Liverpool Folk Club 1970

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Rod Davis
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:31 AM

I forgotto add the URL for the photo of Barry Flynn and the Britannia Bluegrass band. Here it is


http://www.originalquarrymen.co.uk/html/phil.html

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Rod Davis
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:27 AM

Not only was the Spinners Club in Sampson & Barlow's,but Sam Leach's Peppermint Lounge also! But of course the Spinners eventually moved to Gregson's Well.

Rosie Davis is not only my sister, she's also Bernie Davis's sister!

Barry Flynn was the banjo picker with the Moonshiners, I saw him many years ago at the Peterborough Country Music Festival when he was playing with Hank and the Dusty Road Ramblers. At the time I was playing with the Armadilloes, a tex-mex-bluegrass outfit which included Alan Ward, Rick Townend, Rosie Davis, Peta Webb and Tony Engle, (+ bass player Keith Calton/Laurie Harper/Alex??)We even appeared at the Liverpool Folk Festival and at The Cavern where Bernie played bass for us.

The last time I saw Barry was at the Phil Concert for the 50th Anniversary of the Buddy Holly gig in March '08. He was appearing with the Britannia Bluegrass Band and I was with the Quarrymen (Lennon's old outfit which was where I started out on banjo aged 14). We met up in the Phil pub later and on the Quarrymen's website there is a photo of the whole band, with Ted Costello, Pat Lindon, Pete Mackie and Kenny Johnson.

I haven't heard of Ted from the Green Moose, but I do have a photo of Silky (Irene), now Fergie's wife, working behind the counter!

Keep'em coming! - Rod Davis

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:08 AM

You are very cheaky Fred McCormick! Clive Pownceby of this parish lives in Crosby, as does the secretary of Comholtas in Liverpool, so watch out! My mum was born in Anfield - is that better?
I never thought I would express knowledge about football on Mudcat, but the England games in 1966 were played at Goodison Park, not Anfield. I know, I went to two of them - in fact, the last professional football matches I ever attended - though I was offered free tickets for Crewe Alex earlier this year! Ah, I did say "professional" ....
Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:02 AM

Derek, congratulations. You're the first person I've ever met who admits to having grown up in Crosby :-).

Actually, MacColl and Seeger seem to have had a penchant for clashing with football matches in Liverpool. The first time I ever saw them was at Jacquie and Bridie's Coach House Club in the Dingle in 1966. The world cup was being played in England that year and Liverpool's Anfield ground was that night the venue for an important game involving England. The devil only knows where MacColl and Seeger put up, because every scrap of accommodation had been booked out long before. I do recall that they arrived very late though, as a result of tangling with all the traffic.

Bob Dylan was also in town that night, doing a photoshoot in the north end of Liverpool. But that's another story.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 08:52 AM

My own involvement in the Liverpool folk scene was brief, but to me,
significant. I grew up in Crosby and attended Waterloo Grammar School, 1962-69.

Sometime in the fourth or fifth year, I came across folk music. This was a knock-on impact from Dylan and the protest songs in the charts and its fringes I guess. The school had a strong musical side to it - I was in the school choir, as were several school friends who acquired guitars. We started singing 'folk' songs in the fifth year, I think, when the school was strengthening the House system by having social evenings - the finale to the first evening, in perhaps December 1966, was a selection of songs from the folk
group. No idea now what we sang, but perhaps it included the likes of
Blowing in the Wind, Kumbaya...

By the time we entered the sixth form, we were taking this a bit more
seriously, adding to the repertoire, attending Jacqui and Bridie and
Spinners concerts at the Phil, learning their songs, and making contact with similar folk groups in the other 5 grammar schools in Crosby - Merchant Taylors Boys and Girls, St Mary's (boys RC) and Seafield Convent (girls RC) and Waterloo Park (Girls) Grammar. We did folk nights in the schools etc.

The folk group I was in settled at three people - Graham Matthews, Geoff Holland and I - we were called The Tarrymen. We increased the repertoire, but didn't know anything about the wider folk scene - we didn't even know that folk clubs existed.

