London Folk clubs, a few questions.

Subject: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 23 May 04 - 07:36 PM

I know the subject of London folk clubs has been discussed on a few occasions here and I've read previous threads. I've still a few questions.

There are two venues going on Thursday nights, if you had to pick one would it be the Islington Folk club or the Old Rose and Crown?

How far out of central London is the Old Rose and Crown?

Does one have to be registered for 48 hours to gain entry to the Court Session. I don't think they mention it on their website. My e-mail is playing tricks so I can't enquire.

Is there some unwritten etiquette about volunteering yourself for an offering at sessions in English folk clubs without acting too pushy. They have the reputation of being very "correct" whether merited or otherwise. Never been to one myself.

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 24 May 04 - 08:01 AM

Islington and The Old Rose & Crown are a couple of tube stops away from each other - in Islington and Walthamstowe respectively. They bothe require 48 hour membership notice. They are currently both on Thursdays, however from August The Old Rose & Crown will move to Sundays.

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 May 04 - 09:15 AM

With regard to doing a spot in a club ( wether London or any where else) simply tell who ever is on the door that you are prepared to do
a spot and they will either take your name or refer you to who ever is
running the evening.Its as simple as that. And of course DONT disappear into the bar and ignore the rest of the singers when the evening gets started . You never know when the 'programme' might need an alteration halfway through the evevning.

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: breezy
Date: 24 May 04 - 09:26 AM

Tuesday night just turn up at Cecil sharp house for 'Sharps'
everyone is made to feel welcome and given a chance to sing unless its a guest night.
Always well attended and fun. great acoustics.
Meanwhile in St Albans which is 2miles outside the M 25 every Friday night at the Duke of Marlborough and Sundays at the Legion
Monday at the Herga, Wealdstone ,at the Royal Oak Peel Road, a singers club with sparodic guests.
just turn up
www. folk4all.net

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: treewind
Date: 24 May 04 - 09:37 AM

Choosing between Islington and the Old R&C is a matter of what guests are on that night and which is closer, though as George says they aren't far apart anyway.

If you're a bit nervous about first time appearances at a club you'll probably find a more reliable friendly welcome in Walthamstow. On the other hand Islington's musical and personal idiosyncracies are not to be missed. You really need to visit both!

Not sure what you mean about "volunteering yourself for an offering at sessions" in a folk club - you'll get a floor spot (maybe only one song) at either if you want to perform - just turn up in good time and ask; joining in with the resident band (fairly loosely constituted in both cases) is probably better left till you all know each other a bit better.

Court Sessions contact: Dave East or Doreen Leighter 020 8677 9989.
Court Sessions may well not need membership as it's very likely that their club premises (a church social club) already has a Public Entertainment Licence. The other clubs are in pubs without PELs, and rely on the private clubs exemption, hence the membership rule.

Anahata

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 24 May 04 - 11:15 AM

Islington Folk Club is more central than The Old Rose and Crown, but is possibly harder to find as it is some distance from Farringdon tube station (or Kings Cross or Angel) whereas The Old Rose and Crown is only just across the road from Walthamstow Central. I wouldn't expect the tube journey to Walthamstow to take more than 30 mins from Central London and as it's at the end of the Victoria Line you can't miss your stop.

I agree with Breezy though, if you want a small friendly club which welcomes a wide range of talents, "Sharps" at Cecil Sharp House (2 Regent's Park Road - a short walk from Camden Town tube) is well worth going to.

Two more Central London clubs are "Musical Traditions" and "The Cellar Upstairs".

For a fuller list of London Folk club venues and programmes, get a copy of Folk London, or look at their online diary here

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 24 May 04 - 11:55 AM

Been a bit slow (well a day or two) entering this - busy weekend.

Just to slightly amend El Greko's posting the OR&C will move to Sundays from September 19th. Thursday 2nd and 9th will still be on. I'm just sorting out a note to send to our email list.

It's always been a bit of a nuisance that Islington and ourselves were on the same night as we have similar booking policies, and know a number of people who go to each (at different times of course!).

