Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: semiotic
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 06:49 PM

Cant say I remember the Old Fire Station club but I do remember the Island sessions, Baldry and Rod the Mod doing gospel duets, Cyril Davies showing how the blues harp should be played.
Did you go to any of the Young Socialist's folk sessions or the Folk Club at the Community Centre with Rod Stradling and others?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack King
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 09:55 AM

Many thanks for the best wishes John & our kind regards are sent in return. I have to admit that I dont remember doing a solo gig at Kew Green but did you ever run a club at Bounds Green in north london, we were resident there for a while after we gave up the Cellar and remember working with amongst others Matt McGinn & Tom Paxton.I also remember the club held a Bob Dylan lookalike contest and you have never seen so many flat caps & Gibson guitars in your life Mind you they may have looked like Dylan but all resemblance ended there!!!Now we are a pair of old codgers its nice to know we are still remembered ,it was such a big part of our lives and memories keep trickling back. Thanks too for allthe other names that have mentioned us We have made contact with Peter Green ( or Warwick Sladeas he seems to perform under) and there is agrave danger that we may even effect a reunion if wer'e spared
                      Cheers Jack & margaret

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Barry B.
Date: 04 Aug 10 - 12:23 PM

Hello Jack & Margaret (King), your mention of the Elizabethan Rooms at the Gore Hotel brought back memories! Two more names who used to play there; Scottish singer Jean Livingstone and Ian Russell, sadly Ian passed away some 4 years ago, his wife Moira (McGee) also a singer, is back in Northern Ireland. I left the scene around 1972. Still have my old Gibson, but mainly practice classical guitar these days in my retirement.
regards..Barry Beattie

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack King
Date: 05 Aug 10 - 06:23 AM

Hello there young Barry B hard to think of you as retired still we are talking about some 50 years ago . Sorry to hear about Ian, a good singer and a helluva nice guy I remember Moira from the old Peter Kennedy Cellar days & certainly remember wee Jeanniee from nights at the Gore .Sad to think that there aren't many of us left .
Keep well & happy kindest regards J&M

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Barry B.
Date: 06 Aug 10 - 05:45 AM

I think you're right, there aren't many of us left. Don't know what happened to Jean, last heard she was off with some American hippy guy, living the dream on some Greek island, but that was back in the 70's...I don't think dreams last that long!
Still in touch with Moira from time to time, she's mainly painting these days. What is it about Suffolk that attracts all the old folkies?!!....Mind you one of my favourite places is Lavenham and other villages around, so I can understand it.
When I hear folk programmes on the radio these days, I can't help but wonder, what happened to the old simplicity of a Cyril Tawney, or Enoch Kent?...It all seems to be about fancy guitar riffs now, with the song coming a poor second

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack King
Date: 19 Aug 10 - 09:43 AM

I know what you mean Barry we dont listen to a lot of folk music these days but the emphasis seems to be on slick instrumentation ,not like the old " three chord trick or if you'r lucky five " days . We live about 10 miles from Lavenham and the Great House restaurant is a favourite watering hole . There was a folk club in our town ( Hadleigh ) but it folded soon after we arrived ( nothihg to do with us ) We understand tha Archie Fisher was a regular as was Don Wallace I wonder what happened to him
                  
                   Cheers J&M

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 22 Aug 10 - 06:18 PM

Hi Jack,
Hi Jack,
Saw your last entry. I live in a village just outside Sudbury, not far from you and Margaret.
The Quay Theatre in Sudbury has performances by Folkies. I went to an evening with John Kirkpatrick on the 13th. Martin Simpson was there a few weeks ago and last year Maddie Prior gave a solo concert. We discussed the old Cellar days & I had a photo of you and I at the front while she was singing with Tim Hart.
I'm in touch with Don Wallace who I met on the quay in Ipswich, and Don Bonito (ex NW3). (Sadly, Maureen has passed on. They are still performing, not together though! Went to visit Don at Saffron Walden lately where I played banjo and he a new guitar. (We appear to have swopped instruments!)
He gives banjo lessons to youngsters. There was a folk club at the Quay but it closed down recently.
Lack of support unfortunately. I played the small Hummelchem bagpipes there which I have taken up. Perhaps there is some way we can get in touch?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Barry B.
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 06:31 AM

Maybe it's time for an "old folkies re-union" down Suffolk way??!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 07:27 PM

Why not? Lavenham, Hadleigh, Boxford or Sudbury? All within reasonable distance of each other!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,BarryB.
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:03 PM

