Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:27 PM

The Greyhound? . . . Yorkshire Grey, I think. Further along on the corner of Farringdon Road there stood once The Metropolitan, never a club as such but scene of some mighty sessions including Bobby Campbell from the nearby Morning Star, Rod Shearman, Gordon McCulloch and Bob Davenport.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Judy Dyble
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:54 PM

There was another (probably) long gone folk and blues club, The Atlas,in Seagrave Road SW6.
I have a membership card (not transferable it says!)pictured on my website..

The excellent guitarist, Derek Hall was resident there I think.. he made a very much sought after ep with Mike Cooper called 'Out of the Shades'

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Vic Smith
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:29 PM

Now that Judy has brought us back south of the Thames again, I can mention that Tina and I and an old friend, Murray Shelmerdine, used to run a folk club which called Tramps & Hawkers at a pub on Blackheath Hill in 1967/8. It was supported by a lot of the singers/musicians who went to other S.E. London clubs like those at the two "Tigers Head" pubs (Old & New) in Lee Green, the "Rising Sun" at Catford, the "Mansion House" in Deptford and even John Barker et al from the Dartford Club.

Yes, I can remember the name of all the other pub folk venues that we supported and they supported us - but I can't remember the name of the pub that we had our club in! It is probably long gone and we left London in 1968.
Can anyone help me?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Judy Dyble
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 05:44 PM

"Now that Judy has brought us back south of the Thames again,"

Oooh! Have they moved the Thames then? I always thought Fulham was still slightly North? :-)

Judy

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: dombonito
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 09:06 AM

Re: The Enterprise. Does anyone remember the night that we had Simon and Garfunkel? I believe it was their first gig together in the UK, because Art had arrived here on the Saturday and The Enterprise was on the Sunday. They cost us fifteen quid! Happy days indeed.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:57 AM

I took over from Jack & Margaret King with the running of the Folk
Cellar at CSH for a number of years. I remember Paul Simon dropping
in to sing from the floor and asked for a booking.
I also used to do holiday reliefs at the Hampstead Folk Song Club and at the BBC Folk Club at Broadcasting House. Singers would arrive
thinking they were going on air when in fact it was a club for the
staff. I used to sing at times with Karl Wahnig (an ex Up-Boat POW
who remained in this country.) Karl has now passed away.
Kevin is mentioning Diane a few times. Would that be Diane Easby who
attended the Folk Cellar, the Enterprise and the Engineer?
I gave up performing and running clubs when it became too much like
work and the pleasure went out of it, but now aged 72 I've taken up
the 5-string banjo and the Hummelchen small bagpipes and have performed recently at the Quay Theatre Folk Club in Sudbury, Suffolk.
If anyone would like to contact me they can get in touch via Dom Bonito.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:23 AM

Yes Roger that's Diane Easby, still to be seen around some of the London Clubs.

Good to hear from you Roger, I remember yourself and Karl well. If you feel like chewing the fat you can send me an email via the Walthamstow Folk Club web site and I'll get back to you.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:32 AM

'Tis me, though known ATM as above for sort-of Archers-associated reasons.
Sometimes seen around London clubs? That makes me sound like a pewter tankard. Not a lot but more usually Elsewhere.
Roger Fleming, eh? Still doing shanties and riding a bike?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 11:35 AM

I haven't seen a Pewter Tankard in Walthamstow in all the years the club has been running Diane.

You'll be mentioning Aran sweaters next.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 12:54 PM

Better than a Toby Jug Diane ;)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 01:05 PM

The Singing Toby Jug (Dave Calderhead) complete with North Sea crossing Netherlands stylee woolly thing contributes to this forum from time to time.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Gealt
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 02:15 PM

Angieb mentioned the Favourite pub, well there are some great photographs of Sunday session people on John Cullen's MySpace.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=167127262

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Gealt
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 02:30 PM

For John's myspace google-    ofivelamps.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 03:14 PM

Well that's a fine set of piccies. There's one of 3 people, on page 2, not captioned. It looks like Paddy Maloney from the Chieftains on the right, and it MIGHT be John Pearse on the left in the suit. The middle face is familiar too but can't place it. Maybe Sean Keane

Paddy Maloney 1975
Sean Keane

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 03:50 PM

I'd agree it's Paddy and Sean, John.

Not so sure about the suit

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 04:53 PM

There's also an untitled pic of Na Fili: Tomás Ó Canainn (pipes), Matt Cranitch (fiddle), Tom Barry (whistle).

Can't believe how young Danny Meehan looks! Also love the shot of the redoubtable Brendan Mulkere and Brian Rooney (was just listening to him on R na G tonight).