So we thought it would be sensible to move to Sundays as there always was a Sunday club in Walthamstow, going way back to the Tower and Navvy Boot in the sixties and seventies and the Chestnuts in the seventies, eighties and nineties. In fact when we started at the Hale End Club 12 or so years back the Chestnuts was still going so the Sunday option was out and Thursday was most convenient for everyone, in spite of Islington.

Anyone as the Chestnuts folded some years back it's taken us some time to organise the change of day (well this is folk music traditions are difficult to tamper with!).

The membership thing mentioned earlier is still in existence but we consider members of most other London Clubs or National EFDSS affiliated clubs to be affiliate members of ours and you can come as an affiliated guest (even Islington members)

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 24 May 04 - 12:10 PM

Blimey, Kevin! You make it sound as though Islingtonites only get in on sufferance! And Anahata makes it sound as though they're all mad!

Let me reassure GUEST,Learaí na Láibe that both Islington and Walthamstow are both fine places to go and I have never felt less than welcome in either.

The move to Sundays in Walthamstow is a good thing in many ways - like not having to toss a coin most Thursdays - but tough on the Cabbage Patch, Twickenham, which is another fine club that meets on a Sunday.

And I must second Dave's vote for Musical Traditions on Friday at the King & Queen, Foley Street, which is one of my favourite venues. It's just a shame it meets only once a month.

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: treewind
Date: 24 May 04 - 01:55 PM

OK, they're not all mad, but it's IFC that brought us Stetson Stan, Major Catastrophe, Bernard Puckett's poetry and the man with the goat (Polish bagpipes), not to mention nearly everything else that happens at their Christmas party. To name but a few.

"From the fiercely traditional to the frankly eccentric", their blurb once said, and quite rightly too.

I should point out to those who don't know that I'm an ex-resident of the club. So (a) I know what I'm talking about (b) I must be mad too (c) these are my friends I'm talking about, no real disrespect intended. I love it to bits. (About time we went back there for an evening, I've been thinking recently).

BTW, yes - Sharps and Musical Traditions and the Cellar Upstairs are all well worth a visit.

That's about it for Central London I think, after that you get out to Twickers (already mentioned) Herga, Orpington and Croydon, all far from central, and no doubt others. See Folk London for full details.

Anahata

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 24 May 04 - 03:35 PM

Blimey, Kevin! You make it sound as though Islingtonites only get in on sufferance!

Of corse not Countess, they get in on payment of the dosh like everyone else!

Any suffering they may experience is entirely imaginary.

Actually, one of the reasons I'm looking forward to the Sunday move is the chance to get to Islington myself.

Strangely, I was discussing this thread over dinner and it crossed my mind that, by odd coincidence (I assume), both of Reg Hall's "regular" two co presenters of The Traditional Music Hour on Resonance 104.4FM are residents of those two Thursday clubs. That's myself and David Campbell.

That's just a chance to get in an unrelated thread hi-jack plug, I must have read too much "breezy" recently ;-)

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 24 May 04 - 05:23 PM

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.

Thanks a lot everyone for all the info. Unfortunately I won't have enough time to get around to them all. Looking forward to some mighty craic.

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 25 May 04 - 03:56 AM

Kevin,

What's the position on children in the pub? Would they be allowed into the club if it's in a separate room?

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 25 May 04 - 04:42 AM

Kevin, think carefully before you answer that question - have you met Phoebe - Limpit ?   Only joking Paul/Liz.

Subject: RE: London Folk clubs, a few questions.
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 25 May 04 - 09:46 AM

Dave B,

Yes I have met Phoebe, didn't realise she was a child though....

Still only joking Paul/Liz

I don't think there's a particular problem from the pubs point of view, as they hire the room out for weddings/birthdays etc and must have kids at those I guess. Question hasn't arisen for the club so far, occassionally people have asked about 14/15 year olds which are no problem, not sure what age we are talking here.

I'll have to ask t'committee (Ken Lees!)