Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)

Subject: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 07:46 AM

Was having a bit of a discussion about acts to put on in Penkhull village hall, and the question comes up "What acts on the folk scene are really entertaining?".   Meaning entertaining to normal members of the British public, not just entertaining to people who go to folk events. During the great wave of the folk revival there were a host of such people, eg Mike Harding, Billy Connolly, Jasper Carrot and so on. But how about now?   I was hard put to get beyond the New Rope String Band and Biggles Wartime Band. But I don't get out much, maybe others can enlighten me? Are there more?

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 07:50 AM

Try The Young Uns

They are superb

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 08:40 AM

Sandy Brechin.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 08:42 AM

We had Dave Gibb playing a couple of years back and his between song banter was hilarious

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,John Foxen
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 09:22 AM

Stanley Accrington played a blinder at our club which has a high proportion of people who think music from the Fifties is folk. But because he knows the tradition he won over the folkies as well. Funny and clever with some very good serious songs.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 09:39 AM

I onkly know Sandy Brechin as a spectacular accordionist with Burach. He's a solo entertainer as well? Is it the accordion playing, or jokes in between tunes or what?

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: it'smagic
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:18 AM

Yes, what are you defining as entertainment? If people like the music, they will be entertained. If they don't like the music, they won't stick around for any banter or jokes.

Maybe it could be drawing the audience into the show, letting them participate, performing songs they can sing along to - in other words making them a part of it all. I go to a lot of Scottish, Irish, English and American folk (and other) gigs and I find practically all of the acts - as well as being good musicians - to be entertaining and friendly, with or without the (often contrived) jokes.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,another ull lad
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:30 AM

There's a guy I see at a number of folk festivals around the pubs, who sings unaccompanied shanties, folk songs and a range of really funny parodies,very good at getting people involved. Also seen him acting as M/C at the music festival in Dent, think he's from somewhere in West Yorkshire as one of his songs is a parody of the John Denver song country road, but he's changed it to be set in Yorkshire, Don't know his name, but he's very recognisable as he's curly hair and a beard and glasses he's also always in shorts and very little else. A very entertaining chap. other than Dent though I've not seen on stage, but I'd pay to see him perform, he's so full of energy.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 10:47 AM

Bernard Wrigley's still about. Peg-leg Ferret. Vin Garbutt. James Fagan tells a mean story.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 11:38 AM

Colum Sands: great songs and stories and has people rolling around laughing: from N Ireland so may have to wait for a tour.
Flossie Malaviaille too, tho' the last time I saw her thought there was a wee bit TOO much talk versus song time. Does some great Piaf numbers among other things.
Quicksilver (Grant Baynham and Hilary Spencer).
Robin Laing (appeals to whisky lovers too!)

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 12:01 PM

Stanley Accfrington was VERY good at Maidenhead last week - And Les Barker is ALWAYS good entertainment , especially if you can olant a couple of 'hecklers' in the audience .

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 12:52 PM

jim eldon

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 01:02 PM

Are the Phatt B'Stards still about? I fear not but they were always most amusing.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 01:26 PM

Sandy Brechin plays his own tunes solo for quite a lot of gigs. He has a dead funny line of patter linking them. You would have to like the accordion to go, I guess, but he isn't your usual accordion-and-fiddle-club act.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 02:14 PM

a bit late in the day to. start worrying about it. theres two generations that have grown up thinking that presentational skills are unimportant, all minstrelsy rather dodgy and reeks of sell out.
and as long as we keep our noses to the grindstone and churn out a po faced tradition, then all will be well.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 02:31 PM

Vin Garbutt always excellent

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 02:46 PM

Are the Phatt B'Stards still about? I fear not but they were always most amusing.

I bump into John Scott Cree occasionally at the Charlwood village singaround but, according to a Facebook page, the B'stards have hung up their instruments as a band.

John, of course, is always great fun.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Betsy
Date: 07 Feb 14 - 08:28 PM

Bernie Wrigley and Vin Garbutt fabulous performers , Bob Fox terrific - as indeed are the Wilson family - the Doonan family - Tom McConville with or without his band - get stuck in there !!!!loads to go at .

