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Friday Club History Page
This page is dedicated to the history of your club. Please send in a couple of paragraphs and pictures of your residents and regulars and I'll put the information on this page.
Northwich Folk Club Meets at Harlequin Theatre, Queen Street, Northwich
Friday 8-30pm
Northwich Folk Club was born in March 1977 when Jeanie Hammersleigh, then an officer for DAN (Development of the Arts in Northwich), brought together some local performers (including Iain Bowley and Tony Howard) at the White Lion in Witton Street. After a run of successful nights that spring, a group of people (including Sandy Boyle) formed a committee which has seen the club run continuously for twenty one years. There have been many changes, but Sandy (and husband Sean), Iain and Tony are still connected with the club. The club ran at the White Lion for about seven years or so, during which time the one and only Northwich Folk Festival took place in 1983. Starting with a kitty of fourpence, the club has, through a mixture of guests and singers' nights, gained a reputation and a financial stability that is the envy of many other clubs. After a short spell at the Coachman's Inn in Hartford, the club moved to its present location in the Harlequin Theatre where folk music lovers still meet on Fridays throughout the year. The club is still run by a committee whose members take turns to host evenings at the club.
Some of the regulars at Northwich Over the years, many notable names on the circuit have performed at the club, including Martin Carthy, Ewan McColl, Dick Gaughan and Andy Irvine. Many less well known names have also proved to be excellent entertainment, and in between guests, the talent in the club ranks has had its own chance to shine. Many a talented musician or singer has risen from the audience, some of whom have gone on to professional or semi-professional status. Regulars are from time to time invited to do a "super-spot", a chance to improve their skill by doing more than the usual one or two songs. There are some fine voices and talented players with guitar, fiddle, bazouki, flute, squeeze box and bodhran (amongst others). There was even a highland piper amongst the regulars once.
Reg Holmes Anything from traditional to contemporary, blues and beyond can be heard in the club, with local artists mixing with guests from as far afield as Hungary and the U.S.A.. The club has also arranged ceilidhs and boat trips, and is always open to new ideas. That First Night... Iain Bowley reliably informs me that the first night was kicked off by Rob Ollerton doing "Misty Moisty Morning". Iain made his own contribution, a version of James Taylor's "Fire And Rain".
Check out the Northwich Folk Club Website for more information ******************************************************************************************* The Hale & Hearty Folk Club on the first and third Friday of every month at the King's Arms, Hale, Cumbria (on the A6, two miles south of Milnthorpe) With eleven residents, we are provided with a different host each time we meet. They are: Frank and Sheila Lewis, Steve Black, Bob Hellon, Dave Summers, Gill Turner, John Hodgson, Roy Wilcock & Bridget Guest, Ken Lawson, David Littlewood, Roy Adams, Dave Hall We maintain a smoke-free clubroom welcoming singers, musicians and listeners alike. Our History: The
current club is a descendant of the
Arnside Folk Club created by Steve Black and John Harper in 1985 where it ran
monthly, mainly as a singers club with an occasional guest booking which
included Jez Lowe, Fiona Simpson, Ian Bruce and Isaac Guillory.
The Regulars gather round for a pint and a photo Refurbishment in 1994 brought about a move to the Bull’s Head, Milnthorpe. Steve Black took over and we met there twice each month. Occasional guest bookings included : Di Henderson, Mal Brown, Tim Laycock, The Wilsons, Jim Sharp, Dave Summers, Roy Wilcock & Bridget Guest, Robin Laing, Donal Maguire, Th’Antique Road Show, Chris Wilson, Ann Anderson, Paul Dalton, Barry & Ingrid Temple, Jane & Amanda Threlfall with Roger Edwards and Martin Ellison, Davy Jones & Frank Kay, Matt Armour, Bob Hellon, Ken & Pat Wilson, Fahey-Murphy-Maguire, Alison McMorland & Geordie McIntyre. When
the installation of the big-screen TV sent shock waves through our hitherto
quiet room, we moved again to the nearby Milnthorpe Institute and Frank Lewis
took over. The night was changed from Sunday to Friday and a number of the
regulars were recruited to form a rotation of residents to host each evening in
turn. In July ’99, we moved again to the Kings Arms at Hale which is just over the border into Cumbria. We then changed our name to become the Hale & Hearty Folk Club and although we are somewhat out in the sticks, we continue to draw a good crowd.
Songs with big finishes are a speciality here! During the summer of 2001 we made studio recordings of the residents and friends of the club and in September the CD Grassroots was released. With 22 tracks embracing a pleasing mixture of traditional and contemporary folk, it has received excellent reviews and has been welcomed by Cecil Sharp House as an important addition to their library archives. With all profits going to the Blackwell sailing charity for the disabled, it is available at the club for the price of £8-00 or by post from Frank Lewis, 9, Leapers View, Over Kellet, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA6 1HL for £9-00 including p+p.
Standing room only for Frank in this popular club Telephone Frank on 01524 734440 for more information about the club or the CD – or you can email by clicking this hyperlink - Frank
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