Long-lived folk clubs? 70 yrs?

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Apr 20 - 10:45 AM

list updated from posts on thread - Bush Music Club (Sydney, Australia)

Bush Music Club, Australia's oldest folk club & apparently the second oldest folk club in the English Speaking world


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US) - founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folk Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962 & closed December 2014
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US) - 1960s
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Christchurch Folk Club (formerly Bank Peninsula Folk Club) (NZ) - est. Nov 1968
Central Australian Folk Society in Alice Springs (Aus) - est. 1968
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Top End Folk Club (Aus) - est 1971
Calgary Folk Club (Can) - 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973 final concert May 2019, Society is still in existence
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - 1976
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jan 16 - 07:34 PM

thanks, Splott Man, list updated -


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Washington DC (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Dorking Folk Club (UK) - late 60s
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Splott Man
Date: 04 Jan 16 - 05:56 PM

I first attended Dorking Folk Club in the late 60s.
It was at the Wheatsheaf PH in High St and run by members of the Orange Blossom Sound.
It moved to the Star & Garter Hotel near Dorking North Station, and was continued by Paddy O'Neill.
I subsequently moved away, but visited it regularly for a number of years.
There is still a Dorking Folk Club, now at Dorking Golf Club, and as far as I know it has been running without a break since those heady days in the late 60s.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 30 Dec 15 - 03:18 AM

updated (once again), thanks, Jon. I like your website

sandra (Secretary & Life Member of Bush Music Club)

BMC website
BMC blog



San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Edinburgh University Folk Society (UK) - April 1958
Vancouver Folk Song Society (Can) - July 1959
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club (UK) - 1961
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Birtley Folk Club (UK) - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club (UK) - 1964
Washington DC (US) - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Durham City Folk Club (UK) - 1969
Fleetwood (UK) - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Woods Hole Folk Music Society (US) - 1973
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 29 Dec 15 - 08:24 PM

I think we're the oldest in Canada: 17 July 1959

http://www.folksongsociety.org/
Jon Bartlett, Vancouver Folk Song Society Life Member

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 29 Dec 15 - 02:12 AM

oops, sorry Tim


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Edinburgh University Folk Society - April 1958
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club - 1961
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le (formerly Balladeer) Southampton - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club - 1964
Washington DC - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Woods Hole Folk Music Society - 1973
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: RTim
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 10:44 PM

Please note - the last post should be TIM Radford!!

To add another long running club that I now attend regularly:

The Woods Hole Folk Music Society started 5/27/1973 and is still in operation.

see: http://www.arts-cape.com/whfolkmusic/

There is even a list of all performers who have been at the club since the original days!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 09:18 PM

updated with Tom Radford's info from UK's Oldest Folk Club thread


The Fo'c's'le in Southampton has been running since 1963; first organised by John Paddy Browne and John Edgar Mann.
It started at the old Bassett Hotel, an off shoot of the Balladeer Jazz club. It has had many venues and different organizers over the years, but still continues to flourish, now at the Richmond Inn, Portswood - nearly every Friday!!
I was involved as a resident singer way back in the early 1970's when it was at The Bay Tree - and I remember singing in the 10 year anniversary concert at the theatre at So'ton University - and forgot my words...........
Someone should write a history of this great club!!!

-------

I should correct my own error - The Balladeer was the original name for the club, and it was an off shoot of the Concorde Jazz Club at The Bassett on Burgess Road, Southampton, that started in 1957!!

==============

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Edinburgh University Folk Society - April 1958
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club - 1961
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Fo'c's'le, (formerly Balladeer) Southampton - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club - 1964
Washington DC - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 07:31 PM

updated


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
Edinburgh University Folk Society - April 1958
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Dunfermline Folk Club - 1961
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club - 1964
Washington DC - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) - Jan 1968
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 05:56 PM

The oldest Folk Club in Scotland: Edinburgh University Folk Society took off in April 1958: they had a great celebration weekend in 2008!
And the original Dunfermline Folk Club started in 1961: another big commemorative weekend staged by the current Dunfermline Folk Club i October 2011. Sadly, one of the founder members and prolific songwriter, John Watt, died in hospital that very weekend