After A levels, Graham went to Keele, Geoff stayed in Liverpool and I went to Manchester. We all continued our interest, although
I became the most keen! I joined the uni folk song society, bought the Deep Lancashire LP, and that took me to Harry Boardman's folk club, the Manchester Sports Guild, Bert Lloyd's Folk Song in England, the EFDSS..... By the end of my first year, I'd become secretary of the uni folk song society!

Back in Crosby for the summer, Graham, Geoff and I decided to run a folk club (during the summer, when many folk clubs closed down! Perhaps that's why we got a good audience!). Somewhere during the previous year, we'd come into contact with the County Folk who ran a folk club at The Ship Inn, Haskayne, but they closed for the summer and were at a loose end and we ran the club jointly. The
venue was The Litherland Hotel, Litherland. We had guests every 2 weeks I think, but I can't remember who they were - but the Calton 3 spring to mind.

After we went back to uni, and the club folded, someone else ran a club in the pub - a family band from Liverpool, name escapes me!

During this time - summer 1970, vacations through from 1969 to 1972 - we went to other folk clubs - Liverpool Folk Club at The Mitre started during this time I think, The Bothy at Southport (the Tarrymen sang there). But in 1971, I stayed in Manchester for the summer, and was one of the organisers of Manchester Folk Festival that September. I also went to Sidmouth and Whitby that summer.

During other uni vacations, and after graduation before going to teacher training college, I was in Crosby and went to various folk events. I remember MacColl and Seeger at the Bothy the night of a big football match... After 1973, I was in Crewe where the folk club was held on Sundays, so trips to the Bothy were rare!

During my time attending folk clubs in liverpool, I came across John Howson (who later came to do his teacher training at Madeley or Alsager and who came to the Crewe clubs once or twice - I think we went back to Liverpool at weekends), Barbara Bennion/Snape, her friend Mary (now in Newcastle), Stan Ambrose, Tony Wilson/Molyneux. I remember Bruce Scott singing at the Mitre, Bernie Davis who also went to Sidmouth in 71. Others I've met since, eg Clive at the Bothy, Geoff Speed, John Kaneen.

It's been a good thread - keep it going!

Derek

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 13 Sep 09 - 06:17 AM

btw there's a 1965 photo of the 4-piece Bothy Folk on our website - (www.bothyfolkclub.co.uk) - it's rather good and I've got Tony Wilson's old scrapbook which is full of nostalgia; - photos, press cuttings, jottings and a poster for Cambridge Festival 1966 at which the group was booked. 2 day ticket = £1!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 12:20 PM

Still dredging up old memories - We used to go to a club at the Windham in Bootle run by a group called the Moonshiners. I recall seeing Pete Stanley & Wiz Jones there and remember the night the place was packed out because Louie Killen was booked. Only problem - he never turned up so we had a great singers night. I think that the guy who played banjo in the group went on to play for Hank Walters Dusty Road Ramblers. Are they still about?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 07:08 AM

Jerry,

The Spinners club was indeed in Samson and Barlows in the early 1960s, as was the Calton Club. They both moved to Gregsons Well in the mid-late 60s, sometime after 1965 anyway, possibly when S&B closed down.


"Rod, great contribution to this thread. One question, was The Spinners club ever in Sampson and Barlows? I thought it was in Gregson's Wells. I never realised that Rosie was your sister, we met at Whitby this year at the Traditional Night Out and exchanged some dancing steps in the interval. What about Ted Owens in the Green Moose, anyone know where he is? Last I heard he was warden of a youth hostel on the Isle of Skye"
Jerry O'Reilly

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 05:41 AM

If anyone does decide to write that book then please let me know as I can probably find a few very old photos (pre digital of course)as well as lots more memories.
Keep the thread going

Pete & Maggie

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 03:36 AM

I know this is a daft question but where was the Orpington Folk Club?

