the virtual folk club - gtr. manchester
Welcome to the Virtual Folk Club
Here is compiled a wide range of sound and video recordings from as long ago as the mid 1970s.
Of course, given the age of some of the earlier recordings, the quality is, to say the least, 'variable' but regardless of the quality the content is a valuable record of performers and venues which provided the opportunity for thousands of people to perform, listen socialise and share their interest in live Folk Music.
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For convenience the content is divided
into sections.
Included are audio and video recordings
of former clubs and concerts, photographs
and other memorabilia such as posters,
flyers and tickets, and links to current
clubs and performers.
Use the buttons to navigate to other sections
THE STAR INN FOLK CLUB, SALFORD GO TO
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PETE SMITH & JEANNY DENNY LISTEN HOWARD BOND LISTEN BLACK 'EDDS LISTEN
DICK MILES LISTEN THE TWO BEGGARMEN LISTEN HOLLERIN' POT LISTEN STEVE TURNER LISTEN
MARTIN CARTHY LISTEN
BRAM TAYLOR LISTEN
GENTLEMAN SOLDIER LISTEN
WITSEND LISTEN
STANLEY ACCRINGTON LISTEN
PAUL DOWNES LISTEN
HARRY OGDEN LISTEN
THE UNICORN F.C. MANCHESTER GO TO
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SARA GREY LISTEN
SINGERS' NIGHT - 28.01.1984 LISTEN
SINGERS' NIGHT - 04.02.1984 LISTEN
SINGERS' NIGHT - 11.02.1984 LISTEN
SINGERS' NIGHT - 18.02.1984 LISTEN
MARK HEYWOOD & MALCOLM RAMSKILL LISTEN
THE UNICORN VILLAGE BAND - 03.03.1984 LISTEN
PETER COE - 10.03.1984 LISTEN
GORTON TANK - 12.05.1984 LISTEN SINGERS' NIGHT - 19.05.1984 LISTEN​SINGERS' NIGHT - 09.06.1984 LISTEN​
SINGERS' NIGHT - 16.06.1984 LISTEN
LOL & JANET LUNCH - 02.06.1984 LISTEN
THE UNICORN VILLAGE BAND - 22.12.1984 LISTEN
FOLK ON THE HILL, MANCHESTER GO TO
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SINGERS' NIGHT - 17.08.1990 LISTEN
SINGERS' NIGHT - 08.03.1991 LISTEN
LYNN & BARRY HARDMAN - 03.05.1991 LISTEN
HANK & THE WOLF - 09.08.1991 LISTEN
MARTIN GITTINS - 11.10.1991 LISTEN
PETE COWAP - 12.06.1992 LISTEN
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January 21st 1976 - January 21st 1997
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In November 1975 'Pint 'n' Half' (Martin Gittins and Rick Rybicki) stood in for Mike Canavan to play a gig at a small back street pub in Salford. They were immediately re-booked for a return gig in December and, they were so taken by the venue, they agreed with the landlord 'One-Armed Wally' Marshall that they agreed to try a regular weekly Folk Club starting in January of the following year. and so The Legend was born.
In the 23 years that followed the Star Inn Folk Club hosted a guest performer EVERY WEEK - a total of 1149 nights of live music, a record unlikely ever to be surpassed.
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Residents in the beginning were Pint 'n' Half and 'Johnny Crescendo' (Alan Houldsworth) although Alan left after the first year or so. Later, when Rick moved to Todmorden and 'Pint 'n' Half was dissolved, Martin continued alone for several years before teaming up with long-time mate Bob Ashworth for the remaining years.
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Below is a small selection of nights from the club including the last 40 minutes of the final night (which featured John Cartain, who had been the guest on the very first night, among a crowd of other performers.)
THE LEGENDARY STAR INN FOLK CLUB
AWAITING PHOTOGRAPH
PETE SMITH & JEANNY DENNY - MAY 12th 1982 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Martin Gittins - Andrew Rose, Ale
Mark Dowding - Brown Photographs, Man that’s growing old
Steve Woolley - Guitar Shuffle, Johnny Mars
Pete Smith & Jeanny Denny - Is your love in vain, Bonny Hawthorn,
Will you go to Flanders, Xmas Song, Heights of Alma, Fair Maids of February,
Hammer it Weld it, Banks of the Ponchartrain
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Martin Gittins - Allouette
Kinigad Slashers - Belfast Hornpipe, Slow Air, 2 Reels
Pete Smith & Jeanny Denny - Jan Cole, Bonny Light Horseman,
Chinese Bumboat Man
HOWARD BOND - MAY 26th 1982
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
Pint & a Half - Sweeny’s Polka, Darcy Farrow, Dumpy Doodle.