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 05:16 PM

Croydon Folk Club celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2015 which pushes the formation date back by 2 years.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 04:13 PM

Frodsham Folk Club (Cheshire UK) opened in Jan 1968, and to my knowledge, has been running ever since.
Geoff Bibby has been runnig clubs in Warrington since before I met him - around 1970, although I'm not sure if this has been continuous. Can anyone confirm?
Not sure how long the Kiveton Park club (Yorks) has been running. I remember playing there a couple of times with The Wakes in the mid/late '70s, and the club wasn't new then. They boast that they never close - even on Christmas Day.
John Kelly.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 10:43 AM

oops, Washington was not on the list of 25 Jan 12 - 03:13 AM

============

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club - 1964
Washington DC - 1964
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

==========

it is now!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 03:50 AM

I'm proud to belong to two of the oldest clubs - San Francisco (1948) and Washington DC (1964).

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 02:09 AM

I;m not sure why I didn't keep updating this thread.

BMC had a very successful 60th Anniversary year in 2015 & I'll add links when I get home.

sandra (off to a singing session!)

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 28 Dec 15 - 02:07 AM

see
UK's Oldest Folk Club thread on UK clubs

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 08:22 AM

looks like Topic is the oldest known folk club in the UK, Nicholas!

We sometimes say the Bush Music Club is the oldest known folk club in the English-speaking world, tho there is one American-speaking club older than us!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 07:22 AM

breezy ,its wendy arrowsmith not harrowsmith

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Nicholas Waller
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 07:14 AM

@ breezy "Which clubs meet on a weekly basis? and welcome visiting floor singers?"

The Topic in Bradford (for which I do the website) has always met weekly, with no dark periods I can see from the records apart from the odd occasion such as when the club night falls on Christmas Day and New Year's Day (amounting to 40-50 occasions since 1956).

As well as regular singarounds (generally monthly and also all through August), floor singers are welcome on nights when paid guest acts are performing.

Our Past Gigs page lists dated gigs back to 1960! And there's an A-to-Z list of everyone who has performed, as well. Unfortunately, despite a couple of club legends, no evidence has emerged to indicate that either Bob Dylan or Paul Simon ever played at The Topic in the 1960s.

We like to call ourselves "The Oldest Folk Club In the World", though possibly the claim - as discussed on our History page - amounts only to being the oldest continuously-operating pub-based English-style weekly folk club (though at the moment we are technically not based at a pub but at Bradford's Irish Club - but there is draught beer, so that's OK).

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 03:13 AM

thanks, oldgit

long-living it really is, breezy - there probably were older clubs around which haven't survived.

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Grimsby Folk Club - 1964
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: breezy
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 10:33 AM

long -living folk clubs !

'Lived' may imply they are no longer

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: breezy
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 10:32 AM

Which clubs meet on a weekly basis ?

and welcome visiting floor singers?

Herga was well attended last night for a singer's night with 15 singers

Wendy Harrowsmith will be appearing soon

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 08:03 AM

Grimsby Folk Club reaches 48 years of existence this Sunday.
geoff t

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 07:06 AM

forgot to say we are currently working on the extravaganza we will be producing at the National Folk Festival at Easter. It will include songs of the period (1954-64), tunes, dances (sometimes different to the ones we do today) & lots of photos & oral history & more!

Last night we sorted the format, now we need to do a bit more research, type it up, inform the performers, send it out, meet & discuss it 18th Feb, rehearse 24th March & present it at Easter! Easy! Our mentor does such shows each year using those of his friends who are on the program, normally with no rehearsal as they come from all over Australia, but it works for him & a good time is had by all. Next year & 2014 I'm sure we will be as comfortable as he is!

Description of our workshop in the program -

Celebrating the birth of Australian Bush Music with a concert that revisits history in the making.

Join the members of Australia's oldest (and possibly the world's second oldest) folk club, the Bush Music Club in a musical celebration of their roots.

