Why I still go to Folkclubs

Subject: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST,Vic at work
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 12:37 PM

I went to one of my local clubs on Monday to see L Killen and M Waterson. 60 people absolutely rivetted by two great performers, if they come to your area - GO TO SEE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then there would be no more arguement about the state of folk music and folk clubs in this country.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: breezy
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 01:10 PM

Great to hear good news.

And where is your club please?

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 02:24 PM

Great news, great night out.

I go because live music is always worth listening to, somebody realy interesting will turn up and where else can you hear those strange old songs and tunes?

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 02:33 PM

I like going to hear the music and meet old and new friends.The music is the best cause like Les says where would you hear those songs and tunes except a folk club

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 02:56 PM

I go cos I get to perform stuff that I can't perform in my every day gig as a musician. Also most of my friends go.

I have one or two old friends who are professional folksingers and I try not to miss their gigs.


And if I hear about somebody on mudcat, or in Songbook, or Froots, or on folkradio that sounds sort of interesting.

And usually its fun.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 05:09 PM

I go (when I'm in Britain) because in a strange town that's the easiest way to find folk music. In other places I go to see familiar artists and friends in the audience. I hate venues where you need a telescope to be able to see the artists close up!

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 05:29 PM

Just curious - you mention 60 people.   Is that considered a good crowd, small crowd, or average in the U.K.?   In terms of folk music of course.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 05:33 PM

I used to go down to Croydon with my work - all the way from the north of Scotland.
I once ventured into the Croydon Folk Club and found really friendly people.
The guests were "Church Mice" and I got talking to them. I turned out that Hillary Blyth, the singer, knew of my songs and subsequently recorded it. She then played at Ullapool Folk Club (with her partner) and stayed with me. They visited a couple of times.
Doesn't this sum up the essence of the folk club scene - opposite ends of the countries finding a common cause. Here we've seen a demise of clubs but I'm confident that a revival will occur and so will these special frendships.
If Hillary browses these pages then please PM me and we can catch up.

Andy Mitchell

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: breezy
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 06:05 PM

very good for my club as the capacity is only 40, and then some'll be standing.

You can hear decent songs and usually hear the words and there are new songs too, and you get to join in on choruses.

And you can go alone.

and then there's a raffle.

And hecklin.

Its worthwhile music, there's non-smoking, and you can be that close that you can see the whites of the performers eyes, and its acoustic.

see you on sunday at the Royal BriTish Legion , Verulam Road, St Albans ,Herts, Eng, U K, this week Jim Faupel n/w me

closed then till 10th Jan

Happy Christmas.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Strupag
Date: 10 Dec 04 - 08:03 PM

Hi Ron,
Sixty was respectable when I was running a folk club.
As Breezy illustrates above, you get a very intimate, friendly kind of heckle with a crowd like that.
I know of quite a few artists who are willing to do it for the door on certain clubs just because the "crack (or in Ireland, "craic") is good.

Andy Mitchell

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: beetle cat
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 01:33 AM

what i wouldn't do to see them two... in the same night!!! arrrr. totally jealous.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 05:15 AM

I still go to Folk Clubs for a number of reasons . Firstly , as a gigging muso they are still a wonderful source of 'new' material , and
of course its 'paying my dues' to support my local clubs as that is where I learnt so much about performance . Then there is the social
side , as most of my closer friends are all folkies .

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 05:32 AM

I go to my local Club because I get to hear several different people (Singaround) each time it is on, unless we have a guest as per next week. Harvey Andrews is at Gainsborough next Friday 17th. I have not heard him perform but will trust the judgement of the people at my Club who have booked him. Gainsborough Club is also open for a singaround on Christmas Eve which unfortunately I will not be at as I visit family then.
We usually have 30-50+ people each fortnight, of which there are often perhaps 16-25 performers doing two songs/tunes each. The variety is good and it is a great forum for anyone new to performing to "Have a go".
There are other great Clubs in the Lincolnshire area and if I wanted I could attend those clubs on most nights of the week.
We also have a good helping of "Mudcatters" at the Club and nearby.
Mr and Mrs "SOOZ" "Strollin'Johnnie" "Travelling Audience"(two people)
"BusyBee Paul" "The Fence" "Myrtle" etc etc and have beem visited by many others from all over the country.
Life for me here is interesting as part of the Folk scene. I love being here and "I still go to Folk Clubs" because I love the "craic", the performances, the people.........I'll shut up now!
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: kendall
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 06:35 AM

I go to folk clubs to be with people who think like I do and who I enjoy talking and listening to.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST,Vic at work
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 10:37 AM

Hi,
Breezy, Club is the Grand Union FC, in Leicestershire.

Ron, I would say that 60 is a good audience, however the Grand Union is a singers club so even 'ordinary' singaround nights have 20 people and the harmonies are always worth it.
       Ron are you still looking for CD's from unknown Trad singers?

Beetle Cat, So you should be. One of those magic nights where everything worked, even the mistakes!

Everyone else, All of those things you will find but this was a special night!

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 03:02 PM

Very interesting discussion. I think it points out some of the differences between the U.S. and U.K. folk scenes.