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 05:22 PM

Mention of the Troubadour reminds me of a gig there by Muckram Wakes (Roger Watson, Helen Watson, John Tams) somewhere around 1973. The place was full (not difficult) and hot, and there seemed to be rather a lot of Swedish backpackers in the audience. I remember Tam looking round with slight amusement, or terror, but the band went down a storm! I don't know how the Scandinavians interpreted "Mrs. Merry's Ball", the introduction to "Cow in Th'Gate" and Tam's references to Banties (small 'ens), but there you go.

Tam and Barry Coope are currently revisiting this repertoire by the way, and Roger Watson is doing lots of gigs and has just put a fantastic new album out (shameless plug by old schoolmate) - see link http://www.rogerwatson.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: vectis
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 07:13 PM

Ah! The Croydon Folksingers Club. An early incarnation at The Swan & Sugarloaf was my regular and the first place I dared to sing out.
Those were the days.
There was another club nearby at Parsons Pightle Rugby Club on Mondays (I think) which was very good.
Used to go to The Singers Club fairly regularly and had a few good natured rows with Ewan about singing from your own tradition as my tradition was mainly contemporary stuff.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 06:41 AM

Row with Ewan, surely not Mary! :)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 08:13 AM

Could the 'suit' be John Peel?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 08:33 AM

Too early Paul. Piers Hayman and John Pearse were the only two folkies I knew in those days, who owned a suit ;)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Brian Sweeny
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 05:45 PM

To John MacKenzie.The picture with the three guys from the 70s.Paddy Moloney and Sean Keane of The Chieftains(as you said).The suited one is Garech Browne.We're really talking posh here!.His father was a lord and his mother a Guinness heiress.He became a patron of Irish folk and traditional music,even started up a record label.
On a sad note, his younger brother,Tara, was killed in a motor accident in the West End when he was 21.This is commerated in John Lennon's song 'A Day in the Life'
You'll find more about him on Wikipedia.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 07:23 PM

Thanks Brian

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 03:43 AM

Thanks too Brian. I met Garech a few times at the Folk Shop at CSH in the late 60's but had forgotten what he looked like. IIRC I was introduced to him by Paddy Bush. Garech was (is?) a great enthusiast, now what was that record label called :-)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 04:56 AM

Claddagh Records.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Brian Sweeny
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 11:42 AM

Further to my recent thread,Tara Browne,brother of Garech Browne(founder of Claddagh Records) was killed in a car crash in Redcliffe Gardens (not the West End as I said).The year was 1966.
   Redcliffe Gardens is not far from The Troubadour-Earl's Court/Old Brompton area.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Patrick in Oz
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 01:59 AM

Blimey, Oldguit (Oct 09) you brought back some memories when you referred to the folk club in Clapham Common Old Town in the 60s. I still remember Sue, through an alcoholic daze! Thanks, Pat

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,MrCrump
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 11:23 AM

@ Judy Dyble - pleased to see mention of Derek Hall in your post of 13/2 - I used to see him a lot in the clubs around Reading (c'65/66), didn't know he had a London club residency; indeed, he was a very fine player - I have a much-treasured copy of the 'Out Of The Shades' EP he made, with Mike Cooper, & still love listening to the amazing work-out of 'Skillet' on that D28 he had ( he put in some stirling work on friend Cooper's 1st album, 'Oh Really?', too) - could never figure out how such a gifted player could seemingly just vanish, would dearly love to know what became of him..

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Nostalgia
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 12:11 PM

Any one remember or "get booked" by Brian Willoughby who I think used used run a club in London during that time. He still performs today with partner Cathryn Craig.

Very interesting reading this thread it brings many names and past memories back to the forefront of my mind.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 03:47 PM

To the Borchester Echo. Blimey, you've got a good memory.
I rode that old 28" wheel police roadster bike for another 30 years
until moving to hilly country on the Suffolk/Essex border when at last I sold it on! Is there any way to get to the reply to thread message section without wading through all the previous items?
Having retired from singing & playing over 30 years ago, I've now
taken up playing the Hummelchen Border Bagpipes and the 5-string banjo having sold my guitars.
I also ring church bells in about 4 local churches which keeps the mind and body active!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 05:03 PM

Roger - click on the number of posts instead of the thread title; it gives 50 at a time and shows the reply box at the bottom of each page. Or, click the small d next to the number of posts - it does the same thing but in reverse order, so you'll see the last posts first.

Mick

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 03:41 AM

Roger

To get to the bottom quickly as with any web page "ctl end" buttons.

Assuming that's what you meant!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 04:08 AM

For Kevin,
Thanks for the advice, got it now! Only been on the net a month and still finding my way round!
Have sent an e-mail to you as you suggested on the info from
the Walthamstow Folk Club web site.

info@walthamstowfolkclub etc., or something like that!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 04:19 AM

To Guest (Mr Crump, Yes Derek was a fantastic finger-picking guitarist. In email conversation with Mike Cooper recently, Mike said he had recently made contact with Derek again but I'm not sure whether he said Derek was still playing..but at least he is still around..