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 02:45 AM

Rod, great contribution to this thread. One question, was The Spinners club ever in Sampson and Barlows? I thought it was in Gregson's Wells. I never realised that Rosie was your sister, we met at Whitby this year at the Traditional Night Out and exchanged some dancing steps in the interval. What about Ted Owens in the Green Moose, anyone know where he is? Last I heard he was warden of a youth hostel on the Isle of Skye
Jerry O'Reilly

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Helen B.
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 07:41 PM

We had a Liverpool folk group visit the Orpington Folk Club in 1972. I can't recall their name, they were brillant. All I can recall was a young lady called Jenny, she had a wonderful voice.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Bluegrassman
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 06:53 PM

Alan Ward was playing mandolin last weekend at the Didmarton Bluegrass Festival as part of "A Band Like Alice" one of the finest British bluegrass bands on the scene.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 06:12 PM

Thanx for those few kind words! Would I get a fat advance from a publisher? I often wonder what a Motown/Stax fan is doing with such a level of involvement in this absorbing and rewarding music but I am, of course only standing in for the late Tony Wilson - a 6 months tenure that became a way of life.
Gill Burns is back living in Wallasey with long-term partner Richard and steadfastly declining to pick up a guitar. She lived in Herefordshire, near Bromyard for many years. She works in "Folk In Education" or some such body, and if nowhere else I see her annually at John Mackintosh's at-home Burns Night bash in Port Sunlight.
I still have all her records including the single 'Skates And Bananas'and I'm sure she's also got plenty of copies!!!! Loved those songs of hers - 'Romeo' and 'The One About The Beatles' which was deserving of a better title but she never got around to anything more catchy and that tag was what everyone asked her for at the 'Victoria.'

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 03:56 PM

Rod, I'm sure there's a great book to be found in the history of the Liverpool/Merseyside folk scene, and I nominate Clive Pownceby for the job. The lad's got a great turn of phrase and has been in the middle of things for 40 years or so. Who will second the motion?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Rod Davis
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 01:40 PM

Some great stuff here on this thread! Why doesn't someone write it all down whilst there are still sufficient people around who remember it?

I was amused to see a reference from Andy Seagroatt to Mabel's Own Ceilidh Band. We used to play in the Old Post Office pub round the corner from the Green Moose, much to the annoyance of the landlady, Mabel. It would have been a problem finding another place to play so we hit on the idea of asking Mabel if we could name the band in her honour. This absolutely did the trick and there was no more talk about getting us out. I even heard her telling some guy at the bar "Them's my lads playing in there!" The wonders of PR….

When we played in the band competition at Bluecoat Chambers we provided our usual thrown together sound. Somewhere I still have photocopies of the judges handwritten verdicts, Bert Lloyd just wrote "Good Old Mabel!"

The pub with the bamboo room was the Victoria, down the left side of St George's Hall as you go towards the tunnel. It was notorious for the Newcastle Brown which flowed like water. I would drink six bottles and drive home. Nowadays after six bottles I wouldn't even remember if I had a car……

I first heard about the Spinners Club in October 1960 from a fellow Liverpudlian I met at university. When I came home for the Xmas vacation I joined the club. This was soon followed by the Washhouse in the basement of Sampson & Barlow's, pointedly subtitled "The Singers' Club", a less than subtle reference to the fact that most of the members were floor singers from the Spinners Club who wanted a bigger crack of the whip.

Some years later Pete McGovern himself introduced the Bluegrasss Ramblers when we appeared on Hughie Green's "Opportunity Knocks" at the Granada Studios in Didsbury. We sang and played "Boil 'em cabbage down" but we were told that we had to change the words of one verse as it constituted advertising.

Our original verse ran:

"I bought my girl a pocket watch she swallowed it one day
And now she's taking Epsom salts to pass the time away."

We had to change "Epsom Salts" to "Liver Salts".

In the early days of course Jacqui McDonald played mandolin for the Spinners, I was very impressed with her curly Gibson. A few years later I was privileged to see Doc Watson for the first time when he appeared at the Coach House with Ralph Rinzler.

I clearly remember Paul Simon appearing at Sampson & Barlows several times, it must have been at the Spinners Club. Paul did a sort of egocentric cabaret act rather than the slightly self-deprecating thing the average folk club guest served up. This really got up my nose and I would stay outside drinking until he had finished as I couldn't stand the smarm!

Regarding Jim and Shirley Peden, I also assumed that the group had been called after the song "The Calton Weaver", however when I checked this with Jim he told me that it was because they lived in Calton Avenue just by Penny Lane!