In the lead up to the Bush Music Club's 60th Anniversary in 2014, we take you on a trip down memory lane to the days when the Australian folk song The Drovers Dream was on the top of the Hit Parade. It all began in 1952 when John Meredith and several friends (aka the Heathcote Bushwhackers) started performing the songs they remembered from their earlier years. In 1953 they joined the cast of 'Reedy River' and contributed to the great success of it's Sydney run. By 1954 The Bushwhackers were so popular that they founded the Bush Music Club to cater for all the aspiring "Bushwhackers", with the aim of re-popularising Australian folk songs and encouraging the composition of new songs contemporary in theme & traditional in style. Within a few years there were Bushwhacker-style bands across the country and Australian Bush Music was born.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 05:36 AM

thanks, Kitty

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - 1963
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 04:34 AM

The Herga folk club will reach 50 next year, 2013!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Alan Day
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 04:20 AM

Vic I can remember you running a Folk Club at Preston Park Brighton and then in a pub near there for many years after.At the same time you were doing the Radio Folk programme from the room opposite the Brighton Pavillion, you should have got a medal years ago.
Al

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Jan 12 - 11:15 PM

thanks, Vic & congratulations to you & Tina for your commitment!


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Folk at the Royal Oak, Lewes (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Vic Smith
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 10:45 AM

The club that now meets at the Royal Oak in Lewes on Thursdays (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tinvic/ ) has been meeting every week (no gaps) since it started at the Lewes Arms about 70 yards from its present home in 1965 - so thats 47 years. Tina and I have been running it since 1969.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 10:33 AM

and also thanks for the PM pointing out the typo

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Fleetwood - 1969 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 02:10 AM

thanks Ross, for all the memories

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Fleetwood - 1962 (40 slightly interrupted years)
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 04:35 PM

I arrived in the Fylde in 1971, and quickly made Blackpool Folk Club at the King's Arms, Blackpool my regular Tuesday night out. The following year saw the club celebrating its tenth anniversary, so 2012 would have been fifty years. Sadly, the club folded many years ago despite the best efforts of the late Pete Rodger and latterly Jim Smith. In its heyday (throughout the seventies) the club regularly saw 100+ crammed into the tiny function room, sometimes with scores more in the bar and the snug. The Taverners as residents set up a formidable atmosphere for national and international guests to perform in. A move to the Raikes Hotel brought more space for the audience and room for bands such as Five-Hand Reel to play the club. Not sure when audience numbers started to decline (Big Pete blamed this on the rise of folk festivals - might have had something there?), but moves to the George and again the King's Arms saw fewer guests and more singer's nights (formerly barely a once-a-year occasion), keeping a small core audience but failing to gain new visitors.
There's a clip from "Spin" magazine here (click)

There have been other long-running associations locally which may not qualify as "clubs" but deserve some recognition for tenacity.

Preston Folk Club had been going for some years at the Roebuck in Avenham, Preston by the time I discovered it in the early seventies. Run by Brian Preston (ne Dewhurst) with the Kalied Band as residents. After he turned professional, the club moved to various pubs around the town, the New Britannia was one, long spell at the Lamb, eventually ran for several years at the Unicorn when Hugh O'Donnell brought some great artists to the club - Andy Irvine, Steve Tilston & Maggie Boyle and many more. The club continues to run at the Moorbrook, Garstang Road on Friday nights as a music and song session (Always a pleasure to sing and play there, I should be there now! Running a headache all day is my excuse for not making the drive). Meeting in the snug allows perhaps a dozen people to enjoy some fine music and song. The core regulars are joined by a floating crowd of visitors who can always be relied on for a quality contribution.

