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Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s
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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 ! |
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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. |
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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. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: John MacKenzie Date: 06 Sep 10 - 06:25 AM Who mentioned traditional music? |
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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. |
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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 |
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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! |
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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! |
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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. |
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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! |
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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??! |
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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? |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: John MacKenzie Date: 27 Jul 10 - 04:12 PM Glad to hear Jack and Margaret are still with us, my best wishes to you both. JM |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Jim Anderson Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:01 PM I came to London in February 1966 and in my first week saw Bob Davenport and The Rakes at The Fox on Islington Green- it was their 10th anniversary as a band and that night was a bit of a party I remember Freddy McKay particulary and a guy called Norman, I think, who used to sing the same song every week about " the man wot waters the workers' beer " ! A couple of nights later I met Matt McGinn, Hamish Imlach [ both now long gone ]and Jimmy McGregor at Bruce Dunnet's Scots Hoose at Cambridge Circus - went for supper with them and Nadia Cattouse at a wee eaterie on Old Compton Street - The Blue ..? Through Bruce, who became a lifelong friend until his death some years ago, I met a whole host of people I'd only heard on record or seen on TV, including a great many of the names mentioned in all these contributions. But Ewan McColl undoubtedly was the person who had greatest influence on my understanding and appreciation of the music and the tradition. Perhaps a difficult man for some, but the soul of kindness to me. I eventually did the door stuff etc at the Singers' Club when it was at the John Snow in Broadwick Street, Soho, until I was recalled to Scotland at the end of that year. But over the subsequent years I visited London many times and went round many of the clubs, often with Bruce D, until ill-health turned him off going out much at all. I think the last time was to one of the last Singers' Club nights, when Ewan was already too ill to attend. Reading this thread has brought back some wonderful memories ... as well as the dreadful realisation of just how long ago that all was. Great days indeed ! |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Tug the Cox Date: 21 Jul 10 - 08:20 PM Crikey Lynne ( Guest)I used to live in that area, remember the River Quagy when it still ran through a culvert in Sutclife park, before it was tunneled in. Nearest regular Folk Club was catford, foredt hill or farningham, 60's/70's. When are you talking about, and where was the venue? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Roger F. Date: 21 Jul 10 - 04:49 AM Good to hear from you JACK! That's Jack King. I remember your 00018 well. I live in deepest Suffolk too! Where old folkies retire to..... Gave up the guitar and sold both of them some years ago but I now play a set of Hummelchen Bagpipes and have take up the 5-string banjo just for amusement. I remember Mike Robinson playing the Northumbrian small pipes. He gave some workshops at CSH but they were too expensive to buy. One gets the bug so I have played my pipes and the banjo at the Quay Theatre Folk Club in Sudbury, Suffolk. Give my regards to Margaret. My wife at the time, Joyce, has passed on. We visited you at your home at times if you remember. