Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?

Subject: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Singing Referee
Date: 11 May 06 - 11:55 AM

The Aylesbury "Hop Poles" thread reminded me of the folk club in a pub of the same name that I used to attend in Enfield.

Prior to the Hop Poles it was at The Kings Head in the market place in Enfield Town. It moved to the Hop Poles in the late 60's.

As I recall it was run by Russ and Pam (can't remember their surname(s))

I was one of the resident singers there in the late 60's and early 70's and remember seeing Carthy and Swarbrick, Ralph McTell, Noel Murphy, Alex Campbell, The Dransfieeds, Alexis Corner, Diz Disley and loads of others there over the years.

I stopped going in the mid 70's. Anyone know how long it lasted and what happened to it?

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 May 06 - 12:05 PM

Went there in the late 60s, but don't know what happened to the club.
Giok

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Singing Referee
Date: 12 May 06 - 10:34 AM

Just me and Giok then?

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: breezy
Date: 12 May 06 - 03:53 PM

The members all left to have families and the men became football referees.

The landlord during the 80s was a Basketball referee

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Ray Bradfield
Date: 18 May 06 - 11:52 AM

It was Russ and Pam Leslie. I was a resident too!

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Singing Referee
Date: 18 May 06 - 02:34 PM

So it was! Did we cross paths Ray? I'm terrible with names as is probably obvious.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,EnfieldPeter
Date: 19 May 06 - 01:29 PM

Sadly, Enfield is now a folk desert. Is anybody who live in or around the area, interested in getting a session together?

Regards

Peter C

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,EnfieldPeter
Date: 19 May 06 - 01:32 PM

Just as an add on - I am a member of a social club in Enfield and that might let us use an area in there on a Monday night (very cheap beer too)!!!

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 May 06 - 06:41 PM

There is the Waltham Abbey folk Club - still going on a Monday night - at the British Legion in WA. Thet isn't too far out from Enfield.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,EnfieldPeter
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:08 PM

Yes a really nice club - but if you are using public transport not good. You have to leave the club twenty minutes early at least, to catch the bus back to Waltham Cross so as to catch yet, another bus to Enfield onwards to N. London. No more 217 - Enfield-Upshire

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: breezy
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:56 PM

And some Enfieldians come to to St Albans on Sundays

www.windwardfc.org.uk

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,EnfieldPeter
Date: 20 May 06 - 03:13 PM

Yes John - but I cannot and will not be forced to drive. So no car - no go - in such a small country, that's really unacceptable (p.s I'm not a "Greenie" as such - I just do not like being inside a car as a passenger - let alone drive one!!!)   

Regards

Peter C

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,EagleWing
Date: 20 May 06 - 03:14 PM

I remember the very early days of the club at the King's Head. I was at the first evening where I managed to make a right mess of "Lily of the West" (They say that you remember things like that as you get to be as ancient as me).

I was a fairly regular member and was amazed at the number of people who allowed me to record - including Carthy!

Frank

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: breezy
Date: 21 May 06 - 12:04 PM

no one forces you to drive E P. so we'll come to you then.

Hey Frank , come and record at Windward, we already have some footage of some legends on film

Sorry got to get out of my village to go and organise a folk club,
with all the equipment better take the car I guess.

and it'll be a good evening too, with good company and songs worth hearing.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,EnfieldThread
Date: 26 May 06 - 03:01 PM

Please refer to latest thread - PONDERS END

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Steph
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 06:06 PM

I googled this as I remember the club.

I was trying to find the lyrics for a resident singer who sang,

"Here comes the rain again,
Clouds have covered the sun.
Silver surrounds the silent town
The rain has just begun."

There was also bonded boots as residents at the club they would like this thread.

!Any old rags any old bones
Any old pots and pans
Any old clothes anything goes
Rag and bone man"

They dont write lyrics like that any more.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Howard Bond
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 08:18 AM

I was in Bonded Boots with Dave Walters and of course I remember the club very fondly. 'Rag and Bone Man' was one of my songs - fancy you remembering that Steph! I think it's pretty obvious why they don't write them like that anymore!!

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 08:27 AM

Hi Howard

This thread has brought back memories

I was an occasional MC/resident there from time to time, at the moment the only guests that I recall MCing an evening for were Hunter Musket ("Silver Coin"). Mind you it was a while back and that may have been somewhere else.

