Folk music in London (and elsewhere) is going through one its periodic revivals, with banjos and mandolins flying off the shelves of the capital's music shops.
Over at folk music site Mudcat they've been discussing the London folk clubs of the earlier 1960s revival, and a few SE London venues get a mention.
In the early 1960s, there was a Friday night folk club at the Railway Tavern on Catford bridge, and a club run by the Young Communist League in Forest Hill. Seemingly, 'There was often a sing song in the Three Tuns, Blackheath... a fine 'alternative' pub in those days'.
In 1967/68 venues for folk clubs included the "Rising Sun" at Catford, the "Mansion House" in Deptford, the two "Tigers Head" pubs (Old & New) in Lee Green, and a club called Tramps & Hawkers at a pub on Blackheath Hill. This may (or may not) have been at The Green Man at the top of Blackheath Hill, where a club was held in the mid-1960s with notable guests including Paul Simon. The pub has long gone, replaced by housing in Alison Close (according to Edith's Streets, developed in 1972).
There was also at some point (early 1970s?) the Quaggy Folk Club somewhere near Manor Park.
As with all SE London musical histories, would be interested in any memories of these or similar places.
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The Three Tuns was the birthplace of Blackheath Morris who are now based at the Ashburnham Arms, Greenwich.
The Rising Sun, Catford, was empty and boarded up the last time I went past.
There was also The Melting Pot Folk Club which started in Streatham at the Manor Arms and continued at various venues including The White Lion in Streatham High Road. The principle house musicians were Bob and Ros Allen and various floor singers appeared dependant on who was there plus a main guest each week. This was run by the Streatham branch of the Young Communist League. The club closed long ago and Bob and Ros now reside in France. However it is still fondly remembered by many people some 4o years later.
Anyone know of the cavern folk club in the basement of a pub on the South Side of Tower Bridge. I remember Cliff Aungier playing there weekly.
The Dungeon Folk club, which took place in a pub called The Copper, in Tower Bridge Road. It was run by Ian Grant BBC producer, of Country Meets Folk, and Cliff Aungier.
The BBC released a live album in 1969, recorded at The Copper, called 'Dungeon Folk' with various artists, including Cliff Aungier and Shelagh McDonald. Details at this link:
https://www.discogs.com/Various-Dungeon-Folk/release/4956530
John Martyn also played there:
1968-08-06 UK, London, The Dungeon Club, The Copper, Tower Bridge Road. Cliff Aungier presents John Martyn, Shelagh McDonald.
I co-hosted the Dungeon Club with Cliff Aungier and also sang two tracks on Dungeon Folk. From this came 'Folk in Worship' which I recorded with The Crown Folk. Would love to know who's still around. Dana Stirk (Scott).
Have great memories of The Dungeon….think also The Strawbs?
According to Strawbs Timeline at this link:
https://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/tline/timeline.asp#1969
... they played at the Dungeon Club, Tower Bridge Road on these dates:
1968: 2nd January, 30th April, 3rd September, 3rd December.
1969: Tuesday 11th March, Tuesday 24th June.
The Crooked Billet, in Penge High Street, held a 'Folk Plus' evening on Fridays in the early 1970's. It was hosted by the resident group Wild Oats with various guest artists. I played the drums (softly) in one of the guest groups, called Plastik Bukit, that played there twice – Friday 19th November 1971 and Friday 21st January 1972, which was reviewed in the local paper:
“While the Top Twenty may have borrowed a certain tradition from folk music culture, the folk followers have, in turn, drawn lyrical themes and a degree of musical sophistication (both in terms of interpretation and equipment) from contemporary sources. Plastik Bukit, one of the guest groups at the Crooked Billet, Penge, on Friday, illustrated this influence in a number called 'S.W.16 – 1 a.m.' which, like much of the original material in their repertoire, possessed references which mirrored the 'seventies – the essence in fact, of true folk music.”
I was quite chuffed to read this review as I had written the lyrics to 'S.W.16 – 1 a.m.' whilst living on my own in a 2-room flat in Streatham and it was my first attempt at songwriting!
I found this in the 'Melody Maker' dated January 18, 1969:
“CLIFF AUNGIER presents DAVE SMITH and NIGEL BARKER at the Dungeon Club, The Copper, Tower Bridge Road S.E.1.”