Mark Dowding - Last Days of Steam, Man of the Earth.
Raymond (?) - Tunes on whistle.
Howard Bond - Frozen Rose, Man of the People, Maid of Coolmoor,
Café Armageddon, Passing Cloud, Daddy’s Sauce
Pint & a Half - Chastity Belt,
Mick Barkis - Big Rock Candy Mountain, The Very Thing
Steve Cowley - Electronic Guitar Tunes.
Howard Bond - Five minutes to midnight, In love without you, Grimaldi,
ody on the Line, Danny’s fiddle
BLACK 'EDDS - OCTOBER 5th 1983 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Black Edds - Boy Scouts, No Room For Me, Blow Ye Winds, Blue Suede Shoon,
A Sailor’s Life, Juke Box King, Isn’t It Strange, Jimmy Two Stroke
Tony Hill (R.I.P.) - Pit Disaster Song
Black Edds - Constable Larkins, Goodbye To Santa Claus, Underground,
It Beats the Grind, 8326105, Loving Doll
DICK MILES - OCTOBER 19th 1983
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
Dick Miles - Bonny Little Brown Jug, Tommy’s Lot, Sizewell Alphabet, Dunmow Flitch, Primrose Polka, The Rebel Soldier,
Dick Miles - Woodland Flowers, Richard the Third, No One With Endurance Like The Man From The Insurance, Lovely Nancy, Dill Pickle Rag, The Cock
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THE TWO BEGGARMEN - NOVEMBER 9th 1983 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
The Two Beggarmen - Skithery Idle Doodle, Little Piecer, Cliffs of Moorhein, The Phantom of Balderstone Mill, Spencer the Rover, Pomona,
The Two Beggarmen - The Begging Song, Rare Old Times, Tunes, Dog Fat, Tunes, Bide a While
HOLLERIN' POT - DECEMBER 7th 1983
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
Martin Gittins - Hanky Park,
[Singer Unknown] - Devil and the Wife
Tony Hill (R.I.P.)- Coulter’s Candy, Servant of the Company
Hollerin' Pot - The Innocent Hare, Tailor’s Britches, Black Leg Miner, Jem of the Row, White Cockade, Oxford And Hampton Railway
? The Little Pot Stove, Long Shadows, ?
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Hollering Pot - John Barleycorn, The Blacksmith, Song of the Staffordshire Men, Dido Bendigo, New York Gals
STEVE TURNER - JANUARY 25th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
Steve Turner - Bunch Of Roses-O, Fair Pretty Maid In London Town, Jigs, Lads of Cara Row, My Soul Is Saved, West Texas Cowboys, Daughter Jane,
Steve Turner - Horse Fair at Ballynascreen, Hard Times, Never Went To Settle Down, Tunes, Isle Of St Helena, Keepers and the Drivers, Is Your Love in Vain
MARTIN CARTHY - FEBRUARY 8th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
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Martin Carthy - Unfortunate Taylor, Gallant Poacher, Heroes of St Valerie, (Somebody’s) Funeral, Brown Adam, Old Molly Oxford
[Singer Unknown - possibly Pete Martin]
When I’m 64, 1000 miles from home, Together Forever, When I’m Dead and Gone
Martin Carthy - Lovely Joan, Reynard The Fox, 3 Cripples, Jack Rowland, Tunes, Old Couple
BRAM TAYLOR - FEBRUARY 15th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
Bram Taylor - Sally Wheatley, American in Lancashire, Ballad of Penny Evans,
Joke about Charles and Diana, I Just Can’t Wait, French Story, Mary from Dungloe, Fairytale Lullaby, Little Jimmy
GENTLEMAN SOLDIER - FEBRUARY 29th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo)
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Gentleman Soldier - Blarney Roses, Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore, Twa Corbies, Bonny Light Horseman, We’re Homeward Bound, Who’ll be a Soldier.
Gentleman Soldier- Hot Asphalt, Bedlam Boys, William Tell Overture,
Green Fields of France, I Will Go, Finnegan’s Wake
WITSEND - MAY 9th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Witsend - Elizabethan, New York Girls, I Have To Say I Love You In A Song, Friends of Mine, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Back Again, One Misty Moisty Morning, Love Song, All I Have To Do is Dream, Ella Rosa (Just Stay As Sweet As You Are), Losers Can Be Winners,
Witsend - Carolina In My Mind, Da Doo Ron Ron.
