pub, I think was called the Slaughter house? They always opened the night singing , "The Bonny Ship The Diamond" etc.
Does anyone else remember the irish sessions in Ye Olde Crack Rice street on a Wednesday?The Customs house ran on a Saturday night and was hosted by Frank McCall who sadly died.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 01:36 PM

Hi I remember all those pubs and clubs. My sister is Barbara Bennion who sang with Frank McCall and lots of others as well and was involved in the folk clubs. The Spinners had their club on a monday at Gregsons Well and was the first club that I went to. I was about 13 at the time and my sister made me go cause she wanted to do a floor spot there and yes Godfrey was on the door.It's John Howson's 60th in September and he is having a get together at the Everyman bistro. Les are yo the Les that was a male nurse ? BTW my sister still sings in a duo with her new husband Peter Snape.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 01:03 PM

Well, 'he' was about 6' 2" and I think he had a beard but that may not be relevant

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Shay Black
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 12:53 PM

I think the "third man" was a woman called Sue.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 12:28 PM

They were indeed and two fiddlers at that. Who was the third man? So to speak

cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 12:20 PM

Keith and Ken.

Could that be Keith Price and Ken Dunlop? Both fiddlers. Keith is still around, he resides at the Everyman Folk Club, but I haven't seen Ken in donkey's years.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 12:18 PM

Old Rope were good, three lads I think - we did a Mummers play with them autumn of 72 and some busking for a charity around the same time.

Keith and erm ........... Ken and erm ................. Also remember Babara from Birkenhead - excellent voice

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 07:26 AM

Not guilty Baz, on the John Fellowes allusion - was that young geezer Shay Black, but I do like his turn of phrase! I think I'm right in saying Rod Baxter has won that "Worst singer in the world" award more times than most at Fylde?
Derek's most recent post probably lies at the heart of the 'where on earth do we go from here and who's going to nurture the grass roots when us old guard are no longer here?' debate. Liverpool's situation where one had in 1970, a choice of clubs to attend ANY night of the week, simply mirrors what's happened nationwide. I'm blowed if I know where to start on any sort of resolution but I can remember going to heated Festival workshops on the self-same subject over 30 years ago!!!! - and don't get me started on open mic nights!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 07:22 AM

Brings back lots of memories about Liverpool in the 60s & early 70s. You all forgot to mention the Ale House Folk Club which started in the "Conservative" club on Townsend lane and moved to a pub further up Breck Road then finally ending up at the Cattle Market. Run by the Old Rope Band with loads of guests and floorsingers including myself and my wife soon to be - Maggie -
In fact the liverpool Ceilidh Band played at our wedding reception in the Cattle Market on Prescott Road in 1972.

Anyone remember the "Air Guitarist" Ken Adams?

In those days we could go to a different folkclub eavery night and often did. We also spent many late hours at the house of John Fellowes - a poet - and going straight on to work.
Alas time has taken its toll although we still get involved in the folk scene down in Hampshire.
Regards to old friends

Pete (& Maggie)

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 05:59 AM

Clive's John who "couldn't carry a tune in a bucket" is John Fellowes, alive and well and living in Shrewsbury. Still singing with or without bucket.

The bus ride back from Oily Joes was always an "experience"...

Baz

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 05:22 AM

Oily Joe's was on the Dock Road in north Liverpool, near to where the old British and Irish Steamship ferries used to sail from. In fact it was right next to Oil Street. Hence the name.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: scouse
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 05:19 AM

Thanks Shay!!! The one place I was tryin' to remember was "Oily Joes." one guy says it was the other Victoria!! But where the hell was Oily Joes???

