Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)

Subject: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club?
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 08:34 PM

The Blossoms Hotel on the A6, Stockport, UK. I didn't go until 1989, but I think the folk club began in the 60s. It died about ten years ago when the pub laid a carpet and destroyed the room's acoustics. Anyone remember it?

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 01:12 PM

i) I don't think it ran from the 60's
ii) There was a club at the Blossoms in the 80's but I don't think it was Granny's
iii) I think Grannys was at the Crown a couple of miles further south.
iv) I assume from the name that it was one of Joe Beard's projects

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 03 Aug 06 - 05:26 PM

I thought they'd had a 25th anniversary in the early 1990s, which would put its beginnings in the 60s, but happy to be corrected on that.

I believe Joe Beard was one of its leading lights early on. That was before my time; I first came across Joe at Poynton, late 1980s, probably supporting Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp I think. Poynton had been one of the country's best known folk clubs, but even by then it was well into its decline.

Don't know about the Crown down the road; there's not been much music there for a good while. You're probably right that Granny's folk club at the Blossoms was simply the Blossoms Folk Club by the 1980s, once Joe had moved on.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie
Date: 06 Aug 06 - 10:41 AM

I was a regular there with my wife Angie in the 90s, before we moved away in 96 ish. A bit of a rough pub but upstairs was the Blossoms folk club as you say of Grannies as was.
Phil and Claire Allen, Pete Roberts, Jim "fingers " Clarke, Angie Wright of Taggart and Wright, Anne ???
and others Great times great memories.
Try going to the REd Bull some are still there Pete??? runs it and a good web site for folky stuff.
I'll go off and do a bt of searching. Call back later.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: skipy
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 09:59 AM

There is Blossoms public house in Stockport where the:-
Ghost club meets (over 18S only)
Google it.
Skipy

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Rob the Roadie
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 12:46 PM

Sorry it was DAVE fingers Clarke, Anne Yates, Pete Hood,and how could I forget Tony who sang at our wedding!

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 02:14 PM

Sorry my first post was so brief but I was about to go away.

I first met Joe (real name Chris) during the 70's. He lived in Poynton but I haven't seen him for years. I remember the folk club in Poynton well and have my theories about its demise but don't get me going on that! Sufficient to say that we resigned as the resident band during the summer of 1974 and started a more "professional" club at the Deanwater Hotel down the road - maybe you remember it?

Granny's at the Crown was famous for its squeaky chairs, in fact they featured on several tracks of a Therapy (Dave Shannon & Fiona Simpson) record. I remember playing at the Blossoms, which would have been in the mid 80's, but at that time Joe had nothing to do with it.

In case you're interested, Joe's infatuation with the word "Granny" stems from a minor hit record a jug band he used to be a member of had - "Granny Takes a Trip".

Who else d'you remember from those days?

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 04:26 PM

Ray, if you resigned as resident band at Poynton in 1974, the surprise is perhaps that the folk club lasted as long as it did. By the late 1980s, when I first started going, they were still getting good acts, Prior/Kemp, Carthy and Swarbrick, Roy Harper, among others), but the owners/organisers of the Centre (as distinct from the folk club) had long since lost interest and the building was virtually derelict.

The residents then were Pete Goode, alternating with the Hughes Brothers. Kieron and Mary Hartley also did it for a while. They now run a folk club in Stockport at the Crown under the viaduct (not the Crown where Granny's used to be).

By the mid-1990s Poynton was as good as dead. I was involved with some friends in trying to revive the Easter folk festival, but we only managed a one-day affair, and it taught us some lessons from the flogging dead horses syllabus. The Hughes brothers kicked off a new Easter festival about five years ago, at a social club elsewhere in Poynton. The premises are a bit limited, and there's no convenient camping, but the Hughes Bros know how to put live folk music on (and real ale), and it's a good little do that punches above its weight. It also doesn't suffer from the 'political' problems that used to beset the old folk club.

The Monday night singers' session, which used to be at Poynton, has moved around a bit and now resides at the Red Bull in Stockport.

I did once play on the same bill as Fiona Simpson at a Hughes Bros event, with Dave Aston, a great harmonica player now sadly departed. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen a Hughes Bros bill that didn't feature Fiona Simpson!