I think 30 to 60 people in a coffeehouse here in the U.S. to see singers akin to Louis Killen and Mike Waterson would be considered a financial disaster. An artist of that calibre would be expensive to book and the additional costs of renting a performance space and other incidentals would probably need 100 to 200 people to break even.

That's not to say that coffehouses and our version of folk clubs are trying to make a profit, they are merely trying to exist. Most of these type of events are held in church basements or halls. You won't find beer or liquor, except in the few commercial establishments.

What has been described is more in line with our house concerts. People will book an artist in their home and maybe 30 people will attend. The artists work for a smaller fee, but they will sell their CD's. This setup works well for established artists to fill in gaps in their schedules. It provides for a more intimate gathering, much like you describe in folk clubs in the UK.

Sorry to drift off topic a bit, but I am fascinated by the various ways our cultures promote folk music. There are no rights or wrongs really, just differences.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 08:34 PM

I have friends who have done house concerts in USA to help out the finances for a Stateside holiday , and will be in the market for any thing that will help cover my costs next October either side of the Getaway . Especially if it means meeting more American Catters .

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: freda underhill
Date: 11 Dec 04 - 08:38 PM

because i'm still a folkie.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Travelling Audience
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 09:15 AM

The folk, the music, the songs and not least The Atmospheeeeeere!
We are listening folkies!

Keep music live...TA

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 10:49 AM

Because I'm a folkie (sums it up for me as well, Freda) and because I'm hooked on getting up and playing a few - it's like a drug.

Pete

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST,Bob Brooker
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 02:09 PM

If you lot live in the West Midlands area, namely Leamington and Coventry, you'll relise why people no longer go to folk clubs! We don't have an audience any more. Everyone is a performer who wants to start and run their own bloody folk club, we've got hundreds of them - all with about 10/12 lousy beginners murdering good songs! Who's going to pay £1, £3, £5 to come and listen to all that sort of crapp! Even the really goos performers can't draw people numbers, 'cause they know that there is going to be a dirge of floor singers making thousands of mistakes! Yes I'm a maoner, but only because I've lost my beloved folk clubs!

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: beetle cat
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 02:13 PM

hey, if everyone wants to sing, make a circle. that fixes the audience problem. and its fun.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST,Bob Brooker
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 02:23 PM

I'll tell you what Beetlecat - you'd really love our clubs then- that's all they do -sit in a circle and have a sing-a-round!

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: beetle cat
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 02:41 PM

cheer up, its not all that bad, at least the tradition is alive, right?   and be thankful you have beginners.   :)

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: John C.
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 04:30 PM

32 years ago I moved from the East of England to the Northwest and one of the first things I did was join a folk club - result: great music, a place to sing and an instant social life (what more could you ask?).
32 years on I'm still going to folk clubs, still hearing great music, still have great social life (if anything a bigger circle of friends than 32 years ago)and people still seem to be prepared to put up with my singing! I consider that I owe the folk world a hell of a lot and my life would have been (would be)a lot poorer without it.

Subject: RE: Why I'd still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:15 PM

Would if I could...and would if there were any around here...and would if the cabs ran after six P.M. here...and I would go to the folk clubs because I love the music. Trad'd be best like L. Killen or Sarah Gray or Jack Elliott or an old-timey band like the Volo Bogtrotters and/or the Double Decker String Band---or ballads with Judy Cook.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 05:22 PM

Ron, possibly the biggest difference between the folk scene here & in the US is that beer and folk music/dance/singing are inextricably bound together... which (IMHO) leads to a number of other major & monor differences, like:
1) More men involved in all aspects of folk

2) A more participatory attitude to folk, i.e. drink & sing together, as opposed to sit & watch others perform for you.

3) Pubs as a location for the majority of folk events, which means that
    A) the cost of the "venue" (i.e. a room in a pub) is usually minimal and
    B) most folk events take place in a room that is incredibly warm because
       a) it's packed with warm bodies and
       b) the windows are usually painted shut!

4) Folk festivals (usually) take place not in big fields on temporary stages, but in the various pubs, community centres & assembly halls of the hosting town ('cos that's the easiest way to make sure beer is available, and if there ain't no beer, there won't be no audience!)

I'm sure there's more, but these are the ones I can list just off the top of my head...

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 04:27 AM

'Cos they are nice people

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 07:25 AM

I go to folk clubs to pick up fashion tips.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: breezy
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 08:31 AM

Tonight I'll be going to be entertained by Shep Woolley, listen to Johnny Collins, George Papavgeris and Kitty Vernon admire the harmonies maybe av a pint at the Herga, Royal Oak Peel Rd Wealdstone

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 08:35 AM

That's a nice dress you have on Ted! You should try dressing in pink feathers!
FLAMINGO the true path!
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: Why I still go to Folkclubs
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 12:40 PM

Many reasons, including:

1. To see quality performers who beat the **** out of so much crass & crap you'd have to endure if you stayed in to watch the Telly.

2. To meet new friends, and the old ones of course.

3. To hear new (new & old) songs you'd never hear anywhere else.

4. To sing and play in a warm supportive and friendly atmosphere.

5. To learn.

6. To support the tradition.