Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Oct 21 - 08:24 AM

Jo Ann Kelly was a good blues singer

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 06 Oct 21 - 05:22 AM

too handy with the button there!

   I've come to this late, but does anyone remember the club very near Clapham Junction station run by Sean McCarthy- composer of 'Red-Haired Mary', 'Shanagolden', 'Step it out Mary' & other huge Irish hits?

I was there a few times in about 1964-65 with my old scouse pal, John Newman- can't remember the pub name, but I do recall seeing Jo-Ann Kelly there

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Oct 21 - 05:06 PM

I remember when Dave stayed in Johnny Silvo's flat, at Montague Road in Richmond. He also used to got to The Arab Boy pub, in Putney. The person who had that room before Dave, was Davey Johnson, aka Shaggis, now Elton John's musical director, and a fine guitarist. He also used to be a grand Banjo picker.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Viv Double
Date: 04 Oct 21 - 03:22 PM

In the mid sixties, I used to attend Grotty Lottie's Corner Folk Club, at Dalston Junction. Dave Lipscomb ran it. He had a brother who went to Israel for the 6 day war. We met once a week and it was good fun. Lots of drink and plenty of folk singing. I still remember Dave's signature tunes and, after, over 50 years I still sing them to myself. This club was good fun and Dave was a good host with a good repertoire. Some very good guest singers.
I miss those days, am still in touch with others who joined in.
Good days, gone by, never to be re-found.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 09:01 PM

Does anyone know what year or years that any of the following famous folk artist's appeared at Bunjies Folk Cellar on Litchfield Street in London?
Some may have only played there once or twice, others more often.
Also, not completely certain that all singers mentioned actually were ever there. Just curious, that's my only reason for asking.
I myself went there in the very early 1970's and during parts of the 1980's so by that time none of these artist's were there anymore and were all well known and famous.

Sandy Denny
Jackson C. Frank
Paul Simon
Art Garfunkel
Donovan
Bob Dylan
Al Stewart
Ralph McTell

I don't know 100 % that Dylan actually ever played there but just seem to recall he visited Bunjies a few times. Seemed like I vaguely heard he got thrown out of Bunjies but have no idea as to why or the circumstances or even true.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 22 Oct 20 - 03:35 PM

does anyone remember a bbc folk song club,was it at the marquis of Clanricade

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 19 - 12:15 PM

I had forgotten about the Herne Hill club. Just under the railway bridge on the right, when coming from the Brixton side, if I remember rightly.
Herne Hill was the first place I lived when I moved down to London.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Deirdre Mason
Date: 18 Nov 19 - 11:16 AM

Hello again,Eric the Viking,
A correction to my earlier post (the old memory gets a bit shaky). Keith Willson used to do backing sometimes for Raggy Farmer (on, I think, the double bass) at the Thurlow Arms. I remember him lugging that double bass - called Fred - on the bus to the gigs. Keith used to play solo at the Half Moon in Herne Hill in the 1970s - I did a few spots there myself. Others from that scene were Rodney, and Ivan (who used to have a sticker on his guitar saying "You live the life you choose"). It should also have been the Brockley Brothers.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Nov 19 - 05:02 AM

Nice to see this thread resurfacing. I re-read the first 2 pages, and gave up for now. So many of those mentioned there have left us since. I posted that I was trying to get in contact with Derek Serjeant and Hazel King (later Hazel Serjeant) only to find that she had died from cancer in the interim, and Derek himself left us about 4 years ago. So many gone, it makes one conscious of the approaching abyss into which we all must fall, but never mind, we are still here, and we can still enjoy our kind of music. Thanks for all the posts, it's been a real time machine for me.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Deirdre Mason
Date: 15 Nov 19 - 01:34 PM

