OBIT: Is your folk club dieing

Subject: Is your folk club dieing
From: GUEST,Dagenham Doc
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 05:25 PM

Well is it? and if so why??I've come across quite a few nostalgic threads lately and some that talk about how old we are getting, how most folkies are middle age plus and how it's hard to find singing sessions at festivals or at your local.Two years ago I travelled 5000 miles around the u.k and was surprised to find few really good folk clubs. No doubt you all have your favs I'm sure, but where are they.Most of the clubs were poorly attended and the level of performer was not at all good. Smokers filled the rooms, you bastards!! and talked through several of the performers sets. Hang on .. I seem to have answered my own question!

Doc

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: John Routledge
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 05:37 PM

There is certainly plenty of good music going on but I fear that you are right Doc as far as singing and Folk Clubs are concerned.

I can't cope with the level of smoke that my young lungs would tolerate and am increasingly not prepared to spend an evening to hear half a dozen songs that I enjoy.

But then perhaps it's me and everyone else thinks it's bloody marvellous :0)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Nemesis
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 06:30 PM

But, what IS a folk club? Oh, no let's not get into that one *G*.

I run a 'folk' club - but in actual fact, it is an anything goes of music by the people for the people - and it seems to be thriving. If things don't evolve they die out, like dinosaurs.

Q: 'How many folksingers does it take to change a lightbulb?'

A: One, and nine to talk about much better it was by gaslight.'

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Lanfranc
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 06:40 PM

Perhaps we smoking folkies are a dying breed!

Seriously though, there are some good clubs and sessions around, many of them non smoking. As a confirmed smoker (of cigars) and too old to change (besides, who wants to live forever, or even into an Alzheimers-ridden dotage?), I comply with the non smoking requests - but will only hang around if the music is worth it!

No, clubs aren't dying (note the spelling!), but they are changing. Time will tell if it is for the better. When the music is good, it's brilliant, and there are a large number of talented youngsters (ie under 30!) out there.

There are also a number of so-called folkies of all ages who could bore for their native land and/or are on an ego trip that doesn't recognise that you have to ENTERTAIN an audience. They would kill any venue of any genre.

I think the Clubs and sessions that I enjoy will see me out.

Alan

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 06:48 PM

We are not short of members or enthusiasm, but stuck with nowhere to go since the hotel we used to meet in has been sold off and demolished: there is no other venue in the area of comparable size to host the 150 or so who came to our monthly meetings. Other venues have run into licensing problems, i.e. you can't be a club within other club premises, it seems. We shall overcome, but it's not currently clear how or when! Tatti B

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 07:35 PM

Many of the folk clubs in southern New England have died, or cut back severely on their bookings. Not all. There are still some hold outs among the older folk clubs. Now, if you're talking about clubs with open mike nights that cater almost exclusively to twenty-something (or younger) singer/songwriters that don't know the roots of folk music, some of them are thriving. Pay to get in, get to do two songs, and maybe GET A BOOKING, or BE DISCOVERED! Of course, the audience is made up of other people hoping to get a booking or be discovered. Those kind of clubs have their value... most of us started off on open mike nights, or hootenannys as they were called in the Stoned Age. It's a good way to learn the craft of performing and entertaining. I think that the real difference is that back in the 60's, there were a lot of performers doing traditional material, along with the new generation of singer songwriters and the Kingston Trio clones. The clubs that offer mostly traditional or tradition-based musicians are indeed dying off. At least in Southern New England.

Jerry

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 08:53 AM

About he only venues that seem thrieving here in Maine are the eclectic UU coffeehouses, typically with an hour or two of open-mike followed by a featured performer who gets some portion of the gate. The other "folk" performers we could go to see are very big names at major art centers and concert halls. There's little in between except for what you find at summer special events.

Speling is also a-dieing art!;~)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 08:53 AM

About the only venues that seem thrieving here in Maine are the eclectic UU coffeehouses, typically with an hour or two of open-mike followed by a featured performer who gets some portion of the gate. The other "folk" performers we could go to see are very big names at major art centers and concert halls. There's little in between except for what you find at summer special events.

Speling is also a-dieing art!;~)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:21 AM

If Dagenham Doc does come from Dagenham, Essex, he might be interested in the "Old Rose and Crown" folk club on Thursday nights at Hoe Street, Walthamstow. There are also clubs at Romford and Leigh-on-Sea (which also holds a mini festival).

Folk clubs die out for all sorts of reasons, but recently there have been some new clubs springing up which seem to be doing quite well. Let's hope that the PEL laws don't put an end to them all !