Always an enjoyable evening.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Ray Bradfield
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 07:26 PM

So Howard Bond is alive!!!!!

Just read this thread again.......

I'd be interested to know what happened during these missing years?

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 04:11 AM

Used to go there meself in the late sixties.
Don't know what became of it though.There was another club in Bounds Green,not that far away.I've completely forgotten the name of that one!A lot of the singers mentioned above played there.

David

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Ray Bradfield
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 02:04 PM

It was at the Springfield Park Tavern! (Which is where I first ran into Howard Bond and Dave Walters....)

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 02:16 PM

We saw Jake Thakray there.

He put me onto Georges Brassens.

David

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Brian Stimpson
Date: 14 Aug 13 - 05:49 PM

I used to be a resident there in the late 60s early 70s. It had all the big names on there, great fun. I remember Pam Leslie, June Tabor used to come along too. I'm still a resident in a folk club in eastbourne now.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Chris Chinery
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 08:02 AM

Memories of good days! I was a member and floor singer at the Enfield Club from the mid-sixties to 1968. Geoff King was resident; Stuart Ems and Steve Last I remember well. I have lived in Germany since 1968 and thus lost track of it. I passed the Hop Poles 3 years ago and the memories came back. I am presently trying to get this English Folk Club bug planted into the North Germans by presenting folk as it was then. Even if I don't succeed it's giving me a buzz!
Best wishes to all folkies

Chris Chinery

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 12:42 PM

In case Chris doesn't know, Steve Last (aka the Singing Referee) was the instigator of this thread....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 19 Oct 13 - 05:18 PM

Chris - you probably know about this already, but in case not:

Nice German folkmag site here (please excuse lack of a clickie-link: the Cat's in go-slow mode tonight) (like me)

http://www.folkworld.de/

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: breezy
Date: 20 Oct 13 - 01:51 PM

and Steve is still sing the 'The Rout of the Blue' but only very rarely as he has progressed mightily since rediscovering the music, and its all my fault apparently, and he's not doing too badly. He became a resident at my folk club 'Windward' in St Albans in 1999.

he has a decent guitar now too.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Tom Russell
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 06:48 AM

They also ran a larger club at the Fishmonger's Arms, Wood Green where they alternated folk Music with Jazz on a weekly basis. Great artists booked and many famous faces from music world dropped in to see them. Well run and well supported until rent went up I understand.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 09:19 AM

i remember Ray Bradfield but from elsewhere,good guitar player.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,John
Date: 12 Jan 16 - 10:42 AM

Used to go to the back room of the Hop Poles. I recall Johnny Silvo and Magna Carta.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 16 - 01:30 PM

Re Hop Poles and the Fishmongers Arms, does anyone know what happened
to Pam and Russ Leslie after the clubs closed

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,The professor
Date: 04 Nov 16 - 04:22 PM

One great night I remember at the Hop Poles was the night Russ & Pam
booked Alexis Korner for the evening. A true living legend at our club. The place was packed, the audience including several famous
musicians who wanted to see the great man in a folk club situation.
It was aight I will remember to my last breath. Thanks to Russ for
managing to book Alexis. Another evening was when Diz Disley turned up with Stephan Grappeli in tow. What a night that was!!. Under Russ & Pam we experienced a whole range of music from traditional folk to modern folk, blues, jazz, comedy all sorts and all of a high quality. The best folk club I ever attended. Sad to see it go. Such happy memories.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Tom Russell
Date: 09 Aug 17 - 10:58 AM

Apparently Russ and Pam sadly split up. Where they went or what they
did I don't know. What I do know is that it was the break up of a great team who provided great entertainment at both venues, and a sad
loss for the London folk scene

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Les Thomas
Date: 02 Oct 17 - 03:22 PM

Russ went off to run a business in Cornwall I believe. Pam, I heard
remarried and now lives near Southend. Last thing I heard of Russ was that he also remarried and was living in Burnham in Bucks. don't know
what happened to the folk clubs, but ,in my opinion Russ Pam made a
great team and they ran the two best clubs around. Great guests, great
atmosphere and great entertainment.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Dave Hunter
Date: 23 Oct 17 - 03:31 PM