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 05:18 AM

Reading these postings about one city's folk music making over a 20 year period makes you wonder about the present day scene. As already pointed out, only one club survives in Liverpool centre, at the Everyman, and there is, of course, the thriving Bothy in Southport - both originating in and/or supported by the same people who were involved in the 70s (and earlier). There are a few other clubs I've no doubt on the Wirral, Maghull...
So where does the current day teenage equivalent to us all those years ago get to hear folk music today? No doubt there's a session or two. And the Phil has occasional concerts, and there is the arts centre circuit (Southport, again, and other towns surrounding Liverpool.) But where is that intermediary - where local singers can get up and perform in front of an audience (bit different to a session) and also hear guest performers close up, generally unamplified.
It was a formula that worked extremely well, for a while. Perhaps folk clubs were just a briefly experienced phenomenon whose time has passed. Though there are examples of flourishing clubs around.
I am not being specific to Liverpool here. I spent 3 years in manchester and could have gone to folk clubs, by bus, 7 days a week - in fact, I sometimes did (to the detriment of my university studies perhaps!) I saw some of the best names on the scene at the time. Now there are no folk clubs in the centre of the city or even much in the suburbs.
the folk scene is witnessing a whole host of young talented singers and musicians - think of all that talent performing in the folk clubs of the 60s and 70s! It might have made some of them better able to relate to an audience, better able to project to an audience, but we would have been wowed by the talent! But ... where are the young audiences to go alongside them? Some of them are at festivals - Towersey springs to mind, but today's young audiences seem not to want to sit in concerts!

sorry if this hijacks the Liverpool folk club reminiscence thread, which I am really enjoying.
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 05:08 AM

The Kirby Town Three?

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 04:27 AM

I remember the Green Moose Coffee Bar. It was situated in the back alley parallel to Church St with Cranes Music Shop on the corner. I remember going into the coffee bar in 1966(?) and guitarist Brendan McCormack was in there playing some beautiful classical music. At that time, Brendan had a - sort of- folk duo with comedian Tom O'Connor; Brendan, sadly, died a few months ago.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 04:25 AM

Another Peom

When it쳌fs breezy by the Mersey
Wear a pullie or a jersey
If you쳌fre not particularly hardy
You can always wear a cardy

If you쳌fre sailing on the ferry
You쳌fll hear the famous song from Gerry
Even if you쳌fre on your own
You쳌fll never walk alone

On the crossing to Woodside
From the good side to the dud side
There쳌fs no customs en arrive
Mersey docks and harbour board
And little lambs eat ivy

Wanksabout Verbs

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 18 Aug 09 - 03:37 AM

I think Willy Russell ran a club first at the Green Moose Coffee Bar but later with Jim(?) somebody at Childwall Vale or Valley

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Shay Black
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 07:21 PM

Well, this is all fascinating, me hearties. Hello to all.

I remember well Adrian House, run by Tony Rosney and John, as it was in my neck of the woods at the time, when I lived in Lark Lane. We often had seamen of every hue suppin' a pint at the bar.

Oily Joe's (The Victoria) was one of the most welcoming singing sessions I ever attended. Who remembers the lad who used to play air guitar on the zipper of his anorak, and sing "Honey Pie"? And John Somebody, who couldn't hold a tune in a bucket, but who eventually moved on to bigger and better things by coming first in "The Worst Singer In The World" at Fylde Folk Festival.

And what about the Thursday night Gregson's Wells, before it was pulled down? Wasn't that the forerunner of the The Liverpool Traditional Folk Club at the Cross Keys and The Vines (the Big House)?

What a myriad of residents we had at Gregsons, including a number of talented bands. Two singers' nights a month, then one night for a "local" guest and the last night for a "national" guest. One of our residents, Dick H. was working in the Liverpool Planning Department, and the story was he had conveniently lost the city council order to demolish the pub, by dropping it behind a filing cabinet. It stood there, alone, on that corner for two or three years while we searched for another venue.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 03:01 PM

The 43 was a small informal gathering - I remember Frank and Co - King's Shilling practicing upstairs and coming down to give a three part 30 Foot Trailer

