Folk Clubs in London

Subject: Folk Clubs in London
From: GUEST,Dg
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 07:53 AM

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of any good, welcoming folk clubs in London.
I'm more into the guitar stuff, Nic Jones, Carthy... etc, also blues.

Cheers!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:26 AM

Folk London is as good a place to start - http://www.grove-cottage.co.uk/folklon/ is the website . But remember London is a bit BIG , and getting from one side to the other can be time consuming !
Which side are you likely to be ? and When ?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: GUEST,Dg
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:28 AM

I'm on the west side at the moment (Ealing), but work slap bang in the centre and am probably moving to north london in the summer. Travelling isn't too much of a problem for me.

I also play guitar a bit.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 08:57 AM

Dg - I am West london also - If you join as a mamber send me a PM !

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:53 AM

Hello DG

There are only THREE folk clubs in CENTRAL LONDON (Well, as far as I know - and I go to many)   they are:

Islington FC - at Horseshoe PH, Clerkenwell (mainly a Guest club, but you can get a "spot" - costs around £6)(Weekly)
and
Cellar Upstairs - not sure where they are at present, think its Hammersmith (West London !!) - again mainly a Guest Club, cost around £6. (Weekly)

The third is one I have NEVER been to, its called Musical Traditions and is a monthly, and its at a pub in the West End (around Tot.Ct.Road I think) Again see Folk London Nagazine


If you are moving to North London soon, then you will be fairly local to all the clubs in ESSEX !!! Hurrah for you. There are LOTS in ESSEX to choose from - and you can play your guitar at any and all of them.

I go to about 15 !!   As Leadfingers has stated, the "Folk London" booklet is the best place to start searching, BUT you usually have to go to a club to get it !! (except on-line of course)

In Essex there is the EFN - known locally as that "effin" book !!! really called Essex Folk News - they again are on line or get the booklet at a club . . . (just do a search for either EFN or Essex Folk News) and Leadfingers has given you the Folk London search.

Also North London will take you close to Middx - HERGA is in Middlesex and that's a GREAT club, (Graham Knights and Johnny Colins' local) its a singaround club, has a guest very infrequently, and you can play your guitar there too !!! (£1 I think!) (its listed in Folk London - been going for 40 years and holds the record for actually being at the SAME pub for ALL of those years - well done HERGA )

If you need any more info about clubs in Essex I am the font of all info - (what a boaster I am) but really I do go all over the place (Kent too) so do know all the directions how to get there etc. Just e-mail me on

    [e-mail]

if you need help.

Happy Folking !!
Regards
Jo-Jo
([e-mail])

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Micca
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:09 AM

Jojo, I think you will find that Herga is now at Harrow Arts Centre at Hatch End close to the station of that name on Mondays Hergas website
and of Course, there is Sharps at Cecil Sharp House camden town on Tuesdays, guest about once a month and Singers(and Guitarists, fiddle players, concertina players also) on other evenings it is liated in FolkLondon also Click here

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:22 AM

Thanks Micca - Yes, sorry how could I forget C# !!!!!!!!!!!

I have been there on a Tuesday evening - nice club, shame about the venue !!! Hello to Dave West !

So Sorry to hear Herga have finally moved, what a shame - been a long long time at their pub (is it Royal Oak?)

I did Click There to look at Folk London site, thank you - however, if you are NEW to the area which i think DG probably is, as s/he is asking about clubs, it is certainly NOT very useful. It mentions lots of clubs but if you DONT know the area, you are simply LOST - it mentions Barking, well, thats in Essex - but is does not SAY where it is ... it mentions Croydon, well thats in Surrey, but it does not SAY where it is ... it mentions Herga, thats in Middx but it does not Say ... and I could go on and on

When are people gonna learn that if someone is asking "where to go" they need SPECIFICS

Its like when I ask for directions to somewhere, stopped in my car, lean out window "oi do you know where the Horseshoe PH is?"

and you get this response:

"Go down here till you get to the swimming pool " (well if I knew the area I would know the swimming pool .....)
Turn left at Sainsburys (well if I knew the area I would know sainsburys....)
"Make Sure you turn right at the flower shop" well, if I knew the area I would know the flower shop .....