Hi,Eric,
You mentioned Raggy Farmer at the Thurlow Arms, West Norwood. He was a friend of mine, Keith Willson. I played myself at the time and did a few spots there. Keith had his own club in Herne Hill at first, at the Student Gallery. Hewrote his own songs, and recorded Hyacinth Garden, and Yes, she needs (to feel she's someone who's important) in around 1972. Keith was also with The Brckley Brothers.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 07 Jul 19 - 04:52 PM

Ah... an explanation is needed. I played for PARLFC on Sundays back in 1968-1970, one of the guys was a hot guitarist who also played folk clubs but claimed he was married to Davy Graham's first wife. His name was Dave, and the surname, I remember was very similar, if not the same. Hence the question.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Jul 19 - 05:07 AM

Just copied and pasted the last 3 posts to Dave :)
I found them hilarious, and I'm sure he will too.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jul 19 - 02:32 PM

Great singer and songwriter, but not built for RL!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Eric the viking
Date: 04 Jul 19 - 11:36 AM

Apologies... wrong man.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 04 Jul 19 - 11:20 AM

This might seem odd but did Dave Goulder play amateur rugby league for Peckham ARLRC?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jul 19 - 03:28 PM

there was a good session/club at the Duke of Cambridge in Kingston where Liam Farrell was a regular- as was Bud Flanagan (in the bar, not the club)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 01 Jul 19 - 03:26 PM

Yes John, 1963-66- can't recall Cashin, or any other staff, but then maybe deliberately! Didn't do me much good anyway, mind you I was back in 68 for a couple of years, working at Thames TV graphics just down the road- bet you didn't know that either- Pinky & Perky, Opportunity Knocks & the football results were my finest hour...

The club was held for a time in the Walpole drawing room, Johnny Handle said it was the poshest folk club venue he was ever in!
   Later, when a new chapel was built, the old chapel became the college bar- and also folk club venue- but very strange going up three steps to the bar!
Good to see Mary & Dave Goulder here recently- how are things at the other end of Alba?
             gan canny Jim

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 05:33 PM

"Drink to that any day Jack - I think Dick a was there once and he wasn't booked - hence the bile" another bit of fiction

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 10:25 AM

Roger played at the Topic Folk Club just recently, although he no longer lives in Bradford.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 10:16 AM

I didn't know you were a Simms man Jim, was Father Cashin in charge when you went there? I used to go to that folk club too. Roger of course is still around, I met up with him at Whitby a few times.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 30 Jun 19 - 09:12 AM

I used to visit London clubs in the mid 60s, but when Reg Hall told me about the Irish music in Fulham, Holloway etc, I was more inclined to go there.
Having visited Surbiton and then the Fox at Islington & been fairly repelled by what went on at the Singers' club, I became involved in my college folk club at St Mary's College, Twickenham- a male only college, surrounded by female colleges, life was sweet.
Can't recall much about it, although I do remember visits from Julie Felix, Jo-Ann Kelly, Johnny Handle (my doing!), Sean McCarthy (of 'Red-Haired Mary' fame'), Shirley Collins, a fascinating talk by Peter Kennedy, the Strawberry Hill Boys (to become the Strawbs) Dave & Toni Arthur and Sydney Carter. Also a fine box B/C player from Longford, one Paddy Carrigys & John Faulkner & Terry Yarnell from the singers club- yes we were a catholic crowd in all senses!!
Paul Simon was a regular visitor, and when I left, the club was taken over by one Roger Sutcliffe (well known Bradford blues man nowadays) - not sure if the club still carries on?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Geoff Leonard
Date: 30 Jan 19 - 06:52 PM

In 1972, John Barry was in a Chelsea area folk club and saw and heard a couple performing there. He promptly engaged Ros & John to sing "Follow Follow", the main theme for the film he was then scoring, Follow Me, starring Michael Jayston, Mia Farrow & Topol.

This is a bit of a long-shot, I realise, but does "Ros & John" ring a bell with anybody? Maybe even Roz & Jon? I'd love to know more about them, if so, where they sang, etc..