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Lynne Date: 20 Jul 10 - 05:11 PM I used to go to the Quaggy Folk evenings in the Manor Park area of Lee. It was my first intro to Folk- wonderful musical nights! |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,DJC Date: 14 Jul 10 - 01:19 PM Can anyone else remember a folk club that was run in The Old Fire Station in Richmond Surrey? In the early 1960's you had to be a club memeber to get a drink on a Sunday Night after 10.00PM - so the folk club was an obvious venue! I saw Long John Baldry playing accoustic blues there and when I heard he was also playing over at Eel Pie Island a few weeks later I went to see him (Rod Stewart was allowed two songs in the "interval" provided he got back from playing football in time!). At Eel Pie, Baldry played with a full blues band including Geoff Bradford and Ian Armitt. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Jack King Date: 08 Jul 10 - 10:09 AM just to put the record straight Margaret & I took over the Cellar from Peter Kennedy who ran it on much more informal lines and together with Mike Robinson built it up over the years into a more formal arrangement. We were very lucky in persuading guests to perform as the fees were derisory and when the guests got paid we didnt Happily many old mates were always willing to appear including Colin Wilkie &Shirley Hart,Alex Campbell Martin Winsor Redd Sullivan Pete& Marion Maynard Martin Carthy& the Spinners to mention but a few.I think however that some of the best evenings were the Come All Yees particularly when "Atrocity Alley were in fullcry ,singersfrom the floor included Gerry Fox ,Mick Flynn,Brian Norman & ayoung hopeful named Noel Murphy!!!!Happy days. We handed the club over in the mid sixties to Tony Dean& the Laymen & Tony Rose. and finally left Folk Music about 1974.Hope this brings back a few memories |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Angieb Date: 08 Jul 10 - 05:36 AM Hi all Last I heard of Tom Madden was (from Kevin Burke a couple of years back) that Tom was running a B&B with his missus in Torquay! Also that Joe Palmer was running (or part of) a radio station in Spain (or somewhere). Recently went to Fleetwood FOlk Club's anniversary and was treated to a reunion of Dave Walters and Howard Bond (Bonded Boots). It was really great to see them together again. Howard is still singing (and playing) and I see him occasionally. Seem to have been involved in folk music forever, and wonderful it is to. Currently organising Four Fools events up here in sunny Lancashire. Sad to hear of the loss of Roger Nicholson, what a superb dulcimer player he was. Thanks for the reminder about Capricorn Folk Club Sheila. It was going great until the pub turned the room into a restaurant. (Yep it was happening even back then). Cheers everyone and keep singing/playing |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Kevin Sheils Date: 07 Jul 10 - 05:47 AM Jack King just posted in another old 60's thread but I thought I'd copy his note here as it may be more noticed. Glad to hear he and Margaret are still out there. He wrote Margaret & I are still alive & kicking and living in Deepest Suffolk Mag has just celebrated her 80th birthday & I will catch her up next March.We left folk music in the middle 70s(some say we never joined)Mag gave up to nurse her sick mother in 1970 & I soldiersd on foer a few years th elast proffesional work I did was as a minstrel at the Gore hotel along side such as Hylda Symm Barrie Beattie & Dave Ward.Still got the old00018 though |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: The Borchester Echo Date: 20 Jun 10 - 11:16 AM Re "Graham" @ the Troubadour A very young and extremely good blues picker there and at the Cousins at that time was Graham Butterfield. He lived somewhere out in Surrey and would often come and crash in my kitchen till the trains restarted. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,arjay Date: 05 Jun 10 - 02:14 AM Anyone heard of Ron Simmonds of Bunjies and elsewhere, in recent years ? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Marcia Stehr Date: 31 May 10 - 04:29 PM Hi Jacob's Ladder.. Perhaps the Graham you heard was THE Davy Graham? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Joe_F Date: 30 May 10 - 05:38 PM I was in Scotland on a Fulbright in 1958-9, and was in London for the winter vacation. I joined Ballads & Blues. I heard someone sing "The Second Front Song" -- it must have been Ewan MacColl, but I didn't know him from Adam at the time. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,jacobs ladder Date: 30 May 10 - 05:19 PM I posted on this trhread about a year ago - and follow the corespondence with interest - when we used to go to the troub in the mid and late 60's there was often a very young singer who would come up and sing during the 'open mike' whose name I think was graham and he almost always sang a song which went "salty dog, salty dog, I could be your salty dog, honey let me be your salty dog ... two old ladies sitting in the sand, each one wishing the other was a man ... honey let me be your salty dog ... anyone know who he was or what happen to him |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Mick Woods Date: 16 Apr 10 - 02:36 AM I attended a Folk Club in the St Martin In The Fields Crypt Trafalgar Square London circa 1970 I remember seeing Eclection performing there. It was free entry and My girlfriend and me used to bring our own bottle of cheap wine. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Mick Penning Date: 15 Apr 10 - 05:38 PM Is there anyone out there who frequented the pub on Friday nights around 1972/73? Folk Night (upstairs)..... The Nag's Head, York Rd Battersea. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,SheilaG Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:35 AM Any news on Joe and Ann Palmer and Tom Madden? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,SheilaG Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:30 AM I used to hang out at Bunjies. They had a resident singer/songwriter called Amory Kane!! One night a guy called David Bowie did a couple of numbers. (Yes, Bowie - not Jones). |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Bonnie Shaljean Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:24 AM Sheila G, I just got a lovely Easter card from Kay who co-ran the Peelers for awhile. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,SheilaG Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:20 AM Hi Angie and all I, too, have just stumbled across this site/forum. I was searching for The Peelers and Bonded Boots - seems we are all down memory lane! I think the Capricorn Club deserves a mention. Angie ran this club at Gt Portland Street for 2 years. It was mostly packed to the gunwhales (what would H&S have to say about that now) and we had some fantastic times. One great memory was when Martin Carthy turned up with horrendous flu - but not wanting to let the club down. He couldn't possibly go on and, as luck would have it, Royston Wood had turned up in the audience and did the gig instead. I think you should write a history of it, Ange. Did you keep the gig lists? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: The Borchester Echo Date: 18 Mar 10 - 06:46 AM fRoots forum here. Stan Hugill died in 1992 aged 86. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Roger F. Date: 18 Mar 10 - 06:39 AM Someone was asking on the website FRoots about folk mags of the 60's & 70's. I do not have access to that website but I gave a box full of folk mags from that period to the BBC Music Library. They weren't too enthusiastic about taking them off my hands though they contained hundreds of songs and their origins. They may part with them if asked for! One of my favourite articles was The Bosun's Locker by Stan Hugill. Life aboard sailing ships with a shanty given each month. Shanties were useful in the 70's to get audiences joining in with the choruses. What happened to Stan Hugill? Anyone know? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Roger F. Date: 16 Mar 10 - 12:46 PM Hello Nick Harrison, In regard to your query, I ran the BBC Folk Club on a number of occasions. Peter Charlton was the permanent resident, but like most of us who worked at the BBC, shift work didn't allow us to attend all the time. When Peter was working he'd give me a call. The club at the time was in the Langham building, which is now an upmarket hotel. Now & again when the room wasn't available in The LANGHAM we were given a room in Brodcasting House. I remember sometimes booked guests, like Margaret Barry, were convinced they were going out on air, though it was a club for the staff when they were off duty. I can't remember the exact time but it must have been in the early 70's. Floor singers who didn't work for the Beeb were welcome and friends of mine, such as Roger Nicholson and Clive Woolf would sing and/or play for us. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST Date: 14 Mar 10 - 04:00 PM Nick Harrison . I ran the Peanuts Folk Club and the BBC Folk Club for several years in the 60s and 70s, and performed in dozens of other clubs in the Home Counties. It would be nice to hear from any old buddies at Wizphut@gmail.com Happy days| |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Folknacious Date: 04 Mar 10 - 07:00 PM Questions answered from posts above: Dav(e)y Graham passed away in 2008 Dave Arthur is currently in the fine band Rattle On The Stovepipe (Google . . .) And a passing note: why do folkies always put an e on the end of Sharp? And indeed Renbourn, come to think of it . . . often the same ones who put an extra c in acoustic, I notice. Is letter inflation traditional |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Roger F. Date: 04 Mar 10 - 05:56 PM God God, what a blast from the past. I