AWAITING PHOTOGRAPH
STANLEY ACCRINGTON - MAY 16th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Stanley Accrington - Accrington Stanley, Cecil Parkinson, Queen of the South, Hiawatha, Lesley, Monarchs of England, O’Hara’s Truss, Sally Wheatley, Anagrams,
Stanley Accrington - Hawaiian Song, Admiral Benbow type song, Morris Dancing song (Princess Royal), Wild Mountain Thyme (sung by Martin and Tony Hill)
PAUL DOWNES - MAY 30th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Paul Downes - Brother Can You Spare a Dime, Puss in Boots, Tune- Tabhair dom do Lamh (Give me your hand), Jumbo the Elephant, I’d Rather Die on the Ocean, Tune- Tarrega:Prelude No 1 D min, There but for fortune.
Paul Downes - Tune- Gaspar Sands, Andalusian Gypsies, She Sits Alone, Bingo, Tune-Millage, Before You Die.
GENTLEMAN SOLDIER - FEBRUARY 29th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Michael Billington)
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Gentleman Soldier - Blarney Roses, Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore, Twa Corbies, Bonny Light Horseman, We’re Homeward Bound, Who’ll be a Soldier.
Gentleman Soldier- Hot Asphalt, Bedlam Boys, William Tell Overture,
Green Fields of France, I Will Go, Finnegan’s Wake
STANLEY ACCRINGTON AND HOLLERIN' POT AT THE WHITE HART, TODMORDEN - 'FOLK ON WHEELS' 1984.
(Recorded by Alastair Miller - - Photo of Hollerin' Pot by Roger Liptrot)
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Pint 'n' Half - The Knocker Upper Man. Steve Woolley - Late Last Night
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Hollerin' Pot - The Oxford and Hampton Railway, Blackleg Miner
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Stanley Accrington - Poppa Took His Carbine, As I Walked Out, Black Magic in Todmorden, A Song For Norway, Stan's History of England,
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Tony Hill - Accident at Bradford Pit. Mike Bowden - Waiting For Tomorrow Today.
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Stanley Accrington - I don't think I'll ever write another love song, Bridget O'Malley, Cecil Parkinson, Traditional Folk Song, White Cockade(ish) with Hollerin' Pot.
THE LAST NIGHT OF THE LEGENDARY STAR INN FOLK CLUB
(Recorded by Bob Ashworth)
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Maxine Marshall (pub landlady) says a few words.
Bob Ashworth (R.I.P.) - It's Such a Perfect Night.
Martin Gittins - Awards and other notices.
Stanley Accrington - (Medley) Now The Star is Gorn, Star Inn, Star Inn Nights,
Martin Said to His Stan, The Parting Song, The Folk Club Way.
Martin Gittins - Quiz Answers and other notices.
John Cartain - the Larks They Sang Melodious.
Ensemble - The Wild Mountain Thyme
N.B. This recording is entirely unedited. There is a large amount of
incidental chatter and 'Parish Notices' in between songs but it is included
here for its historic interest. You may even hear yourself in the background!
FOLK AT THE HILL , was a folk club which, like many others, was located at various venues and went through several incarnations over a period of many years.
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Residents included Tony Hill (R.I.P.) Steve Woolley, Lorna Egan, Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) Ian Sproson and Pete Worthington.
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Venues included The Cheetham Cricket Club and The Cleveland Hotel, Crumpsall Lane.
FOLK AT THE HILL
SINGERS' NIGHT - 17th AUGUST 1990 (Recorded by Kevin Harvey)
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Tony Hill (R.I.P. Go, Move, Shift!, The Sound Of Silence, Victor Jara.
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) Wife For Sale, Okie From Muskogie, Flash Jack From Gundagai
Lorna Egan Love Song To A Stranger, Famous Blue Raincoat
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.)When Mexican Joe Met Joel Blun, Sweet Dreams
Tony Hill (R.I.P.) [with Kevin Harvey R.I.P.] The Holmfirth Anthem
All Used Up, Song Of The Irwell,
Jim ? Walk Tall, Owdham’s Burning Sands
Pete Worthington Peggy Gordon, I willGo (McLeod’s Lament) Come Lay You Down Love
Steve Woolley Folsom Prison Blues, House Of The Rising Sun, Freedom Fighters
SINGERS' NIGHT - 8th March 1991 (Recorded by Kevin Harvey)
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Kevin & Chris - Venice Street (Part) Move With Me
Kevin (A.N.) - Spencer The Rover
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - A Pint Of John Willie Lees, My Home's Across The Blue Ridge Mountains, Bedlam Boys
Kevin & Chris - Guantanamera, Slip Sliding Away, Catch Me If You Can, Seagull, I Don't Want Your Wings
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Pete Worthington - Der Erlkonig, John Willie's Grandad
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - Nurenburg County, Come All Ye Fair And Tender Ladies, Why Spend Your Leisure /Another Round, Blue Moon Of Kentucky,
Kevin & Chris - Bourgeois Town, Where Did Tomorrow Go
Kevin (A.N.) Flute Tunes, The Beauty In My True Love's Eyes.