The jug band would be the Purple Gang, presumably? (Rumours of a re-union abound....) I believe they are world famous in Hungary, of all places. Something about them having a hit there, (probably 'Granny Takes a Trip', now you mention it) just before the iron curtain came down, so their song was about the last bit of 60s pop music the locals can remember!

John Constantine, Vic Hassal, Pete Farrow, Mary Asquith. They ring any bells? John and Vic had a band in the 70s called Scarecrow.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 06 - 06:12 PM

Hi Richard,
Now there's some names to conjure with. The place was almost derelict in 1974 so nothing much seems to have changed! There were some pretty good names on in the 70's and Maddy Prior at that time was playing with Tim Hart, Mike Harding was just getting popular and I remember the likes of Paul Brady and others of a similar ilk. The line-up was much the same at the Deanwater where I remember the biggest draw being the late Adge Cutler and the Wurzels. Tommy Makem was another big name, a thoroughly nice bloke I remember.

I've known Pete Goode since we were teenagers and remember playing with the Hughes Bros (Tom, Pete & Dave) 35 years ago. I think Fiona had to go back to the day job when Dave Shannon decided to become a BBC poroducer working with the likes of Paul Jones et al - he retired from that a year or so ago. I knew Dave Aston quite well - the UK diatonic mouthorgan champion at one stage! It was a sad day when he had the accident.

Yes - The Purple Gang - I'd forgotten the name. Although he's been dining out on it ever since, the engineer that recorded the song once told me that Joe isn't actually on the record - they didn't use his track in the mix. ... and yes, I remember the names but I can't say that they were my favourite artists.

Ray

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Joe Beard
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 06:14 PM

John Wood said he didn`t use my track in the mix? I can hear it..and Joe Boyd would have told me if anything was dropped.Tish tish .Anyway I`m on all the other tracks so sod off .Now I remember the slagging and putting down of people when I was in the folk scene- especially at Poynton .Going for a beer..glad you liked our club though- my wife and I worked hard at it. So many people passed on now though.
Many happy memories with a few unpleasant ones from envious people with personal agendas.
au revoir
CJB

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Chris JOE BEARD
Date: 23 Jul 10 - 12:09 PM

Dear Ray...I remember you .Name "the engineer"!!!!???
When I recorded Granny, we put guitar, piano, jug and mandolin down in 5 takes on to one track. Then harmonica and washboard went on. Then vocals and kazoo last.If the guitar was wrong we would have had to do it all again.I remember the drone guitar sound was lessened to equal the jug.I checked with the boys and producer Joe Boyd.
To be told at nearly 65 years I wasn`t on that track is really creepy.They would not rely on just piano and mandolin for that sound.
But then I remember this sort of shite talk in the local folk scene.
Had a number 1 in Hungary in 2004......Was I on that also??
bog off

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 24 Jul 10 - 05:00 AM

Hi Joe - How are you lad? I'm told you've joined the Tory party! So you finally made up with Brendan then?

Which engineer? Now that would be telling! If you can't remember, I probably can't but he has worked with people as disparate as Def Leppard and Cannon and Ball via such people as Richard Thompson and Englebert Humperdinck - and even us. He simply said that the bloke on the guitar didn't get into the final mix. It had no'wt to do with the local folk scene - I've not been on that for over 30 years!
Ray

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 11 - 05:00 AM

Chris Joe Beard
John Wood was the engineer obviously.I asked Joe Boyd about it on th ephone last month.He said they dropped the drums .The guitar was in the mix with the other stuff.This is all a mystery- as is your identification "Ray"who are "US"?.....come out from the shadows and say hello ring us on 01625 877813.I`m hosting back at Poynton Folk Centre again The Centre Sessions 2nd Thursday of the month.I play Granny on DGDGBE tuning,picked it`s a memory now but a great oddball song that has been on 12 compilations over the years.Was on SOTS a few weeks ago.
In my new book there is a section about Grannys folk club-the squeaky chairs, garden gnome Reg and the rubber chicken Ethel..great days ...GREAT AUDIENCE.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 30 Oct 11 - 05:27 AM

Hi Joe
I'd heard about your new Poynton venture with a certain Mr Renshaw. Unfortunately (fortunately?) I last quit that place in 1974. I'm told you were also spotted at the monthly session in Bollington which I may get along to one day.

As for "us" its was a band you've probably never heard of but the track had a massive mandolin orchestra played by a certain Mr Gregson and myself - happy days.

