To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=135685
27 messages

Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)

14 Feb 11 - 12:02 PM (#3095094)
Subject: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)

Roy Harris, 'one of the old school' will be singing at the Derby Heritage Traditional Music Club, based in the Old Gaol, Friargate, Derby, on Thursday Feb 17th. 'One of the old school' was the reason given by one club organiser in turning down a request for a booking. Luckily there are stil a few who like to hear 'old school'. Roy hopes to see some of you at the Gaol on Thursday.


14 Feb 11 - 03:53 PM (#3095254)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: The Sandman

have a good gig, Roy,I am one of the unschooled, I spent my last year at school listening to Missippi John Hurt ,Blind Blake , in record booths, on the pretext that I might buy the lp, that is what I call good schooling


14 Feb 11 - 04:20 PM (#3095270)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle

Who'd have thought it!

Top of the bill at Derby Gaol after all these years. I remember when he was a corner man in a boxing match in Boon.

Half the folksingers in Derbyshire were in the audience - Doug Porter, Jack Hudson, Mick Peat, me.

Now you've made the big time Roy, I hope you won't forget your old mates. I'd keep in practice with the towel and the bucket though- just in case you have to go back to your old trade.


14 Feb 11 - 04:32 PM (#3095279)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: Banjo-Flower

"Half the folksingers in Derbyshire were in the audience - Doug Porter, Jack Hudson, Mick Peat, me."

BG surely there's more than eight folksingers in Derbyshire?



I could name a couple of dozen at least without even trying

Gerry


14 Feb 11 - 05:31 PM (#3095320)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle

It was a large group, those are the ones I remember seeing in the gloom. Also we were being poisoned by clouds of theatrical smoke, that added to the authentic smokey atmosphere at a boxing match. Several people were ill. Something which probably won't happen at Roy's gig, despite it being held in a dungeon.


15 Feb 11 - 07:56 AM (#3095588)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: The Sandman

Roy is one of the best communicators with an audience that I have seen, he has the ability to make a club feel as if they are sitting with a storyteller at their ease around the fireside, he creates an intimate atmosphere and soon has audiences joining in with choruses, if that is old school then imo we need more old school.
I have been on the uk folk scene for 40 years, Roy Harris isone of the best ,he epitomises professionalism, go and see him at Derby club, you wont be disappointed.Dick Miles


15 Feb 11 - 08:32 AM (#3095601)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: Nicholas Waller

Talking of Old School, our records at The Topic (ie, our recently updated online Gigs List, now with dates going back to 1960), shows Roy Harris appearing at the club a little over 51 years ago, on 5th February 1960.

The week before we had The Stewart Family (I am assuming the Stewarts of Blair) and the day after we had The Crimple Mountain Boys. The only other acts we have listed that year are: Jimmie MacGregor and Shirley Bland; Jacqui McDonald and Bridie O'Donnell; Steve Benbow; and Winston and Mary-Jane Young.

That may be because of a certain paucity of records that far back, or because the vast majority of club meetings were singarounds, or a bit of both. It wasn't until 1968, it appears, that half the club nights had paid guests. In 1969, almost every week we had a paid guest.


15 Feb 11 - 09:00 AM (#3095624)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle

51 years ago......

He may have improved since then, perhaps you ought to risk offering him another gig.....still, if he didn't go down well, you could always do a flyer - another bingo game at the end, for people to hang around for.


15 Feb 11 - 09:15 AM (#3095635)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: Nicholas Waller

Ah, he appeared at The Topic 15 times in all, the last time his 70th Birthday Round in July 2003.


15 Feb 11 - 11:30 AM (#3095722)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)

Nicholas, I'm having an 80th Birthday round in 2013. Would love to come to the Topic then. (Or anywhere else between now and then.)


15 Feb 11 - 12:01 PM (#3095734)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: Nicholas Waller

Roy, I only look after the website - and from 250 miles away! - but I shall pass your message on to Joe Grint, who does sometimes look in here.


15 Feb 11 - 04:22 PM (#3095917)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)

Many thanks Nicholas. I'll keep my fingers crossed. By the way, I'll be on the Four Fools Weekend in June, I'm looking forward to that too.Maybe se some 'Catters there.Burl


15 Feb 11 - 04:59 PM (#3095951)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: JohnH

Folk for grown-ups?


16 Feb 11 - 03:42 PM (#3096679)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: The Sandman

folk for all ages


17 Feb 11 - 05:33 AM (#3096995)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)

tonight's the night. See you there!


17 Feb 11 - 05:50 AM (#3097006)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle

Big Mumford and Sons fans in Derby Roy, you'd better have a few of their songs ready for tonight.


17 Feb 11 - 06:06 AM (#3097013)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: Dave Sutherland

Last night's result notwithstanding it might not be tactful to mention football in that location even though the urge to gloat might be overwhelming :-)
See you there.


17 Feb 11 - 08:03 AM (#3097064)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: The Sandman

scunthorpe 1 forest 0


18 Feb 11 - 03:40 AM (#3097724)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle

Hope it all went well for you and you had a great time. I know the audience will have had.

al


18 Feb 11 - 07:26 AM (#3097846)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: Dave Sutherland

Most enjoyable night with lots of old friends turning out to see Roy.


18 Feb 11 - 03:14 PM (#3098173)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST

I suppose being in California isn't a bad alibi, but had I been home in Glossop I'd have definitely made the journey to see one of my favourite performers, never mind friend and mentor. Glad it went well.


18 Feb 11 - 03:23 PM (#3098178)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: The Sandman

the above must be BrianPeters


18 Feb 11 - 04:06 PM (#3098202)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Brian Peters

Hey, well spotted, Dick! (oh no, that's a pudding...)

No cookie on this computer here in CA...

Brian


21 Feb 11 - 05:48 AM (#3099603)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)

I can't let this thread die before thanking some of the posters above for their kind remarks. Above all I want to thank all concerned with the club for my reception, and for everything that happened that evening. There was a full house,an attentive and appreciative audience, and some grand songs, stories, and tunes from the club's own people. In other words, it was everything I look for in a folk club. It was very good to see some old friends again as I returned to my E.Midlands home patch,especially good to see and hear the lads from Notts Alliance. Afterward I was given grand hospitality in one of those 'safe houses' we travelling folkies depend on so much. Thank you Ed & Marianne. Anybody in Derby on a Thursday night should head for the Old Gaol, on Friargate. You won't regret it.


21 Feb 11 - 01:02 PM (#3099798)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: GUEST,Alan Squires

Yes it was a grand night and Roy did us proud and showed us how it really needs to be done.

If I can still be doing a fraction of what Roy can still can do, when I reach his age, I will be well chuffed.


21 Feb 11 - 01:22 PM (#3099805)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: The Sandman

hes young but he's glowing


22 Feb 11 - 09:25 AM (#3100304)
Subject: RE: Roy Harris goes to Gaol in Derby (UK)
From: RoyH (Burl)

Thanks Alan. You did pretty well yourself on the old squeezebox.
I'd like to announce that after a long hiatus I'm fit and ready, as of now, to get back to regular singing. Anyone interested in booking me please feel free to get in touch.
Longer term plans include California next year, and an '80th Birthday year' tour running from June 15th 2013 to June 15th 2014.
Let me once again recommend the Derby Heritage Traditional Music Club, based at the Old Gaol, Friargate, Derby. It has everything a good folk club needs. Burl.