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 12:55 PM

Drink to that any day Jack - I think Dick a was there once and he wasn't booked - hence the bile"
incorrect.
incorrect again
"He's always at his best when attacking dead people and other people's clubs" I have always stated what a good songwriter Ewan was, I have always stated how professional a performer he was, what i was saying was that i had no desire to go to the singers club.
"Wasn't commenting on Dick's 'talent' Al (I have my own take on that), just his tendency to demean the work of others
However talented someone may be, they have no right to do that in the way he chooses to"
Jim Carroll.
incorrect again,I have never demeaned the work of MacOLL, I HAVE CONSISTENTLY PRAISED HIS SONG WRITING IN FACT I THINK HE WAS THE GREATEST SONGWRITER OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 09 Jul 18 - 11:10 AM

Like Flush et al in 2010, I went to the Tramshed in Woolwich in the 70s. I remember it as a rather Bohemian place where you could just walk in off the street on a weekday afternoon, grab a pint and listen to some rock or blues band rehearsing. All very relaxed, friendly, dark and dusty.

I also attended some memorable gigs there: Dave Swarbrick (I diddled with him in his dressing room), Paul Brady (my mate and I wouldn't let him go - we kept clapping, shouting and stamping for more, and he did three or four encores), Rory Gallagher (one of the best gigs of my life) and ... Splodgenessabounds (the most disgusting gig I've yet been to).

Ah, those were the days ...

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 12:51 PM

To work hard is a talent - you don't play Dallas Rag on a concertina without a lot of hard work. That is entitled to the word talent without the inverted commas.

I presume it something to do with Ewan

He was a great and wonderful man. I can think of few people who would deny that. His achievements are staggering in scale and I never found him anything but pleasant and friendly.

However it must be said, I've bumped into a fair few number of people in my perambulations over the last fifty years who are more qualified in their approval. I have in mind one particular octogenarian folksinger who muttered after my ringing endorsement of MacColl, ah weel ye must speak as ye find, I suppose...and this guy certainly had more dealings with Ewan than I did.

I have this same argument with my sister about my parents. You can love and revere their memory, but they had human faults. They were human.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 09:40 AM

Wasn't commenting on Dick's 'talent' Al (I have my own take on that), just his tendency to demean the work of others
However talented someone may be, they have no right to do that in the way he chooses to
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 08:37 PM

The thing is Jim. Dick's very good - you don't get to be that good without putting in a lot of hours work and practice, and that deserves some respect.

It doesn't mean the club owes you a gig, but on the other hand - a little respect for honest and earnest artistic endeavour, and in this case, considerable talent costs nowt.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 03:07 PM

"Lord save us from egotistical self opinionated folkies."
Drink to that any day Jack - I think Dick a was there once and he wasn't booked - hence the bile
He's always at his best when attacking dead people and other people's clubs
Dick Snell was a sometime resident - a good singer and an excellent songwriter
Jack's description of the London scene is spot on, though he omitted 'The Railway' in Stratford East, where I seem to remember he was a resident
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Feb 18 - 09:02 AM

Lord save us from egotistical self opinionated folkies.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 01:09 PM

The singers club,not for me, any club that has a policy which effectively stops an english person from singing a Woody Guthrie song, a ridiculous policy, which allows Peggy and TomPaley to sing appalachian songs when they are not from appalachia yet prevents an english person singing appalachian songs is eccentric and ridiculous.
imo full of earnest self important egotistical people who undoubtedly were good performers, but lacked any kind of CRAIC.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Feb 18 - 12:21 PM

Jack, wasn't Dick Snell involved in CG at some point?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Jack Warshaw
Date: 05 Feb 18 - 08:32 PM

The Singers Club's reputation was supported by a programme of fine guest singers, both "interpreters" and true traditional ones from around Britain and Ireand, America and occasionally France and Italy. Ravi Shankar came once, and singers from India, like the wonderful Kali Das Gupta from Kolkata. The club's official sponsor was the London Cooperative Society. There was a committee, which held formal meetings with minutes. In reality much of the day to day organising work was done by Peggy.