Stan Ambrose once borrowed my Swarbrick and Carthy LP so he could use a tune from it as the signature tune for his radio show. Stan - if you ever get to read this, have a look in your record collection just in case it's still there, it must be worth a few bob by now!

A few names from the dim and distant with whom I am still in contact are Ben Manning, guitarist and habitue of the Green Moose (he worked in Littlewood's IT department). Ben has been living near Minneapolis for many years and he is now retired and makes musical instruments. Alan Ward, mandolinist of the Bluegrass Ramblers, is still around in the London area and is still picking brilliantly; Bob Hughes, guitarist from the same group now lives in Oxford but doesn't play much. Dave Gould, our banjo player, sadly died a few years ago in Israel to which he had emigrated, I am still in touch with Natalie however.
Rosie Davis, (sister of Bernie and myself), lives in E Sussex and is very active these days on the festival scene.

Best regards to anyone who still remembers me! - Rod Davis


I repeat - it's about time somebody did a decent write up about the folk scene in Liverpool, maybe there is one already and I have missed it???

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 11:05 AM

Lennie Cruickshank was awarded a medal of some sort some years ago (OBE ??) for service to the community. I think he started up a city farm somewhere in Liverpool 8. I recall seeing him on TV with Glenda Jackson when both were wading through the old sewage pits in Lower Lane discussing his plans to create a fish farm there. Sad to learn that Joe Rooney, lennies singing partner (Black & Tan) had passed away.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,joyce Jennings nee Bennion
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 10:36 AM

I last saw Lenny Cruickshank on TV on Street Matesabout 10 years ago.It was a programe hosted by Davina McCall who ran around the streets looking for mates for people. I will point out here that it was Lenny's son that she was looking for a mate for.He was still in Liverpool.
I was thinking about another pub land lady, Maisie from Ye Olde Crack in Rice street.We used to have an irish session there on a Wednesday. She use to go mad at the guys in the pub and shout ,"no smoking your marahona in here", pronounced "marajorama". She had a hell of a voice on her.With todays customer service and PC society there aren't any landladies of that kind left.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 05:39 AM

Someone mentioned Lorna a couple of messages ago - was she the girl who ran a Sunday night club at the Mons in Bootle.
Keith - good to hear your still about - give our regards to Faith - we could share some memories about Whitchurch some day
Pete & Maggie

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Keith Myers
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 07:12 PM

Hi Joyce,

You amaze me as far as I remember Lenny never sang or played at Adrian House and he was there most weeks. I can't think he thought he wasn't welcome to sing or play we where happy to let anyone play or sing. Anyone know if Lenny is still around?

Keith

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Joyce Jennings ne Bennion
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 05:20 PM

We had a "stay back" at the Customs House one night and we were singing some old rock'n roll and Nellie appeared wearing an 1950's bathing costume with a little skirt attatched and started dancing around the bar.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Peter douglas
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 10:37 AM

Hi,a couple of people wanted to get in touch, here is my mail address;
    [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 09:50 AM

Should read "intimate knowledge" above.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 09:49 AM

John, apologies for forgetting that you'd mentioned "Scotty". I'd hate to see him airbrushed out of this discussion. Besides yourself, I think I have more intimate of Bruce and Barry than most people.
Jerry

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,John Howson
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 05:51 AM

A couple of posts back there was a mention from 'Liberty Boy' that no one had mentioned Bruce Scott. I think you'll find I did and to answer Fred MacCormick's question about Noel Scanlon. He was a Kerry man and he gave Bruce several songs including 'The Rocks of Bawn' and 'The Deck of the Baltimore'. They are both included on Bruce's 2005 CD 'My Coleen by the Shore'. Noel was a hell of a singer but he was never a part of the folk club scene and sang mainly in the Criterion in Brunswick Road which was run by another Kerryman Peter Scott.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,pat ryan
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 04:04 PM

Hi Keith My friends name was Anne-Marie & we went to many of the clubs at that time. No-one has mentioned Lorna or Rhona who used to go to Jacquie & Bridies I think. Also a group/duo called Moonshadow ?The Windmill Folk ?    The Black horse at west Kirby was great but we had to leave before the end to get the last train so the nuns didn't lock us out !!!!!                                           I also remember entering a competion at the 2plus 1 on a Sunday night run by ?????                                           Whatever happened to Pete Whatman ?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Keith Myers
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 08:19 AM

