Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)

Subject: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years!
From: Paul Reade
Date: 01 May 13 - 05:55 PM

Had a very pleasant evening last week in the Swan Inn in Dobcross with some old friends. It was mentioned, while chatting with the landlord, that I ran a Folk Club there every Friday night from 1967 until 1971. He was fascinated, telling us that a number of people still fondly remember the club, and asked me then and there to make a comeback!

The upshot is that on Sunday 2nd June 2013 at 8pm, "Folk at the Top House" will reopen! We plan to run on the first Sunday of each month, the next ones being 7th July and 4th August. We're still finalising the guest list - will post details when confirmed. Floor singers will be welcome; on guest nights we'll try to accommodate as many as we can, and hope to have singers' nights as well if there's enough demand.

We're really excited about this and looking forward to welcoming old and new friends. You'll find us at The Swan Inn, The Square, Dobcross, Saddleworth, OL3 5AA. You may be a little confused by the fact that the pub sign is "The Swan", but it says "King's Head" on the front door. Don't worry – there used to be two pubs side by side; to all the locals it's simply known as "The Top House".

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years!
From: Elmore
Date: 01 May 13 - 06:20 PM

Congratulations. Everybody deserves a break.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years!
From: Betsy
Date: 01 May 13 - 06:38 PM

Well done !!! Wish I (we?) could all go back 42 years !!!!!

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years!
From: The Sandman
Date: 01 May 13 - 06:40 PM

ah betsy we soon will and we will be playing harps on cold marble stools, and complaining of piles, and in piles

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years!
From: Elmore
Date: 01 May 13 - 06:49 PM

Gonna play my old French harp.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years!
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 May 13 - 07:55 PM

Best of Luck Paul ! Saddleworth is a tad too far for me to do a spot I'm afraid

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: GUEST,Guest. Mick Haywood
Date: 02 May 13 - 02:22 PM

Good luck Paul with the revival. I remember many memorable nights there in the past, particularly the Mayor of Saddleworths Charity Yorkshire/Lancashire Night. Mike Harding and Pete Smith represented Lancashire and Bill Price and myself Yorkshire. All the best for the future. Mick Haywood.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Llanfair
Date: 02 May 13 - 02:37 PM

I never actually made it there, Paul, but the best of luck with restarting it. cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 03 May 13 - 05:03 AM

Thanks for all the messages of support.

I'd forgotten about the mayor's charity night Mick. The Mayor dressed up as a tramp in an old battered raincoat and did a monologue. Everyone thought it was just a floor spot - then he removed the raincoat revealing his gold chain underneath and thanked us for our support.

I remember another charity do when we played a football match against another folk club (the Railway in Hollinwood), followed by a singaround back at the Swan. The Oldham Tinkers played (can't remember which team). After someone rugby-tackled one of our players, the ref gave a bounce-up, on the grounds that our player was going to do it, but the other one got in first!

Nice to hear from you Bron - hope you are well. Remember the other club in Sale?

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 03 May 13 - 05:17 AM

Good luck with the resurrected club ............. but I'm sure I went to a folk night there in the 90's or even early naughties

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 03 May 13 - 05:43 AM

The original club was in the upstairs room, that could accommodate a fair-sized audience, but at the same time had a nice intimate atmosphere. We had some memorable evenings, with guests such as Martin Carthy (described by Jim the barman as a "reet good turn"!), Marie Little, Mike Harding, Dick Gaughan and many more classic names.

It closed in 1971 because of a problem with the floor. We moved to the Hanging Gate in Diggle, about a mile away, but it was never the same.

It's true there were folk nights at the Swan later - I went occasionally myself, but they were mainly singarounds in one of the smaller rooms off the main bar.

The new club is back in the refurbished upstairs room. The landlords have done a marvellous job in promoting all sorts of events – music of all types, comedy, even theatre productions - see http://www.theswandobcross.com/

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Brian Peters
Date: 03 May 13 - 05:51 AM

I played a gig in the upstairs room some time in the 1990s, when Helen and Dave Howard were running a club there and booking guests. There was also a good music session downstairs on Thursdays for a good many years.