Many of these sessions were hosted by club "residents," drawn from the performing members of the Critics Group when Ewan and Peggy and Bert Lloyd were on tour, or otherwise occupied. They included John Faulkner, Sandra Kerr, Frankie Armstrong, Denis Turner, Terry Yarnell, Brian Pearson, Jim O'Connor, Buff Rosenthal and me. Sometimes these residents took on the whole evening, on themes such as industrial ballads,or political issues.   The format was always the same: 1st half performers, introduced by the compere for the evening; floor singers, 15 minute break to refill glasses (there was never a bar in any of the SC pub rooms), then the 2nd half performance.

After the CG broke up, following the last Festival of Fools production, several of its principal singers and actors formed "Combine," which ran a club at the Knave of Clubs in Bethnal Green, still continuing their roles at the SC, while avoiding direct contact with MacColl and Seeger. A third club was started by singers who lived in Southwest London, at the Golden Lion, Fulham, near Putney Bridge. Many a night was spent flyposting for our guest nights.

These were of course weekly clubs, and there was much work in running and performing in them. But it paid in experience and building repertoires. Combine in particular put on themed, scripted shows and feature spots such as Pig of the Week in which some (usually Tory) lackey would be pilloried or lampooned. These efforts culminated in the inspiring Vietnam Victory Show of April 1975.

These clubs carried on somehow through the decline of the 70s and 80s into the early 90s, by which time, geographical distance, growing families, falling audiences, political stagnation and other commitments were taking their inevitable toll. That several CG graduates never gave up and made a place for themselves in the folk and theatre worlds is a tribute to the strength of their early work and training.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 09:38 PM

Are there any folk clubs from the 1960's or 1970's (besides the Cabbage Patch in Twickenham) that are located in London (not outside London)that are still around under the same exact name and at the exact location and still run as a folk club?

If anyone knows of such clubs that have not changed names or locations (in London, England only) please post. Also, still folk (and not changed to other music genres.)
If you know when this club opened please mention that too.
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Peter Green
Date: 10 Nov 16 - 08:05 AM

Good to see Jack and Margaret King still remembered. Great late nights in Isles of Scilly and Jack of all Trades sessions around the city

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Nov 16 - 07:09 PM

I dont remember Simon Haines as a performer in the london clubs in the 70s,I seem to remember him performing in the late 80s in Essex, however I am sure he was around, I find it sad that so many people on this thread have now died.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Gwen Nelson
Date: 09 Nov 16 - 05:54 PM

Roger Fleming Ican remember Paul Simon doing a gig at Les Cousins about 1964/5. I was going out with Davy Burke who was one of The Tinkers before Mo Kennedy-Martin joined them. After the session was over we all went for a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Paul was very polite, pulled chairs out for the females to sit down and very quiet and shy. He was under the wing of a woman by the name of Judith who was an "angel" for aspiring, young, male folk singers.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 02 Sep 16 - 04:06 AM

For Jack King.
Hello Jack,
I know you and Margaret live in Hadleigh.
Are you aware there's a Folk Club in Hadleigh which takes place on the first Friday of the month and is run by a chap called Simon Haines.
He said he was around at CSH during the folk revival in the 70's and 80's as we were!
you can look it up on their website by googling Hadleigh Folk club.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Aug 16 - 06:15 PM

Roger Fleming - if your last post was directed at the Borchester Echo, I regret to inform you that Diane passed away in May 2013. There was an
obit link on Mudcat at the time.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 09 Aug 16 - 02:59 PM

Hi Diane,
do you remember when you lived in a greenhouse in somebody's back garden?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,Roger Fleming
Date: 09 Aug 16 - 06:12 AM