I later played drums (softly) with Dave Smith (Gibson acoustic guitar/vocals) plus Richard Hook (Martin acoustic guitar/vocals) and Mel Webb (electric bass guitar/vocals) when we were called Plastik Bukit and appeared twice at The Crooked Billet, Penge in the early 1970's (see above comment).
Am suprised that (as far as I can see) no mention of the famous Dartford folk club run by Pam and Alan Colls now sadly passed away that started up around 1975 at The Railway Hotel pub opposite Dartford station. I was very glad of the place being a keen 'folkie' and a relative newcomer to London looking for other folk musicians. For quite a few years I played bass and banjo for the clubs resident group Original Gravity. As far as i know the club may still be running but had to move in the 80's to a working mans club in Dartford itself. By this time I had joined other groups and lost touch. Malcolm Furneaux
I found this listing on page 25 of 'Melody Maker' dated June 21, 1969:
TUESDAY: DOWNHAM FOLK CLUB, Baltabarin, Downham Way, Downham, Bromley, Kent. 01-698 6810. COMEALLYE (SINGERS' NIGHT). Next Wednesday Dave Smith.
...and this listing on the same page:
SUNDAY: RAILWAY HOTEL, DARTFORD - DAVE SMITH introduced by TONY DEANE.
...plus this listing on page 40 of the November 15, 1969 edition:
RAILWAY HOTEL, DARTFORD - DAVE SMITH & THE LEGACY. Residents: CRAYFOLK.
Steve Benbow ran a folk club at the Swan & Sugarloaf, Brighton Road, South Croydon up until Sunday 28th May 1967 (with Johnny Silvo as guest). He then transferred to the Norbury Hotel, London Road, Norbury on Sunday 4th June 1967 (with Dominic Behan as guest). The club continued (on and off) at the Norbury Hotel until Sunday 24th March 1968 (with Marc Ellington as guest).
David Bowie played at the Downham Folk Club, Bal Tabarin (next to Downham Tavern), Downham Way, Downham, Bromley on Wednesday, October 1st 1969, 8-11 p.m. See this link for image of hand-drawn poster:
https://www.bowiebible.com/1969/10/01/live-bal-tabarin-bromley/
There was a folk club (held on Tuesday evenings) in the cellar of the 'Hungry i' restaurant at 79 London Road, West Croydon. It was opened on 18th June 1968 with Shirley Collins supported by Dick Hook. I became a member a week or two later when my friend (guitarist Dave Smith, accompanied by his wife Thelma on autoharp), was one of the guests. Al Stewart, The Strawbs and Sandy Denny were just some of the top names to play at the 'Hungry i Cellar Folk & Blues Centre' in later months that year. There is more info about the club on pages 131 & 133 of 'Rockin' and Around Croydon' by Chris Groom and also on the webpage at this link:
https://london-road-croydon.org/history/0079-shadi-bakery.html
I found this listed in the 'Folk Forum' section of Melody Maker dated July 29 1967: MONDAY - PHOEBUS AWAKES! THE RISING SUN, RUSHEY GREEN, CATFORD. NIGEL DENVER, DAVE & TONI ARTHUR. Members 5/-, Guests 6/-.
I found this listed in the 'Folk Forum' section of Melody Maker dated February 17 1968: SUNDAY - TRAMPS and HAWKERS, ROYAL ALBERT, BLACKHEATH HILL, S.E.10.
...and this on the same page: TUESDAY - OPENING 27th FEBRUARY AT 7.30 P.M. KEROUAK FOLK CLUB PRESENTS JOHNNY SILVO AND CHAPTER THREE, GREEN MAN, BLACKHEATH HILL, S.E.10.
I found this listing on page 25 of 'Melody Maker' dated September 27, 1969:
WEDNESDAY: Croydon Folksong Club, Waddon Hotel, Stafford Road. DAVE SMITH.
'Folk Forum' section of 'Melody Maker' dated January 12, 1963:
WEDNESDAY: AT "NEW CROSS HOUSE", New Cross Road (nearlv opposite Station). Nikki Godfrey, Ian McCann, Les Bridger, John Grange. Tonight! Gerry Loughran, Guests.
...and this in the August 3, 1963 edition:
TUESDAY: WEST NORWOOD: GERRY LOUGHRAN. “The Rosemary Branch”, Knights Hill.
...plus this in the February 15, 1964 edition:
SUNDAY: BATTERSEA, NAGS HEAD, York Road. Tony Deane, Bob Wilson.