was going to ask if anyone had heard of Guernsey Pete. I followed directly after Jack & Margaret King in the Folk Cellar, CSH. I was helped sometimes with Karl (Jack) Wahnig who sang a bass line under my 'soprano' voice. Incidently, there was no talking in the Cellar or at the Enterprise when people were singing. One reason I think was that there was no bar in the room. People went out in the interval for a drink and chat. I confess that I do not remember Tony Rose, Tony Deane or The Laymen so they must have come after I gave up at the Cellar & I don't remember them at the Enterprise. I had a photograph, which I have mislaid, of standing with Tim & Maddy, when I was resident at the Cellar. Also with Dave & Toni Arthur when we shared a gig at a school somewhere around Havistock Hill. I saw Toni Arthur appearing on childrens' TV but where is Dave Arthur these days? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Guernsey Pete Date: 04 Mar 10 - 04:47 PM Oh, nostalgia, nostalgia ! It isn't like it used to be ...... Having read all the names from the past; Roger Fleming, were you the third resident at the Cellar after Jack and Margaret King? I could remember Tony Rose, and Tony Deane and the Laymen, and was struggling for the third. And then there's all the other clubs - The Starting Gate in Wood Green was the first I went to in London, given directions from someone I met at the new Guernsey Folk Club in the summer of '65 ( suddenly I feel old...). This, of course, was back in the days when people talked in folk clubs, and if you sat at the back you could barely hear the performers, even someone as extrovert as Alex Campbell. The The Cellar, of course. Somewhere in my archives I have a cutting from a long-defunct Camden local newspaper "Artists, writers, poets, meet at the Cellar to hear performers like Tim Hart and Maddy Prior...." and in the photo there are empty seats everywhere and I think I can recognize Paul Stevens in the second row. Already well remembered the Enterprise, The Cut, BBC club, Islington, also there was an early reference on this discussion to Dave Lipson and Grotty Lottie's in Dalston Junction. I was there too. First time I ever heard anyone play a fiddle-tune on a guitar ( The Gants Hill-Billies ). Surely the club near Liverpool Street was The Peelers ? Jim Younger was one of the residents. Terrible amount of hand-rolled cigarettes around in those days, ruined a few performances, Sweeneys Men took ages to tune in their second set, too busy laughing, Amazing Blondel similarly rather incapacitated ( was it the hair ? ). Also anyone remember Free Folk ? Royal Free Hospital folk club down in the basement before the hospital moved to Hampstead in the late '60s' ? Ah, nostalgia. I played at the Royal Free Freshers Week with my barn-dance band a few years ago, and when I jumped off the stage to try to organise the dancing personally I was dwarfed by the 6-foot-plus eighteen-year-old women freshers ! Well, hullo Bonnie ( how's things in Cork ? ), Kevin, Dom -saw your niece at C Sharp last year, she's doing well. Hullo to everyone ! The Cellar Upstairs still marches on, as does Islington. Then there's the new clubs coming on, it seems like a revitalization is occurring, also a rise in informal acoustic sessions. The cycle turns with the seasons. All is not lost |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: Leadfingers Date: 02 Mar 10 - 07:44 PM Noel Murphy was living in Mullion (Cornwall) last time I saw him - I think he has stopped gigging entirely now , which IS a shame . |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,BarryB Date: 02 Mar 10 - 05:07 PM Thanks for the glimpse of the poster John, gave my other half a good laugh!...I packed up playing in the clubs around 1971, although carried on for a while at the Elizabethan Rooms in Kensington after that. More names in the "where are they now" saga....Josh McRae (of "Messing about on the River" fame)...don't think he performed "down south" much, but came across him in Scotland, a very impressive performer....Jean Redpath?....Davy Graham? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Roger F. Date: 02 Mar 10 - 04:51 AM Re Diz. Thanks for that John. Just googled Mudcat Diz Dizley and got lots of info..... |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: John MacKenzie Date: 02 Mar 10 - 04:19 AM Current Mudcat thread Roger. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s From: GUEST,Roger F. Date: 02 Mar 10 - 04:00 AM At the Folk Cellar, CSH, and likewise the Hampstead Folk Club, Diz Dizley would be booked by way of a change. He was a great racanteur and jazz guitar player. He did more talking than playing but he was very amusing & a popular guest. Is he still about? |
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