The first club I sang at in the Fylde was the Penny Farthing in Kirkham. It was run by Ann & Eddie Green, who, apart from a couple of years out when their family was young, have been running folk events around the Fylde for more than forty years. The Penny Farthing was succeeded by the Folk Ring in association with Fred Kent, running combined song and dance events. Eddie's PA has supported many events in the area and further afield, from Fleetwood Folk Club's multi-media productions to many years of the Fylde Folk Festival. They ran a club at the George in Kirkham, and at the Swan across the road. A move to the Lane Ends in Wesham led to a long-running partnership between the Greens and Thwaites' managers Jonathan and Christine. The club followed Jonathan and Christine, first to the Hole-in-One in Lytham, and then to the newly re-furbished Clarence in Blackpool. Throughout those years they successfully built up a strong core audience and a large crowd of occasional visitors, enabling them to book the best of national and international artists despite operating a voluntary contribution system (the performance areas could not be separated from the open pub). Thwaites' decision to offer the Clarence for sale forced a search for another venue. Ann & Eddie now run concert events on a fortnightly basis (Wednesdays) at the Willows Catholic Club, Bryningfern Lane, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire PR4 2BQ. Contact Ann Green 01772 673744. No website, but their diary dates can be found c/o the Bothy Folk Club's Diary page (thanks, Les!).

Ross

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 02:54 PM

From the Blackpool Gazette, October, 2009:-

Fleetwood Folk Club is celebrating 40 successful years.

A few inaccuracies in there - and strangely no mention of Ron Baxter who ran the club after Dave Cooper's time, nor many of the "local singers" who shared the residency in that period. When Ron gave up running the club there was a gap of a couple of years before Mike and Dave as "Spitting on a Roast" restarted the club at the Mount, so the forty years sadly isn't an uninterrupted run.

As well as the other activities connected with the club, the various special shows and programmes for Fylde Folk Festival generated some excellent work in the form of drama/documentaries, songs and poems from Ron himself (a huge body of work, some of which I have begun to document in the Fleetwood & Fishing: Songs of the Trawling Trade thread), and some great songs and poems from Dave Pearce and Dick Gillingham.

The club carries on, currently at the Strawberry Gardens, Poulton Road, Fleetwood, FY7 6TF (http://www.fleetwood-folk.com/ ). Last year saw their contribution to Fleetwood's 175th Anniversary celebration earn two full-house nights at the North Euston Hotel.

Ross

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 08:32 AM

thanks, Kenny


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - Jan 1960
Stockton folk club (UK) - 1962
Aberdeen Folk Club - 1962
Birtley Folk Club - 1962
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) - 1965
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 1964
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 1965
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 1965 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - 1967
Durham City Folk Club - 1969
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- 1972
Islington Folk Club (UK) - 1972
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - 1980
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - 1981


Newtongrange Folk Club (UK) - spiritual descendent of Music Club active in the late 1870s!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 08:14 AM

Aberdeen Folk Club will be celebrating it's 50th anniversary in October this year.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: ian1943
Date: 19 Jan 12 - 02:10 PM

Durham City Folk Club started in 1969 and I have been there, man and boy. We are 43 in the autumn

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Jan 12 - 07:12 PM

updated using info in this thread - Stockton Folk club is it 50 years?
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=142693&messages=10



San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954 - headed to 60
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956 - 55 in 2011
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - founded Jan 1960 - 51 years old
Stockton folk club (UK) - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Birtley Folk Club - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Cutty Wren Folk Club, Redcar (UK) Started 1965,
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 48 next year
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 46 later this month
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - founded 1965
Whitby (UK) - similar age to Orpington
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - founded 1967 - 44 in 2011
Durham City Folk Club - founded 1969
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- founded 1972 - 40 next year
Islington Folk Club (UK) - founded 1972
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - just celebrated 30 years
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - founded 1980.

Newtongrange Folk Club (UK) - spiritual descendent of Music Club active in the late 1870s!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 05:37 AM

thanks for the info, Splott Man & Garry


San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954 - headed to 60
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956 - 55 in 2011
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston (US) - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - founded Jan 1960 - 51 years old
Stockton folk club (UK) - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Birtley Folk Club - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (US - NY state) - pushing 50
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) - 48 next year
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 46 later this month
Orpington Folk Club (UK) - founded 1965
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - founded 1967 - 44 in 2011
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- founded 1972 - 40 next year
Islington Folk Club (UK) - founded 1972
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - just celebrated 30 years
Llantrisant Folk Club (UK) - founded 1980.