Seen Bruce Scott a few times at Whitby over the last few years.
He was booked there a couple of years ago.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Liberty Boy
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 03:56 AM

Very interesting that we've heard no mention so far of Barry Halpin and Bruce Scott. Two larger than life characters who were very prominent and were involved with a club in The Railway in St. Helens. Not to mention the fact that they were "barred" from Jim Pedan's club for blowing the froth off beer during somebodys performance. Barry, of course, later died in India and for a while the newspapers tried to make out he was the missing Lord Lucan.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 02:28 AM

Here's a name from the 70s that hasn't been mentioned yet:Gill Burns. It looked for a while like Gill might makes waves on a national level. What is she up to these days?

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 03:18 PM

I ran the Bag End with Ken and Barry until the Summer of 73. Barry left for somewhere Midlandish and I ran it with Dave, Jenny and Lesley and we called ourselves Telford Basin after the canal basin at the bottom end of Ellesmere Port. The Club closed in spring 74 and I left for Bath in Summer 74

Les in Chorlton

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Barbara Snape
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 03:03 PM

We used to go to the Bag End Folk Club in Ellesmere Port with Barry Walmsley and Ken Wood, but I don't remember who ran it. In 1972 we went to Nellie's ( the Customs House) on Thursdays and Saturdays, it took over from the Mitre. Afterwards we went into the Canning Place and stayed until the sun came up! I haven't got to Oily Joes yet. Frank MaColl appears alot in my diaries as does Bernie, Flat County String Band, John Kaneen, Tony Wilson, Stan, Fergie, Keith who was a friend of Franks and lived near Sefton Park. Oh and I have a mention of Ann Maloney who had just moved down from Oldham and was teaching travellers on the Dock Road. I'll keep reading I'm nearly at the end of 1973.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,joyce Jennings nee Bennion
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:13 AM

Lenny Cruckshank sang and played guitar really well. He often played at The old Fort on a Wednesday night. He sang The streets of London and another song about a racehorse. He Played with Joe Rooney who sadly died a few years ago.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Mr Happy
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 08:48 AM

,,,,,,,, & Chester!!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 08:35 AM

I used to go the Bothy Club in Southport in the mid-60s/early 70s and the club was very well organised. The Bothy Singers themselves always went out to entertain with a well planned song list, and there were some really talented local floor singers.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 08:13 AM

Not to mention Ellesmere Port?

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Pete Rimmer
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 05:23 AM

Good to see all the talk of liverpool Folk Club.
Its always good to hear from old friends,and many of them are still singing,and why not.
There was of course a very big scene all over Merseyside inc Crosby ,Formby and of of course Southport.
Pete Rimmer

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Adrian House Cassette
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 02:18 AM

Hi,

I have my copy handy...

1. The Three Drunken Maids - Quadrille
2. The Praties                   "
3. Talchuwanna Girls       - Old Rope
4. The Old Alarm Clock    - Pete Whatman
5. McCafferty                   "
6. Soldiers Joy            - Bernie Davies / Mike Lindon
7. Medley                        "

8. Greenland Whale Fisheries

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Keith Myers
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 01:39 AM

Hi All,

What a great thread. Brings back so many memories.
My wife is on here more often than me and said I'd been mentioned.
Not had time to read all the posts but run quickly through them so sorry if I'm repeating anything said already. Well Clive you got it wrong you did not find me in the Elsinor :-( The wife's mother was seriously ill end of last year start of this and the brewery gave her paid time off to look after her so we could hardly ask for time off to go to Whitby. Sure I was involved in running Adrian House in the early seventies until I moved down south for work but it was really run by a committee. There are a number of people on this thread who I remember from those days. One is Pat Ryan - I remember going back to her college halls trying to dodge the nuns :-) and before anyone asks no we where just friends. BTW Pat what was the name of your mate that used to come to the club with you? Bill Bracken was another blast from the past he was a great singer and entertainer and was willing to do a night at short notice which he did for us a number of times when a guest was ill etc. Don't get me wrong he was also booked in his own rite many times. There are also a few other people I remember from those days. One is Lennie Meakin who was a member of Quadrille and ran the club before the committee took over. Many years latter when I was down in Reading and friendly with Graham Metcalf I was surprised to find that Grahame was singing with Lennie in Oxford. Another was Ian Woods who in those days lived near Daresbury but came over to Liverpool on a regular basis and was a regular guest at the club. He also ended up in Oxford and singing with Graham. The last one is Lennie Cruckshank - He didn't sing or play but the club wouldn't have been the same without him. He was there almost every week you'd hear the cry from the back of the room "Give us the Sash" - didn't go down too well with the Knights of Saint Columba :-)