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,MrCrump
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 05:26 AM

@GUEST - thanx for the info re Derek hall, good to know he's still about somewhere - maybe he could be rediscovered/rerecorded like those old blues guys in the 60s! Wouldn't that be good!..

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,John from Elsie`s Band
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 10:09 AM

Vic,
      Robin Gray and I ran a folk club in "The Green Man" at the top of Blackheath Hill about 1965/66ish, notable among the guests was Paul Simon. The pub has long gone and is now up-market dwellings as, is the norm on Blackheath. Could this be the pub you speak of?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 11:27 AM

To Borchester Echo
Hi, just discovered who you are!
Still got that big brass rubbing I gave you?
The bike was sold on a few years ago. Used to cycle to many clubs on that carrying my guitar... CSH, The Engineer and The Enterprise. At The Engineer used to have jam sessions with Peter Knight of Steeleye on fiddle, Jim Woodley on a large guitar (anyone remember him and Doug?), also a good mandolin player whose name escapes me at present.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 11:36 AM

Doug McHattie (or Mahatty) could pronounce it but never saw it written down.

I remember him and Jim. Was the mandolin player Brian Norman?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: dombonito
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 12:40 PM

To Kevin: The first spelling is the right one. The Mandolin player was Brian Oliver (known as Ollie). Brian Norman sang with Karl Wahnig. (known as Jack)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 20 Feb 10 - 02:48 PM

Jim's group, usually with Ollie on mandolin and as you say Kevin, Doug Mchattie, would either be guests in their own right at the Hampstead Folk Club, or they'd fill in at short notice if the booked
guest couldn't make it. They also had a double bass player. Can't remember his name but he was an archivist. We'd go brass rubbing together in his battered old van. He used to play with whichever group paid the most on the day!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 03:33 AM

Too many Brians obviously!

Good old nights in the Engineer after Tuesday guitar classes at CSH.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 07:50 AM

Anyone remember Dorita & Pepe (Doris & Pete if you knew them!)
They sang songs from Sth.America and appeared regularly at the Hampstead F.C. as well as on the radio. They played an instrument the size of a mandolin made out of an armadillo shell.
Also, Elton Hayes? He sang folk songs on the BBC Light Prog., during the war and afterwards would you believe. He also appeared as Alan-a-Dale in a British Robin Hood film & wrote the introductory music.
Well, he was booked at Hampstead once. Don't know how they contacted him (before the internet!) As he was getting on in years, his daughter brought him and he was attired in full evening dress. He was extremely pleased that he was remembered and booked for a Folk Club. We were dressed in tie-dye tops, striped coloured jeans and hair down to our shoulders (and that was just the women, Ha, Ha,) Still it was an interesting evening and he went down well.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,BarryB.
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 10:32 AM

I was partly responsible for getting Elton Hayes at the Robin Hood, Potters Bar. We got hold of him by getting onto the BBC who passed our query on to his agent. He was apparently so surprised at being asked that he couldn't resist accepting the invitation! (he was retired and running a chicken farm, I think in Suffolk at the time).
He appeared at the Hampstead club, I think a couple of weeks after the Robin Hood.
Talking of the guitar classes in the early 60's at C.Sharpe House, anyone recall John Pearse? (who took the classes) I believe he emigrated to the States back in the late 60's.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 10:53 AM

Oh yes, I remember John. He died not long ago, in the US.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,BarryB
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 12:11 PM

Sorry to hear of the passing on of John Pearse, his guitar classes at Cecil Sharpe House in the early 60's, were the springboard for many a future folksinger.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: dombonito
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 06:06 AM

Anyone seen Rodney Lloyd lately? I used to see him at Cambridge every year but for the last couple of years he's been conspicuous by his absence.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 06:34 AM

Barry B? That name remiinds of another London club, The Gatehouse in Highgate.
Could it be Barry Beattie I wonder?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Splott Man
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 06:49 AM

The armadillo instrument is a Charango.

300 BTW

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,BarryB
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 01:39 PM

Yes it could, and is!...I'd forgotten about the Gatehouse.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,JonR
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 11:06 AM

Small correction to Leadfingers' post of the 10th. (Yeah, takes me a while to catch up here... ;-) )

It's Mac McGann, not Mat McCann. He and Alan Young still (AFAIK, I haven't been for a while) run the open mic night at the Watermans Arms in Richmond on Monday nights - a great place if you want a real taste of those vintage folk clubs: just a small upstairs room with no PA (yes NO PA!), no bar.
Mac and Alan were on the bill of the first ever live performance I saw, at a school concert in 1966 (including the late great Cliff Aungier, who blew me away). Mac still plays that double-neck acoustic. As I think you know, his wife, the great blues singer Dorris [sic] Henderson (who I was lucky to play guitar with a couple of times), passed away a few years back.

(I already listed my other 60s/70s club memories at length in an earlier post, so I won't repeat them...)