I'm in Kingston-upon-Thames area these days, but always happy to drive over to Suffolk.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:24 PM

Well Don Shepherd isn't too far away from that area either, could be a good reunion!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,From: Roger F.
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 07:56 AM

Re possible re-union of Suffolk Folkies, as Jack King is possibly the senior member, if he's interested, suggest he comes up with a venue?
As he lives in Hadleigh that would be ok with me. His zimmer-frame wouldn't get too warped!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack King
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 05:09 AM

Great idea guys but sadly not for us .We have been out of folk music for too long and never much liked the idea of reunions anyway so thanks but no thanks

                      Jack & Margaret

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 05:37 AM

Why are you geezers so intent on reinventing the wheel? The EAMT held their annual Traditional Music Day last weekend. You could have all gone there.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 06:25 AM

Who mentioned traditional music?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 07:34 AM

I remember most of these chaps bumbling around London clubs four to five decades ago. As many seem to have gravitated towards East Anglia, the Stowmarket event would seem to be ideally situated. And why wouldn't they want to listen to and perform traditional music? Besides, it's very good fun.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger F.
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 03:47 AM

Hello D.
Would have liked to have gone as Stowmarket isn't far away from Sudbury but didn't know it was on.
I take daily the EAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES but didn't see anything in there.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 06:50 AM

The British Folk Scene has ALWAYS suffered from a lack of publicity
MOSTLY from the Local Papers not being interested in any thing that they cant charge LOTS of money for !

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 07:29 AM

Hello Rog!

Now that you have the link for EATMT you can take a look at their sctivities and see what interests you. One of the best ways to find out about music-related events would be to sign up for Facebook and they will be posted in your page,

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 03:10 PM

Jack, here is a photo of you playing at that gig you don't remember :)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack King
Date: 09 Sep 10 - 06:15 AM

John
    Many thanks for the photo as if I ever doubted you . God what a Handsome devil ( if they could see me now ) .The ooo18 photographs well though .Thanks again and many kind regards.
                                                 Jack

Subject: The Crypt Folk Club, St Martin in the Fields
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 04:53 PM

I used to go to The Crypt Folk Club around 1972/73 and would love to hear from others who remember that era. We stopped going not long after Hugh Maddox left. Does anyone know where he is now?

There is a small group on Friends Reunited - be good to make it grow.

April Smart (formerly Truscott)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: April Smart
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 04:57 PM

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack King
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 09:35 AM

Is there anyone who remembers the other clubs that we were resident at apart from the Cellar ? The first was a pub in Southgate which was going very well until the landlord suspected that there was pot smoking going on ,by the time he discovered that it was my Gauloisse he could smell he had closed us down!!!! The next was at Boreham Wood run by a very nice guy Mick Leggat. Among the artistes booked I remember Joanne Hindley Smith and there was a gorgeous blonde named Sue who ran the door. We also met Lois Lane of Caravels fame who was often in the audience.The last one was at the Bounds Green Tavern run by a guy who I think was Canadian named Ian > we remember Tom Paxton being booked and doing two 30 minutes spots with no encores. I have mentioned this club before as i mistakenly thought John McKenzie was involved but any info to assist a flagging memory would be much appreciated.   
                           Jack

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 12 Sep 10 - 09:55 AM

The pub at Bounds Green was the Springfield Park Tavern and it stands on the corner of the street in which I now live. I was astonished when I went to view the house because I thought I'd never been to the area before but was confronted by the pub I'd spent many hours in nearly 40 years ago. Unfortunately all it has now is thick curtains and wide-screen football.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger F.
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 03:59 AM

Does anyone remember the informal sessions we had at The Engineer
near CSH where many musicians and singers got together. People like Peter Knight of Steeleye, Clive Woolf, Jim Woodley. Olly on mandolin, etc.
Usually occurred after the instrumental workshops and "Songswap" at CSH on a Tuesday evenings. Can you remember old Spidey the caretaker?
I also remember some great rapper teams performing in the Cellar in the 70's. There's some good examples of rapper dancing if you google it! The Black Swan side are worth a look....

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 09:25 AM

The Spidys, yeah. Kenneth Not-So-Goode fired them. I sometimes wonder when I pass their basement flat what the EFDSS has put in there.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Keith(Will) Bottjer
Date: 30 Sep 10 - 07:55 PM

What a wonderful and long lived thread. I have spent the last hour in blissful recall of many of the clubs and places mentioned. I was saddened to hear about the death of Don Partridge earlier this month. I knew Don in the sixties, during / after his ' encounter with fame' and found him to be a larger than life, friendly and colourful character. We used to meet on the odd occasion in The Porcupine and the Cambridge in the Leicester Square area and The King and Queen near the Post Office Tower. Don became a regular / resident, at Brentwood Folk Club in Essex and I remeber quite vividly his excellent rendition of 'Jerusalem'. I know Don used to busk even up to quite recently in various towns in southern England and will be greatly missed. Might I be permitted through the forum to offer condolences to his family.