...and also this in the July 17, 1964 edition::
FRIDAY: CATFORD, RAILWAY TAVERN. Pete Sayers, Bill and Tiny, Taverners Guests.
Some great stuff there... keep them coming! Going to have to write up some more about all this. Have you found any mentions of Jackson C Frank playing locally? I read somewhere that he stayed in Lewisham for a while with Dave Arthur.
I found this in the 'Folk News' page of Melody Maker dated August 24, 1968:
“The EC4 folk club has changed its name to the Ramblin' Boy and guests include Terry Gould (August 28), Lisa Turner (September 9) and Dave Kelly (11). The club now meets at the Royal Oak, Tooley Street, London S.E.1.”
...and this in the 'Folk Forum' section of Melody Maker dated September 21, 1968:
RAMBLIN' BOY FOLK CLUB, Royal Oak, 97 Tooley Street, S.E.1 at 7.45 p.m. (near London Bridge Station). Barry Myers presents: DAVE & TONI ARTHUR, Roger and Alison, Jo Vincent, Bill Vincent, Colin Meadows, Andy Farbey, etc.
I found this in the 'Folk Forum' on p17 of the April 27, 1963 edition of 'Melody Maker':
FRIDAY (Today): FOUNTAIN HEAD, PARCHMORE RD., THORNTON HEATH. LES BRIDGER, TONY McCARTHY, DEREK SARJEANT, DIANE DOHERTY.
...and this on the same page:
MONDAY: CROYDON. "WHEATSHEAF", Thornton Heath Pond: HYLDA and ANN. Folkvendors.
In Chris Groom's book 'Rockin' and Around Croydon' Ralph McTell says: "We all used to go to a club at the Wheatsheaf pub by Thornton Heath Pond, which I think was held on a Monday night and run by three wonderful guys, Alan, John and Dave." [Folkvendors: Alan Carter, John Trendell, Dave Smith].
There is a mention of Jackson C. Frank staying with Dave Arthur in Lewisham at this link:
https://oldfolkrebels.blogspot.com/2017/07/dave-arthur-storyteller-tells-his-story.html
I can only find folk club listings in 'Melody Maker' for Jackson C. Frank at Les Cousins in Greek Street, Soho, i.e. July 17, 1965: SATURDAY AT “LES COUSINS” The FAREWELL CONCERT of U.S.A. Artist JACKSON C. FRANK.
There is more information regarding Jackson C. Frank at this link:
https://www.jonwilks.online/blog/blues-run-the-game-the-haunted-legacy-of-jackson-c-frank
I found this in the 'Melody Maker' dated May 1, 1965:
MONDAY: GREEN MAN CLUB, Blackheath Hill. Malcolm Price, Ian McCann, guests.
… and this on the same page:
TUESDAY: FOLK POT, New Tigers Head, Lee Green, MALCOLM PRICE, The Drovers.
...plus this in the May 15, 1965 edition:
SATURDAY: FOLK & BLUES. OLD TIGERS HEAD, LEE GREEN, S.E.12. OPENING NIGHT. MALCOLM PRICE, TONY SHAW, SURPRISE GUESTS.
I found this in the 'Folk Forum' on p17 of the March 3, 1962 edition of 'Melody Maker':
THURSDAY: HYLDA'S FOLK PARTY [Hylda Sims], 8–11 p.m. 106 Croxted Road, West Dulwich. Train from Victoria or No.3 bus. THE FOLKVENDORS.
Dave Arthur wrote an obituary for Hylda Sims in January 2020 at this link:
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=167165
…which includes: “Hylda was always surrounded by young people, who invariably found a bed and a meal in her house in Croxted Road, Dulwich. It was always a place to play music, discuss politics (Left Wing), eat communal meals, get your head down for however long it took for you to get yourself sorted out.”
Whilst reading JP Bean's book “Singing From The Floor (A History of British Folk Clubs)”, I came across a piece by Dave Cousins (leader of the Strawberry Hill Boys, who became the Strawbs) which said: “The first place we played was at Hylda Sims's house, she ran a folk club in the basement.” (see earlier post dated 9 July 2026 at 08.14).
I also found a piece by Ian McCann (who later played guitar and mandolin with the Malcolm Price Trio) which said: “In 1960 I was at Goldmiths in the School of Art. We decided to open a folk club at a pub, the New Cross House. It was probably one of the first clubs in that part of south-east London.” (see earlier post dated 3 July 2026 at 12.44).
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