Twinning Folk Clubs

Subject: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 03:43 PM

Is this a live idea? Clubs some distance apart could twin then swap people, songs, tunes, guests, vomit, that kind of thing.

Anyone tried this? Perhaps humble Chorlton could twin with somewhere a bit special in Greater Manchester and pick up lots of tips?

Perhaps I could twin my voice with Roy Bailey's or John Connely's and reap the benifits. Bit of a loss for them I guess. I have a pair of size 10 clogs looking for similar with a bit more experience all twinnings considered.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,George Wilson
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 04:32 PM

A good few years ago we did a thing called 'Across The Divide'
Phil Capper, who was active within 'Folk Northwest' and Lynn Colbeck , who edited the mag for 'Southern Counties FOlk Federation' (SCoFF) put forward an idea to have two entertainers from each region pay a week-long visit and gig a few clubs - I an Pete Watkinson went North for a week each and then Ken NIcol and Chris While came down here

It was reat crack and I ave to say that Chris & Ken went on to far brighter things than me and Pete!

We occasionally have 'club swaps' down here but 'twinning' sounds like a good idea - especially since I'm losing interest in Guinness and fancy trying some of them 'real' ales around the country.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: GUEST,Nicholas Waller
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 04:53 PM

According to the history of the Topic in Bradford something like this was tried in the past:

"By 1962 the idea of folk clubs had caught on and the TOPIC and the Harrogate Folk Club (now sadly defunct) ran regular exchange visits."

From 'A Brief History of the Club over 25 Years', a booklet produced for the silver jubilee in 1981. The full text, if you're interested, is accessible from the History pages of the Topic website here, though there's nothing more on this specific subject.

Nicholas Waller, Topic Webo

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 06 Mar 06 - 04:53 PM

If I had any sway in a club I would be up for this but I don't.

I currently have 6 bottles of various Belgian beers that I am minding for my son. Perhaps I couls twin them with beers from elswhere? Also a few reasonable bikes, on Alan, made in Italy from aluminium, it would be nice if it had a few friends and got out a bit more. Anyway back to Rebus

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 01:47 AM

Some of the clubs in Central London used to do this formally but on a couple of occasions the club in St Martin-in-the-Fields which ran on Sunday nights sent a message to the Capital Folk Club in nearby Covent Garden asking for the loan of some singers. Apparently none of their residents had turned up and there were no floor singers (I think their audience was mostly tourists)

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Morticia
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 01:55 AM

did they get them back again or did it start the Great 'It's just like the time we lent you that Lawnmower' debate?

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:08 AM

ah yes but what about those people who come from places where the only law on the streets is the rule of the banjo playing local militia, ballad singing and inbreeding is rife, and there has been a general air of depression since Brian Poole left The Tremeloes.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 08:27 AM

I was one of them. We went across, found the main act was still on and there was no bar so snuck out the back to the Welsh Harp for a pint before returning to do our spots and then go back to the Freemasons Arms where Capital was.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: breezy
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 02:17 PM

The idea is a very good one as many clubs are inward looking and this concept helps to freshen the parts normal singarounds dont reach.

In St Albans at the 'Wandering Windward' St Albans Folk-song club we have a nucleus of solid residents well worth a listen.

we already support and are supported by some Herga members

If your club fancy an exchange visit we could be interested.

Our night is presently Sunday

More details after intial contact is made.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:02 PM

Back in the 'good old days' Uxbridge used to do 'Club Swaps' with other local clubs ! We would go Mob Handed on one of their Singers Nights , and they would return the complement . Got some of our Non Travelling singers to a different audience , and also gave the Audience a different evening occasionally !

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 03:11 PM

Maybe not exactly twinning, but quite a few Scottish folk clubs do a guest night where a whole contingent from one club goes as "guest artiste" to another. Clubs that have done this,to my knowledge, include Balerno. Glenfarg, Haddington, Newtongrange, Houston and Linlithgow.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Santa
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:37 PM

Clarence (Blackpool) did this "recently" with Maghull (Liverpool). Last year? Year before?

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Northerner
Date: 07 Mar 06 - 04:48 PM

In my area the Stockton Folk Club and the Cutty Wren Folk Club had an evening where they visited each other. That was before I became active again. Of course, now there are several singers/musicians who go to both of them (including me).

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Splott Man
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 03:56 AM

Llantrisant and Newport clubs (south Wales) have had reciprocal membership for several years.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 04:10 AM

I recommend that the Beverleyites twin Monks Walk club with The one at The Sun. Oh, and Forresters. Hang on, that makes triplets doesn't it?

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 04:17 AM

You could start a club in Humbleton Ted then twin it with a flamenco club in Seville.

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: breezy
Date: 08 Mar 06 - 04:27 AM

Thats the idea Tattie Bog

Subject: RE: Twinning Folk Clubs
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 09 Mar 06 - 12:09 PM

How about twinning a couple of Barn Dances. with webcams and such like a caller could call across the net and appear on a big screen. can't imagine why but could be a first and lots of fun.