Whilst slightly off the 'London Clubs' theme, Does anyone recall or did anyone attend / perform at Chelmsford Folk Club in the early to mid sixties. 'The Halliard' were in residence consisting initially of Geoff Harris; Dave Moran and Nigel Paterson with Nic Jones replacing Geoff when he decided to resume his previous career. The club was held in Tindal Street at [I seem to recall] The White Hart in the room above the bar. I recall seeing Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick; Bert Jansch and John Renbourne; Julie Felix; John Foreman; Davey Graham; Paul Simon and many others in this wonderful 'up close and personal' environment. I used to attend the workshop sessons that Geoff and Nigel used to run on a Wednesday and they started me out on a life long love affair with the guitar. I recall tousling with and [just about] achieving a passable version of 'Anji' and practicing until the tips of my fingers bled.

I would be delighted if anyone performed or attended those sessions and can reinforce my memories.

Keith

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 12:46 AM

Andrew Davis...

He now lives in Dorset...

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 04:30 AM

Just noticed that this thread has been going for 9 years + now. I am really pleased I started it. So many people have come out of the woodwork, and old friends made reappearances.
Keep it up folks.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: howbe on
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 03:05 PM

Guest Keith

Yes I do remember the club at the White Hart in Chelmsford. I think I started going not long before the club re-alocated to the Saracens Head. I certainly remember seeing The Yetties and Dave Burland there and seem to think it was one of the first gigs that either of these performers had done outside their own geographical areas.

The club at the Saracens Head was a much larger venue and had many fine guest singers over the years. I was then part of a group called The Riggers who did the residency at the club when the Halliard were off touring, which they ended up doing with increasing frequency.
Dave Moran was still running the club and also several other clubs in Essex including one at Braintree where I often played.

The Riggers and I also ran/ were resident singers at, clubs in Harold Hill, Collier Row and Hornchurch ( and later Upminster ) in the late 60's / 70's.

I still think of how lucky I was to be involved in such a vibrant and exciting period of Folk Music and   to have heard and shared a stage with so many great performers.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 03:57 PM

April, (11 Sep 2010), I seem to remember the first gig I went to in London was Steve Tilston at the Crypt - 1971?

(The second gig was Mungo Jerry at some pub not that far away. Could it have been the Chelsea Drugstore? Anyway, they'd been booked before "In The Summertime" became an enormous hit and the place was absolutely heaving. Ray Dorset stood on a chair so we could all see him! Don't see many folkies doing that....)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 05:39 PM

HI howbe on, Upminster club was very good,
YES,Keith I was around there at the time, as was HCJ Jones.
I remember seeing martin wyndham read, and English Tapestry Performing to full houses

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 06 Oct 10 - 05:42 PM

Was with Puddleduck when we played for ceilidhs at the Crypt a couple of times... and remember that the year we had to move tents at Sidmouth to meet safety standards (after the campsite gas cylinder explosion in Spain)the people organising the moving were stewards from the Crypt.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: howbe on
Date: 07 Oct 10 - 08:35 AM

Hi Dick. Yes, the Windmill Club at Upminster was good and very well attended. We booked some excellent guests. Albion Band, Jasper Carrot,Mike Harding and The Bushwakers on tour from Australia ( my first experiance of the Largerphone),to name but a few. Always remember Swan Arcade during their Folk Rock period, their PA system was so big it took two guys to push in the mixer, which was on wheels and must have been about 6 foot tall (well I was smaller then so it might have been less )

However the best thing about the club,from a financial prospective,was that Havering Council let us have the venue free and
covered us for any cash shortfall ! Ah those were the days. Having said that I think the Council may still make a donation towards John Durrants club that still runs in Romford.

Take care, Dom

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Guest - Lindy
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 01:58 AM

Hello Dom:

Just read your post here about the Windmill Club. Haven't seen any
more of your posts on "Off to California." and still was wondering if you and Sarah will be singing at the club in Tehachapi, California?
I'm the one who will be staying in Bakersfield, CA the last week of October.
By the way, did you ever have Graham & Eileen Pratt play at the Windmill Club? Or Mike Raven & a female singer he performed with (can't think of her name at the moment).