Good to hear there's a club going again.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: RWJ
Date: 03 May 13 - 08:42 AM

Its nice to see nwe clubs opening, even better to see old clubs reopening. The verry best of luck.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 21 May 13 - 02:14 PM

Only 12 days to the reopening night Sunday 2nd June!

Lots more "good luck" messages received - thanks everyone.

Guests booked so far:-

2 June: The Hometowners and Tony Downes – Saddleworth Favourites

7 July: Strid - a woman, a man and a Lowden F12 guitar perform unique versions of songs by Richard Thompson, Paul Simon, Lennon and McCartney, Tom Waits and many others.

4 Aug: Brillig - a capella and accompanied harmony group from Lancashire (and Warwickshire) who enjoy any excuse for singing

Singers, musicians, poets and all always welcome - on guest nights, we'll fit in as many as we can, and will be having singers' nights later

See www.dobcrossfolk.co.uk/ for details

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: GUEST,Harold Nield
Date: 29 May 13 - 09:00 AM

We'll be with you Sunday July 2nd. Just heard of reopening of long overdue folksong at 'top house.Hope to get a 'spot' that, or any night we can make it...from Whitwoth. All success to you.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: GUEST,IAIN G
Date: 29 May 13 - 03:44 PM

Hope you have a good night, hopefully FiddLynManDoris will make it over in the not too distant future

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: OldNicKilby
Date: 30 May 13 - 07:08 AM

Have you thought of running a "Special" night for Rushcart weekend?
There are plenty of Folkies around on that weekend.Great to see a new club opening Good Luck

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 31 May 13 - 06:11 AM

Only 2 days to the reopening night Sunday 2nd June!

Thanks once again for all the "good luck" messages of support.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 01 Jun 13 - 07:52 AM

It's tomorrow!

Please note, because it's Sunday we're starting at 8pm instead of the more usual 8:30, and the landlord wants us to finish by about 10:30.

Hope to see y'all there.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Llanfair
Date: 01 Jun 13 - 04:01 PM

Good luck for tomorrow, Paul.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 05:37 PM

Wow - what a great opening night on Sunday! I was hoping we'd get a decent sized audience and that it would go well but it exceeded all my hopes!

Thanks to:-
Guests the Hometowners with their excellent combination of musicianship and fun
The floor singers - great songs to get everyone in the mood
The audience - for their support, joining in the choruses and making the night what it was.
The landlords - for their support and making us welcome.

Hope to see you at our next sessions:-

7 July: Strid.

4 Aug: Brillig.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Vin2
Date: 05 Jun 13 - 08:21 AM

Would love to pop along but don't drive so getting back to Heywood would be tricky

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 03 Jul 13 - 08:08 PM

We're on again this Sunday (7th July) - hope to see you all there again. After such a great opening night last month, please tell all your friends about it!

Guests are Strid - a woman, a man and a Lowden F12 guitar perform unique versions of songs by Richard Thompson, Paul Simon, Lennon and McCartney, Tom Waits and many others. Did a great floor spot at the June session in Dobcross (and stirred things up a bit by suggesting Saddleworth is in Lancashire!)

Following months:-

4 August: Brillig - a capella and accompanied harmony group from Lancashire (and Warwickshire) who enjoy any excuse for singing!

1 September: Singers' Night - singers, musicians, poets and all always welcome

For more information see www.dobcrossfolk.co.uk/ / http://www.theswandobcross.com/

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 07:30 AM

Great session last month with guests Strid, and also a superb floor spot from Phil Corbett, whose self-penned song got the best reception that I've heard for a long long time!

We're on again this Sunday (4th August) with cracking harmonies from guests Brillig - hope to see you all there.

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: OldNicKilby
Date: 31 Jul 13 - 10:23 AM

Are you going to do anything on Rush Cart Weekend?

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 13 - 12:38 AM

42 years - nothing like a long summer break!

Subject: RE: Folk Club Reopening … After 42 Years! (Dobcross)
From: Paul Reade
Date: 30 Aug 13 - 04:39 AM

We're on again this Sunday (1st September) - Singers' Night. All singers, musicians, poets etc. welcome.