See what I mean ??????? next to useless ...

So I say again, to DG

If you need help, get in touch ....

Hope the above is informative - thanks again Micca

Regards from
Jo-Jo
([e-mail])

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:38 AM

Isn't there still one near Andy's in Denmark street, called something like the 12-bar club?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:46 AM

Hello Richard

I've not heard of it, never seen it listed - but then I dont know everything !!! to be honest, I rarely go into central London ...

MICCA - have just looked at the photos and seen you - I know you, we met and spoke at Towersey last year (2005)... nice to see you and hear from you. If you wanna see me go to

www.fabclub.bravehost.com

and then click on 19th March review ...

Regards
Jo-Jo

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:52 AM

Go down here till you get to the swimming pool " (well if I knew the area I would know the swimming pool .....)
Turn left at Sainsburys (well if I knew the area I would know sainsburys....)
"Make Sure you turn right at the flower shop" well, if I knew the area I would know the flower shop .....

But surely you can recognise a flower shop when you see one? Or a swimming pool? And Sainsbury's normally has a big sign outside saying Sainsbury's.

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:53 AM

The 12 Bar isnt exactly a folk club Richard - Though they do have the odd floor spot supporting booked singers - All PA'd up , or at least every time I have been there ! And NOT a cheap venue either ! But they do have competent performers .

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: jojofolkagogo
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 10:59 AM

Hello Manitas

ha ha :~>

Yes, I do understand that ... they are useful pointers, and gratefully received when getting instructions, but the point I am making is that people STILL sort of assume you KNOW the area, but of course you dont, so saying "go as far as Sainsburys" is not nearly as informative as saying :
"go straight for about 1 mile, you will see sainsburys on the RIGHT at a junction, go straight ahead/turn left etc ...

Also, I would make the point that quite often, if not give specific details (its on your right/left) you cannot see the flower shop, or the swimming pool, the sign for Sainsburys might be another matter though ...


Cheers - from
Jo-Jo

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Micca
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 02:24 PM

Jojo I do recognise you, but on the FolkLondon site seperate from the Monthly listings there is an ADDRESS section that gives the addy of the venues and "blue clickys to the website of the club (if it has a web site) this makes it easier to use "streetmap.com" etc to get a map of the location!!

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 02:24 PM

The Cellar Upstairs club is currently at the Exmouth Arms, Starcross Street, behind Euston Station. NOWHERE near Hammersmith!!
It's on each Saturday night and you you just missed Martin Carthy.
Good Club abd good beer.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Micca
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 04:10 PM

Isn't that where "Sharps in Exile" (C# House closes for the month of August each year) has been for the last couple of years?

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 04:15 PM

Don't forget Uxbridge Folk Club. Leadfingers/Mingulay will have the details. That's a friendly club, always welcoming to floor singers, AND it's on the tube network (just).

If you get a car then the world is your lobster! See if you can get a copy of Unicorn or log on to Unicorn   This will give you details of loads of clubs to the west/north west of London. I can personally recommend Maidenhead (contact The Admiral) - again a friendly club where you can get a floor spot.

Good luck

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: breezy
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 05:05 PM

The Windward Club in St Albans on a Sunday re-opens Sun 7th may

we have many guitars, martins, Criss crosses and most of the performers are reasonable players

we have a blues and jazz influence, but then we do boast a few gigging performers in our number

www.windwardfc.org.uk

We like to meet new faces

Some crossover with Herga too

Subject: RE: Folk Clubs in London
From: GUEST,DG
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 06:10 PM

Thanks for all the answers!

I'll check out the answers when I'm at work tomorrow. I just thought I'd have a look before I went to bed.

-Dg