BTW going to Bromyard to make up for missing Whitby.

Cheers Keith

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Bill Bracken
Date: 06 Sep 09 - 08:29 AM

Hi ta for John Kelly info after a long time we are back in touch we had a 2 hour chat ( nothing changes ).

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 06:45 AM

So who were the forgotten group from Birkenhead?

I remember a great 3 part version of:

Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea, Oh me Boys Oh
Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea, Oh
Brave Admiral Cole he's gone to sea
Along with our ships company
On board The Bold Benjamin Oh

Not to be confused with a group of younger lads called the Sandsiders

Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Bill Bracken
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 06:10 AM

Hi Les yes the Hooters did run the club i am still in touch with Rob Jones ( Jonesy ) he writes some lovely songs i recorded Give My Regards To Dublin it gets a lot of airplay here in Spain.

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 04:00 AM

GUEST,Bill Bracken,


Regarding John Kelly's whereabouts, he's on Mudcat & his handle is Harmonium Hero.

He's also got a website here http://www.bigalwhittle.co.uk/johnkellyharmoniumhero/index.html
Hope this helps

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Jerry O'Reilly
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 03:11 AM

Well hello Bill, nice to hear from you. I often think back to "the old days" and you and The Sporting Races of Galway. Glad to hear that your still well and gigging!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Bill Bracken
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 12:39 PM

Hi with regard to Pete Douglas the last time I met Pete was in Gothenberg, Sweden in the late 70s when I was on tour with John Kelly. Pete came to the gig. Glad to hear he is still alive and gigging.
Does anyone know where John Kelly is as we have lost touch and I would really like to hear how he is getting on. I am living in the mountains in Spain and still gigging. Great to read all the info on the Liverpool Folk scene, great days!

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:07 AM

I remember the Hooters - did they run a club in West Kirby?

Les

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 07:43 AM

Les in Chorlton - PM
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 03:09 PM


I remember another Wallasey-ish group, three blokes, but have no memory of what they were called - good bit of harmony singing and quite funny. Seem to remember a big bloke with red hair

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

Maybe the Hooters? [From Hooton]

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: banjoman
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 06:08 AM

Pass on our regards to Pete Douglas and remind him of his "Humble" beginnings in Stainburn Avenue near my mum's
Pete F

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:52 AM

Tell him thanks for great nights at the Leesiders Club

L in C

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: DaveW
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 09:44 PM

A few days ago, a few of you had written about your interest in Pete Douglas of the Leesiders and his whereabouts. I happened to know that Peter is doing well, and is performing each week at a dance resort in Sweden. He has been performing there for 19 years. He is singing, playing his guitar, his mouth organ, even some piano, and is a wonderfully talented entertainer. We enjoy his his humor, not only on stage, but in everyday life as well. As our island resort is a summer business, he spends the rest of the year in a town north of Stockholm where he has for many years been teaching English. If there is any information you would like to pass along to Peter, let me know and I will be happy to do so. I told him a couple of days ago that I would post to the board after reading to him many of your comments. It was a pleasure to see the smile on his face as he was happily surprised that this thread on the forum existed. More later. Dave

Subject: RE: Liverpool Folk Club 1970
From: GUEST,Joyce Jennings ne Bennion
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 01:35 PM

Folk scene.Does it still have the original "Morris On" as the theme tune. Sure it use to be on Sundays.I remember Stan Ambrose at the Spinners club singing, "I live in Trafalgar Square with 4 lions to gaurd me" etc.