Thanks,
Lindy

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 02:25 AM

Lindy - Joan Mills?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Guest - Lindy
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 03:31 AM

Kitty:

Just posted a message but not sure if it went through as I may not have clicked on submit message. If you get this same message twice please excuse one of them!

Anyway, yes it is Joan Mills!!
I have one LP that she and Mike Raven did together. Wish I had other LPs of theirs. I really loved Joan's voice! Do you know if she is still involved with folk music or singing at folk clubs these days?
Thanks,
Lindy

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger F.
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 06:02 AM

Anyone remember a club over the big pub at Swiss Cottage in North London. I went there a few times but can't remember who the residents were.    A well known contemporary perfomer turned up minus guitar and asked if he could use mine. Unwittingly, I said yes.
I could see the scratches appearing down the front of my guitar from his plectrum (plectrum? what's that?)
Anyway as resident at the Folk Cellar at CSH and having bought an expensive folk-style guitar (anyone remember Doctor Tomastic treble strings for finger style playing?), I used to take a well-worn old nylon-strung guitar as a spare and when singers turned up minus instrument, that was the one they got!
The same singer-songwriter came and sang from the floor at the Cellar and asked for a booking. On saying Yes he then told me to contact his AGENT. One of the reasons I then packed it up. Was getting too professional & the most the Sharp House could afford at the time was ten quid. Even Paul Simon got that!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 06:15 AM

a club over the big pub at Swiss Cottage

The North Star?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger F.
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 01:36 PM

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger F.
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 01:39 PM

The pub itself was The Swiss Cottage right on the apex of where Finchley Rd split up with Wellington Rd. next to the Odeon cinema, if I remember right.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 02:30 PM

Lindy - I don't know if Joan is still singing, but it appears that she's been maintaining Mike's website and continuing to sell copies of books and recordings since he died in April 2008. Her e-mail address is on the website.

MCP and I spent an afternoon with Mike at the National Festival in Sutton Bonington one year (late 1990s) and he very kindly gave us A Shropshire Lad CD that he'd recorded with Joan.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Joe Palmer
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 10:35 AM

A friend mentioned that I should check out this site and was suprised to see somebody asking about the whereabouts of the various members of the Peelers and yes you got it right I am living in Spain and I am the owner of Sunshine FM the No.1 station on the Costa Blanca sadly my lovely wife Ann passed away in 1992 and I have lost contact with both Tom Madden and Jim Younger but if anyone knows of their whereabouts I would love to know what they are up to these days

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 21 Oct 10 - 04:12 PM

Hi Joe, Jim Younger is still very much active on the London music scene, he's a resident at the Cellar Upstairs along with Gail William andd others, You can contact Gail via Facebook, I'm not sure whether he's a member himself though.

Tom Madden lives in Kilburn, last I heard. Don't think he's doing that much musically but Jim should know.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John Foxen
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 09:52 AM

Does anyone remember Toad Hall in the General Havelock in Ilford on Friday nights in the late Sixties early Seventies? It was the first club I went to and for just half a crown I saw up and coming youngsters such as John Martyn, John Renbourn, Ralph McTell, Derek Brimstone - and two farewell concerts by Young Tradition. There was a resident called Richard Digance. Whatever happened to him?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 22 Oct 10 - 10:14 AM

Richard's never been the same since his Nan's flat was pulled down and he can't sit on the balcony and watch the Hammers for free.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: tritoneman
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 02:57 PM

idly browsing through some Mudcat threads I came across this one and found myself thoroughly enjoying wallowing in the nostalgia. To my surprise I saw a reference to Graham Butterfield playing at The Troubadour and Les Cousins. I am Graham Butterfield and I do remember having a penchant for playing Salty Dog Blues at the Troub and I remember, with gratitude, crashing on the kitchen floor 'cos there were no more trains back to Guildford!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack& Margaret King
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 06:07 AM

Has anybody heard anything about Chas Upton who used to be around the scene at the same time as us and wrote avery nice song about Silbury Hill ,he was a great mate of Fred Wedlock sadly no longer with us ,also any news of Colin Wilkie & Shirley Hart we know Shirley stopped singing rou nd about the same time as we did
but is Colin still going strong and are they still living in Germany? Any info would be gratefully received

                   J&M

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Nov 10 - 08:45 AM

There was a resident called Richard Digance. Whatever happened to him?
good question, he was last heard of living it up near Saffron Walden, quite a toff.