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 04:53 AM

Perhaps you could get Dave Boulton and Jeff Parton to do a come back gig - at least their travel and accommodation costs should be low (unless they've moved on since I last heard.)

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 05:17 AM

The Dent MC mentioned earlier is my friend Muppett who often pops in here - great for getting a night going.

I can also strongly recommend the Jon Palmer Acoustic Band - saw them last night for the umpteenth time and they never fail to get the audience smiling - even the more cynical looking members of the pub audience were won over and tapping their fingers and feet by the end

Also check out the duo Plumhall - great songs and tons of charisma

Finally Roger Davies goes down a storm everywhere - though many of his songs are very Yorkshire based the settings can be transferred anywhere and he sold out of CDs at Shrewsbury FF - a true entertainer too

And very finally Dave Vermond though I am not sure if he does gigs further afield - hilarious and moving songs and great fun between the songs too

(I am assuming you already know Jez Lowe!)

Joe G

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: G-Force
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 05:24 AM

Geoff Higginbottom, as long as you don't see him too often.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 05:24 AM

Geoff Higginbottom - Already mentioned via the Phatt B'stards I think. He goes out of his way to do stuff outside folk clubs as well as in.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: cptsnapper
Date: 08 Feb 14 - 10:42 PM

John James

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 08:13 AM

Bob Dylan

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 08:26 AM

A quite stunningly entertaining act, to folkies and civilians alike, is Gordie McKeeman and his Rhythm Boys. But we've put them on already. I want someone to rival them

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,kreep
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 10:51 AM

Jez Lowe

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 11:00 AM

The Hut People

Gerry

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Feb 14 - 12:21 PM

Notts County football fans

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Teribus
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 04:42 AM

Billy Mitchell

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,another ull lad
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 04:56 AM

Ar Cheers Joe G, YEAH Muppet that's him, does he gig anywhere?

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 06:01 AM

That's odd - I just noticed that G-Force and I both mentioned Geoff Higginbottom at exactly the same time! Does the G stand for Gnome by any chance?

:D

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: G-Force
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 09:19 AM

Nope. Stands for gravitational.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Old Grey Wolf
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 04:46 PM

Gladstone's Bag?

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,Caligula
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 11:01 AM

Loxley are always good value with a minimum of between-song banter (which personally drives me mad), and also Karine Polwart.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 11:08 AM

That Boat Band are good.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 11:25 AM

this is a bit weird really. I suppose the intention of most acts is to entertain. otherwise being a folk singer who doesn't give a shit about whether he/she entertains you -well it would make you a very odd cove.

and the fact is that different things entertain different people.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,Ted Crum (Steamchicken)
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 04:58 AM

Someone mentioned Gladstone's Bag. Are they still about, and if so are they the same Gladstone's Bag who used to perform that hilarious striptease to The Lost Chord which I recall seeing at Bromyard in the early eighties?

Sad to say Cosmotheka, the best entertainers I ever had the privilege of sharing a stage with, are no longer available because of Al's tragic and premature death. However, if you want a master-class in how to present our sort of music to an audience, go to a Belshazzar's Feast booking and be amazed. Both presentation and music are witty and professional, and are an example to be recommended to any aspiring artists on the scene.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,Selby
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 06:14 AM

Carthy Hardy Farrell Young saw them on Saturday night thought there banter and set material excellent.In my top 3 seen in the last 12 months.
Keith

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 01:13 AM

Has anyone heard of Seize The Day?

Awesome musicians with wry humour and indomitable spirit

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 09:18 AM

I used to enjoy the Panic Brothers (Reg Meuross and Rich Morton). I believe they are doing a reunion tour this year.

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 07:16 PM

How could I have not mentioned the Hut People!!! Pure entertainment and incredible musicianship

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 13 Feb 14 - 07:57 PM

idea for another thread

folk acts that pretend to really entertain, but in actual fact, they don't really entertain - they just pretend

Subject: RE: Folk Acts that Really Entertain(UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 14 - 01:09 PM

Huw Williams paired with Robin Huw Bowen. And they're great in schools too.

sian