No it wasn't Joe Boyd but another engineer closer to home he told the story to. Lets say no more about it.

Ray

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Chris Joe Beard
Date: 31 Oct 11 - 03:47 PM

I know who you are now .I thought you were a mate of mine?
Whoever John Wood spoke to--he`s got it wrong.They dropped the DRUMMER and the electric guitar.....I checked with all the band and Joe Boyd again.
The track was remixed years later as a stereo and the washboard drowns my acoustic.Be assured I AM on the track.I never "dined out" on Granny I told the truth.Your choice of words indicated that you had it in for me, so I am doubly dissapointed Ray.Yes I joined the conservative party to become a councillor to stand for Poynton.I did not wish to join the other two..at the time..Blair or Kennedy.I got the third highest vote in all of Cheshire East (including Crewe).I wanted to give something back to Poynton, genuinely.I got Cheshire East to upgrade their Dementia services before I left and did quite a bit of good.I did not stay in the conservatives or as a councillor.I did MY bit for the community.Try it....it`s hard work but now I`m free to get into music again..for ME not Purple Gang.Let`s bury this thread as you suggest.Whatever you thought of me then -I`m not the same person..more at ease with myself.Hope you still play that shithot mandolin?
best CJB

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 01 Nov 11 - 02:09 AM

To get back to Grannies. I went early 90's. Very negative and unwelcoming to a newcomer. One of the people running it had come to the club I usually went to and suggested I come down. Never spoke to me all night.

Saw the Purple Gang many times. Always good, especially the night at Stockport College when the steppers were on. Saw them a few years ago in Hyde at a reunion do, bit rusty but a really good night.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 01 Nov 11 - 05:22 AM

Infamy, Infamy, they all have it in for me! As for the conservative party - after all the things you said about Brendan M!! I've never had any particular thoughts about you good bad or otherwise - Its really that you were one of the last people I'd expected to have joined the tories.

I don't, however, want to be accused of making political statements and anyone that knows me will appreciate that I have spent years working with politicians and I'm firmly of the opinion they they're all the same, no mater which party.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 09:44 PM

Chris Joe Beard...    Mr Ray Tomlinson--why are you hiding behind anonyminity? Brendon left the tories years ago....and he is a changed man from Stockport Town Hall days.
I made friends with Labour people, Liberals and Tories.....I was once a paid up member of the Lib/Dems. I changed over the years because I was constantly meeting left wing "champange" socialists, some very nasty people who have sold this country down the river.They are basically a bunch of hypocrits. Some very nasty people in the tories too, always will be.
The Poynton lot are pretty sound and work hard....very "wet" tories...and I was "left" of them.Like I said, I suggest you try and represent your community too.It gives you a balanced view on life.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 03:31 PM

Well, how spiffing! I check back into a light-hearted thread I started five years ago, and land right in a catfight!

Stonking comedy, chaps, keep it coming.

C Stuart Cook ("To get back to Grannies..." - the funniest line in the whole thread!) our paths must have crossed, I was a regular at the Blossoms in the early 1990s. You're dead right about the negativity and the icy welcome. Oh, and don't you go thinking about coming back next week having put some practice in and improved your performance a bit, no, no, no, no, no. Think you're better than us, do you?

Folk music's better off without places like that.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 04 Nov 11 - 05:14 AM

Regardless of political persuasion, dodgy mixes and squeaking chairs, Poynton Ceilidhs are still going...and doing very nicely thank you

I'd do a blicky if I knew how...

Baz

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Dec 15 - 06:03 PM

I used to play at the blossoms folk club regularly in the late 80's - Andy Kelly if anyone remembers me. Used to go with a good few friends who performed their too Paul Heaton (not the Housemartins one) Carol Ann Robinson

Always enjoyed the nights there.

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,Rick
Date: 30 Jan 16 - 05:39 PM

Andy Kelly? Still playing lefty, mate? You borrowed my Kinkade at Bollington once, sounded better than me you t**t!

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 16 - 01:35 PM

lol is that Rick Carlton? must be there aren't many of we lefties about. Don't play at all these days had a car accident which left my right hand knacked - amongst other injuries.

Im up in the lake district these days. You still playing?

Subject: RE: Who remembers Granny's Folk Club? (UK)
From: GUEST,geoff monks
Date: 17 Oct 17 - 08:47 PM

anyone remember me?