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Hecate
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:35 AM

I know ours is smaller than it used to be - back in he good old days, Redditch used to have about a hundred people, or so legend has it. Currently its between ten and twenty most weeks, but enough to shuffle along with. Shortage of decent venues is crippling - modern pubs don't have dingy back roms for folkies to gather in, and the Public entertainment license issues are no fun at all. On the plus side, we've got a fair few people on the less usual side of middle aged, with our youngest member being all of nine years old (and learning the Hammer Dulcimer)so there is some hope.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 10:00 AM

Interesting seeing Dave Bryant posting here: over on the current Lancaster Maritime Festival thread there are a group of folkies attacking him for singing choruses too loud and taking over the event. Now, does this prove (a) folk clubs are dying because Dave Bryant's loud voice is driving audiences away or (b) folk club's are dying because nobody's interested in singing choruses any more (except Dave bryant) ?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 01:37 PM

Obviously you lot have not been to East Yorkshire where folk is alive and thriving -come to Nellie's in Beverley or Cottingham Live in Cottingham E Yorks and fok is alive and well and growing all the time!!!

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 01:56 PM

Our folk club certainly isn't dieting - Were only have full fat beer and crisps and pork scratchings and...

Oh, hang on. I seem to have got this wrong again.

Cheers DtG

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: GUEST,jonesey
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:14 PM

My nephews and I have a loose party/jam band we call 'The Fabulous Saddleblasters' in which we play snare(w/brushes), acoustic guitar and mandolin. Our songs range from 'El Paso' to 'Welcome to Paradise'. 'White Wedding' seems to be a crowd favorite, also. We play at keggers and open stages around town. My nephews are 22 and 20. We make no distinction between 'Loch Lomond' and 'Pretty Woman'(which BTW never fails to make people laugh when the mando breaks into that opening riff). We do 'Good Times, Bad Times' bluegrass style and a funked up version of 'Don't Think Twice'. The point I'm trying to make here is that we are accepted by the entire generational spectrum because there is no pretense or rule of repertoire. We play music for 'folk' not just 'folk music'. As a result we've introduced young people to Hank Williams and the older ones to Green Day, etc. When we duplicate the instrumental break in 'Welcome to Paradise' people laugh and applaud. The only thing 'I' insist on in relation to the music is that we do it 'well'. My nephs and I have a great deal of mutual respect for one another. They've got a band in which I'm not even good enough to play in as their 'serious' project and my younger neph is a fine songwriter. The main thing was making the investment in terms of time and supporting and encouraging their efforts when they were in their early teens. As a result I've got people to play and sing with for the rest of my life and my 17 year old son is a pretty fair bass player! lol Hope this meandering response is helpful...What was it Graham Nash said about teaching your children?

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 02:26 PM

Our club 'The Bothy' in Southport, Lancashire, doesn't seem to be doing too bad, we're still going after 37 yrs. Attendances seem to vary but on the whole they average out. We book a guest fortnightly alternating with singers nights, and have a strong panel of resident singers, giving variety.
The scene doesn't seem to bad in the area, it's not like in the seventies, but what is? There are thriving singaround clubs in the area, also a few relying on big name guests. So come to the Northwest!
Les B

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: GUEST,Dagenham Doc
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 03:40 PM

Dave the gnome.Well done, you picked up on my spelling mistake ...it should of course been.... dieting.!!.. and Dagenham is a long way away now. Dave Bryant thanks for the tip but on my travels I did come across both of those clubs. The one at Leigh I enjoyed but Romford was like singing in a smokey tomb and for me had all the attributes that I set out in the original post, but good to hear that there are clubs on the go. Next visit Il'll plan better.

Doc.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 05:38 PM

No THey're not dying they just REFUSE to change! Luddites forever!

The General.

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: John Routledge
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 07:53 PM

What is the point in changing if you end up with something that you don't like :0)

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 08:35 AM

Dave,

Is the title of your club a tongue in cheek reference to Ian Robb's song of the same name? Old Rose and Crown

I do see some clubs dying out, but there is an evolution/revolution taking place as well, at least in my area. The greatest expansion is in "house concerts". These are quite intimate (no, not sexy) concerts, in someone's living room, usually with no sound reinforcement. The owner of the "house" often has a mailing list or e-mail list and sometimes a web site. Advertising, therefore, is "under the radar" of ASCAP, BMI and local entertainment ordinances.

They usually have once a month shows. There is a suggested "donation" and CD's and tapes are sold. The audience may number from 50 - 100 (well, not in my living room! BG!). Usually the performer gets 100% of the gate. Except for the authorities, it seems to be a pretty good deal all around.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: OBIT: Is your folk club dieing
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 08:41 AM

Old Rose and Crown

Damn, my HTML is gettin' rusty.

Roger in Baltimore