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 02:46 PM

Can't remember nor trace that one Les. Can offer the 'Liverpool Fishermen' with Bernie Davis and Brian Jaques as Resis at the Yankee Clipper. They made a vinyl (of course) album called "Swallow The Anchor" which must be ultra rare and Jaquesy was in 'Brigantine' - described as "the portable Folk Concert. Available for all types of club, except those with no ale!"
Bill Bracken was the regular at Atlantic House.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 02:37 PM

Poem 64 of 230: LIVERPOOL

Caught a train, along a long-used line,
    From Manchester to Liverpool.
On that day the weather was fine:
    Sunny - just a little bit cool.
There, I purchased a Walkabout Guide,
    Marked some sights, and headed outside.

As usual when first at such a place,
    I walked to the main art-gallery,
The central mall, and the garden space;
    Then headed down to the wide Mersey.
There, from ferry, I viewed the skyline -
    A good sturdy cityscape, for mine.

From http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
Or http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse (e-book)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 01:05 PM

The 43 Club, 43 Catherine Street, Tuesday nights?

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 12:10 PM

Scouse - Adrian House was in Sandringham Drive, L'pool 17 (just off Aigburth Road I think)

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 12:07 PM

I have a piece of archive that I've long treasured. A small orange-backed booklet published by Mersey & Deeside District of EFDSS in 1972 (as the redoubtable Miss Anderson was retiring to be superseded by the Northern Regional Organiser). It has a Performers Index - listing Soloists, Bands and callers, Clubs, Customs. Everything the fledgling enthusiast could wish.
Period adverts abound; - Merseyside Folklore Research Association, mentioned earlier in this thread (Vice-President A.L. Lloyd)- a Club at 'The Yankee Clipper' in Temple Street where I saw Cliff Aungier once, Mike Harding (pudding tickler & maggot breeder). Strewth!
EFDSS annual membership was £3 per individual, and Derek if you don't have a copy, you're welcome to have a butcher's next week!!!!   
PS
According to this priceless document, Adrian House's Organiser was John Davies with Residents, The Kings Shilling - that'll be John, with Frank McCall and John Cornett then. I think Tony Rosney was involved at some stage and also Keith Myers, who'll be supping a pint of Strongarm in the 'Elsinore' Whitby, this time next Monday!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 11:55 AM

There was a club out in Aigburth which used to meet on a Tuesday in a Catholic club. I think that might have been Adrian House. To my knowledge Jacqui and Bridie were never involved.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 11:41 AM

Google tells me that Adrian House was a hostel for Catholics passing through Liverpool ... was it a Jacqui and Bridie club?
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: scouse
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 11:34 AM

Help!!! I've just found three membership cards of Folkclubs in Liverpool 1. Atlantic House Friday Folk Club. 2 The Yankee Clipper Folk Club and 3 Adrian House Folk Club. I can remember the first two but where was the third?? Antone remember???

As Aye,

Phil.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 10:10 AM

Jerry O'Reilly. "Fred, the whistle player from The Dubliners would have been the late Ciaran Bourke."

Hi Jerry. Quite correct. I just couldn't think of his name.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 09:59 AM

I was talking to Jacqui a few weeks ago at Taffy Thomas's 60th birthday in the Lake District, where she now lives. If Taffy ever appeared at any of the clubs mentioned, he would have been a teenager or twenty-something! where did all those years go???
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 09:47 AM

'ullo again dears. I think the Clubship Landfall is still there - barely afloat and a rusting hulk, somewhere near Bramley Moor dock. Would just like to say that there is another Folk Club, (and far be it for me to define what constitutes a 'Folk Club'!) in Liverpool -run by Jacqui McDonald of "and Bridie" fame, once a month at Sefton Park Cricket Club. I haven't been, though maybe I should? I had a fine old time MCing her at last year's Liverpool Shanty Festival - always an entertaining and engaging performer.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Jerry O'Reilly
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 08:16 AM

Fred, the whistle player from The Dubliners would have been the late Ciaran Bourke.