I recall the evening when Russ managed to book the great John Martyn
who was supported by the resident singer, Stuart Emms A great nights
entertainment. I went to the club each week and was never disappointed with the quality of artiste Russ booked. we were treated
to the full range of music from unaccompamied traditional folk to
comedy, blues, modern folk. Artistesi recall are The Strawbs, alexis
Korner, Diz disley (one one occasion with Stephane Grappely), The
Dransfield broithers, Alex Campbell, Shelagh MacDonald, Jeannie
Redpath, Colin Scot, Gerry Lockran, Ralph McTell and many many more.
Thanks always to Russ and Pam for ruinning such a great club and
providing many people with musical memories they will surely cherish
all their lives.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Peter Hoarty
Date: 28 Mar 18 - 05:30 AM

I was a student at the time - supposed to be degree in Business Studies but I learned more about playing guitar than about business. It was through attending Monday nights at Hop Poles that I got to see some world class players as mentioned above and was able to see how they do d it. It improved my playing no end. Also nobody has mentioned Michael Chapman who was my favourite and a superb guitarist. I saw him at Hop Poles several times.
Thanks for the memories.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: Sue Allan
Date: 28 Mar 18 - 06:19 AM

Ah - memories! I used to go the Hope Poles in the early 1970s, whilst a student at Trent Park College just along the road from Enfield at Oakwood/Cockfosters. Remember hearing Martin Carthy, Ralph McTell and Diz Disley there, and - I think - also singing the odd song as a floor-singer. Also sang, I think, at Bounds Green (what was that pub's name?), King's Head at Islington,often attended - although never sang at - Dingles Ceilidh Club at The Roebuck in Tottenham Court Road. Happy days.

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Les George
Date: 14 May 18 - 07:01 AM

Happy days indeed. Some really good nights at the Hop Poles with some
of the folk greats as guests, and the floor singers were not too bad either. I remember the evening when Alexis Korner was booked, but
his car broke down in France on his way to Enfield and Gerry Lockran
swapped gigs at short notice. What a great evening he produced as well. Alexis arrived two weeks later and the room was packed, the fullest I ever saw it. He gave a star performance. How Russ managed
to book him was a masterstroke and I shall ever be thankful as it is
the only time I have ever seen a legend close up. The list of top stars went on and on. Those Sue Allan mentions plus Magna Carta, the
Dransfields, Alex Campbell, Shelagh McDonald, The Fureys, Dave and Toni Arthur, Tin Hart & Maddy Prior, Mike Chapman, Ralph McTell and
many other of the folk hierarchy. Thank you Enfield Folk Club and
Russ for some truly great memories which I shall always treasure.
some really great memories

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Ann
Date: 18 Jun 19 - 11:42 AM

I loved that place in the 60s. Does anyone remember the evening when Johnny Silvo played a set with Alexis Korner? Magic!

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Bill Purvis
Date: 09 Jul 19 - 02:38 PM

What a great folk club, as was their sister club at the Fishmonmgers.
Although they ran that one on a different basis. Still some major
folk artists of all genres as at Enfield, but alternated weekly with jazz and or rock. Both were always very well supported and well run.
Artists I remember included Alexis Korner, Michael Chapman,Long John
Baldry and the Hoochie Coochie Men (including Reg Dwight and Rod
Stewart), John Martyn, Mike Westbrook Band, Noel Murphy & Shaggis,
The Dransfields, Dick Gaughan, ALexCampbell and many many others.
Great memories of the heydays of the folk scene. The days before
pub halls became restaurants!

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 May 21 - 01:02 PM

I recall Enfield Folk Club at The Hop Poles and at The Kings Head.I was looking for Stuart Ems(Emms?) I knew him from Enfield Youth Theatre and played with him on a few occasions. I remember him with Diz Disley,who referred to him as 'old mattress face'! Stuart taught me 'Ag Pleez Daddy' (Jeremy Taylor) which I have inflicted on generations of children from the early seventies until the first few years of this century. Stuart was a brilliant guitar player.

Ian 'Ejock' Eves

Subject: RE: Anyone remember Enfield Folk Club?
From: GUEST,Keith Hicks
Date: 24 May 23 - 05:24 AM

Used to go every week. Walked from home in Parsonage Lane. A great venue. Remember Dave and Tony Arthur with Laszlo Feher. Amazed at her range. Go to Hitchin FC when we can now.