Newtongrange Folk Club (UK) - spiritual descendent of Music Club active in the late 1870s!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: severed-head
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 05:23 AM

Orpington Folk Club started in 1965
Orpington Folk Club
Garry

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: severed-head
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 04:15 AM

Islington Folk Club been going since 1972
Islington Folk Club
Regards
Garry

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Splott Man
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 03:50 AM

Llantrisant Folk Club can claim a place in that list, just sneaking in near the bottom. Founded in September 1980.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 11:00 PM

oops, I forgot Australia's second oldest club, founded in 1959 as Victorian Bush Music Club, renamed Victorian Folk Music Club Inc in 1963

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954 - headed to 60
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956 - 55 in 2011
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston - 1959
Victorian Folk Music Club (Aus) - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - founded Jan 1960 - 51 years old
Stockton folk club (UK) - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Birtley Folk Club - also founded 1962 - also 50 next year
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (NY state) - pushing 50
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) 48 next year
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 46 later this month
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - founded 1967 - 44 in 2011
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- founded 1972 - 40 next year
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - just celebrated 30 years

Newtongrange Folk Club (UK) - spiritual descendent of Music Club active in the late 1870s!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 03:39 AM

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954 - headed to 60
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956 - 55 in 2011
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - founded Jan 1960 - 51 years old
Stockton folk club (UK) - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Birtley Folk Club - also founded 1962 - also 50 next year
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
The Pick'n & Sing'n Gather'n (NY state) - pushing 50
Black Diamond Folk Club, Birmingham (UK) 48 next year
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 46 later this month
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - founded 1967 - 44 in 2011
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- founded 1972 - 40 next year
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - just celebrated 30 years

Newtongrange Folk Club (UK) - spiritual descendent of Music Club active in the late 1870s!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: MikeT
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 12:36 PM

Not sure of the exact age, but we are pushing 50:

PSG


Mike

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 11:04 AM

The Black Diamond will be 48 next year and going from strength to strength.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 11:23 AM

thanks for the info, George Henderson & Elmore

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954 - headed to 60
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956 - 55 in 2011
The Folksong Society of Greater Boston - 1959
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - founded Jan 1960 - 51 years old
Stockton folk club (UK) - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Birtley Folk Club - also founded 1962 - also 50 next year
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 46 later this month
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - founded 1967 - 44 in 2011
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- founded 1972 - 40 next year
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - just celebrated 30 years

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST,Elmore
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 11:12 AM

The Folksong Society of Greater Boston began in 1959 and continues to be active and vibrant.

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST,George Henderson
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 09:33 AM

Birtley run by the Elliott familywill be 50 yeas old in 2012

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 05:35 AM

Bothy definitely belong on this list - any others 30 - 60ish?

San Francisco Folk Music Club (US)- founded 1948
Bush Music Club (Aus) - founded 1954 - headed to 60
Topic in Bradford (UK) - founded 1956 - 55 in 2011
Swindon Folksingers Club (UK) - founded Jan 1960 - 51 years old
Stockton folk club (UK) - founded 1962 - 50 next year
Herga (UK) - heading to 50 in a couple of years
Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) - 46 later this month
Folklore Society Of Greater Washington (US) - 'only' 45½
Croydon Folk Club (UK) - founded 1967 - 44 in 2011
Calgary Folk Club (Can)- founded 1972 - 40 next year
Somers Traditional Folk Club (UK) - just celebrated 30 years


Newtongrange Folk Club - spiritual descendent of Music Club active in the late 1870s!

Subject: RE: Long-lived folk clubs? 60yrs?
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 12 Apr 11 - 04:35 AM

I wasn't going to blow our own trumpet here, as we're nowhere near 60 years old, but seeing as the template's been expanded a tad, let's hear it for Southport's Bothy Folksong Club (UK) Began Liverpool, November 1964, (subsequently wound up in mid-'66) colonised Southport up the coast at end of April 1965 and this branch still operating on a weekly, successful basis. There we are then - 46 later this month. Pip, pip!