I was going to ask if anyone remembered Paul Simon dropping in to the Enterprise and asking for a booking. He used to live in Camden Town with his girlfriend Cathy who he brought to the club with him. He wrote a song "Cathy's Song" which was on his first record.
I bought an EP from him which he sold from his guitar case.
He was booked, I believe,for £10. He didn't go down so well when he turned up with Art Garfunkel [too commercial sounding!}
Does anyone remember Mike Robinson who sang at the Folk cellar but he also played a set of Northumbrian small pipes. He tried to start a workshop on shoe pipes at CSH but they were too expensive to buy no one could afford them so the workshop folded up!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Splott Man
Date: 14 Jun 16 - 02:39 AM

I was an occasional regular at the Assembly Rooms too, while a student at Epsom and still living at home in Dorking.
It was my introduction to Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Ian Campbell Folk Group (with Swarb & Peggy) and many more.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Jun 16 - 02:37 PM

Derek is still around at 86, unfortunatel Hazel died from cancer some 10 years ago, or thereabouts. Probably more, my perception of time is crap. I was a regular at Surbiton Assembly Rooms, in the 70's and 80's. Along with many others, including my old mate, the estimable Hector Gilchrist. They were happy days indeed, and I saw many many great acts there.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 16 - 07:24 PM

trying to find out some info about The Witches Couldron Belsize Park 1960's anyone have any memories to share - I used to go there on afternoons when I skipped school -

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 05:20 AM

Dead right about Surbiton & Derek (&Hazel?) Sergeant- not sure how it compares by age with the Topic, Swindon, Newcastle etc, but it was well established when I first went in October 1963.
It was there where I heard about a concert at Cecil Sharp House in November 1963 with the Spinners, Julie Felix, Nadia Cattouse among others. I went back to college that night oblivious to my surroundings and woke to the news of events in Dallas the previous night......

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: Iains
Date: 13 Apr 16 - 07:00 AM

This thread is quite some tour of the greater London folk scene back in the 60's, 70's. I see a couple of mentions of Derek Sarjeant but no mention of the Surbiton Assembly rooms where he ran a folk club for many years, where I first saw Ralph Mctell in the late 60's(I think)

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 06 Mar 16 - 03:13 PM

Good man Jack. I remember you and Margaret well. Best wishes to you both.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,jack king
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 09:46 AM

many years ago when the world was young Margaret & I ran the Cellar at Cecil sharp House and among the audience was a young singer/song writer named Bob Lockyer. One of his songs concerned a london transport conductor titled Tha Bold Recruit . This song eh kindly let me use and it has stayed in my repertoire for about 50 years .Although it is many years since Margaret & I sang in public qccaisionally at dinner parties & other get rtogethers We are asked to "give us a song " margaret cant sing anymore and I usually oblige with "The Bold recruit" so if Bob your still around Many thanks mate       Jack King

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Dec 15 - 08:30 AM

I do remember the club in Bromley, it was called Bromley trad singers club, it was strictly unaccompanied, it was run by Eddie and Jackie Dunmore, a ginger haired bus driver and a another fellow from Ravensbourne Morris side, who was the treasurer, and Jim Bassett
Guests i remember were Isobel Sutherland ,Roy Harris,JohnConnolly.
I Think it was held in the pub then known as the star and garter, towars the north end of the high street not far from a cinema years before there had been another club at the three compasses
Ralph Henning was until very recently involved with friday folk in orpington

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,jack&margaret king
Date: 25 Dec 15 - 04:58 AM

Seasons greetings from Selig Suffolk to all old folkies everywhere We are still alive and kicking though perhaps not as high as we used to. A very merry merry Xmas and a happy healthy peaceful & prosperous New Year toall who remember us


                  Jack & Margaret King

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
From: GUEST,John Riddle
Date: 28 Sep 15 - 11:19 PM

I went to peanuts probably 69/70 remeber nick harrison as the host my girlfriend at the time brother played a gig there . went every sat night for a couple of years candles on the tables you could get a burger downstairs cooked in a microwave i think.Saw hamish imlach at the london docks that year too he sung black is the colour loved that song eversince