Everyone - Happy Birthday to Pete!
LYNN & BARRY HARDMAN - 3rd May 1991 (Recorded by Kevin Harvey)
Carol Baton - Banks, but no banks
Claire Mooney - Another Working Day, Tell It Like It is
Ian Sproson - Courtaulds Song, The Missing Tube
Lynn and Barry Hardman (R.I.P.) Don't Think Twice, It's Alright, This Land Is Your Land, The Water Is Wide, Belle Vue, The Mountains Of Mourne, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
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Steve Woolley - In The Wee Midnight Hour, Going To Chicago
Tony Hill - The Lefties' A.B.C. Bogey's Bonny Belle
Lynn & Barry Hardman (R.I.P.) Blowin' In The Wind, Power In A Union, If I Were Free, There were Roses, What You Do With What You've Got, I Don't Want Your Millions, Mister, Penny Evans
HANK & THE WOLF 9th August 1991 (Recorded by Kevin Harvey)
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - Eight More Miles To Louisville, McFee's Confession.
Carol Baton - Poetry Reading
Ian (from Droylesden) - Napolean Bonaparte, Daily Growing
Christine Vernon - For Free, One Day In A Nucelar Age
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Hank & the Wolf - King Midas,The Day That You Were Born, Dark Eyes, Moondance, First We Take Manhattan, Anchorage, One More Cup Of Coffee, Man In The Moon, Rank Stranger
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Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - Five Miles From Gundagai
Bob Ashworth (R.I.P.) and Pete Shafer (R.I.P.) My Dixie Darling, My Grandfather's Clock, Blackberry Wine​
Lorna Egan - Love Song To A Stranger, Famous Blue Raincoat
Ian (from Droylesden) - Human Sound,
Bound For Canaan
Steve Woolley & Lynn & Barry Hardman (R.I.P) - In The Wee Midnight Hour, Down On The Farm
Hank & The Wolf - In The Beginning, The Mighty Quinn, Silvio
The House Of The Rising Sun, 100 Miles, Don't Get Married, Girls, Minnie The Moocher, Feel Like Makin' Love To You, Knockin' On Heaven's Door
MARTIN GITTINS - CLEVELAND HOTEL, 11th OCTOBER 1991
(Recorded by Kevin Harvey)
Pete Worthington - Riding on Top of The Car, Young Banker.
Carol Baton - Poetry Reading.
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - Way Down Town, Wild Flying Dove, The Cruel Ship's Captain (abridged) Bluey Brink.
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Martin Gittins - Bide Awhile (abridged), Bide Awhile, The Lark Across the Vapour Trail, Jimmy Spoons, Prodigal Son, Bouncing Billy Barker, Category D, The Legging Song*
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Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.)- Little Chance, The Ragman's Ball.
Tony Hill (R.I.P.)- The Song of The Irwell, A Wonderful World.
Pete Ryder - Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now, Nat Shapiro's Time.
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Martin Gittins - Hanky Park, Farewell to the Gold, Ninian South, The Baron and The Busker, First Flame, The Ghost of The Sad Cavalier, (The Knocker-Upper Man.)
*The Legging Song is the first track on Part 3
PETE COWAP 12th June 1992 (Recorded by Kevin Harvey)
Pete Worthington - Jolly Bold Robber, Young Banker
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - The Miller's Will, The Jolly Waggoner, Another Round
Nicola - Locomotion
Pete Cowap (R.I.P.) - I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow, Barbara Allen,
The Johnstone Boys
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Pete Cowap (R.I.P.) Mind Your Own Business, Dog Rough Dan, The Country & Western Song, Because Of You.
Kevin Harvey (R.I.P.) - Summertime Blues
Martin (?) - Streets Of London
Martin (?) with Pete Cowap (R.I.P.) The Wind Beneath My Wings
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the duke of york, eccles
Barry Oates - My Lover Loves Another Lover Now, Mild and Bitter Days, Mayfair Queen.
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(Just three tracks taken from a very poor quality recording, the rest of which was unusable.)
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(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot
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The Unicorn Pub on Church Street in Manchester City Centre, is still open for business but, sadly, the folk club is long gone.
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It was run by Manchester folk legend Harry Boardman, with assistance from a changing group of resident singers. These recordings feature just a few of the vast range of performers who played there.
the unicorn folk club, manchester
SARA GRAY - May 21st 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Tunes
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Sara Gray - Handsome Molly, Matty Groves, Aragon Mill/New Wood, Washington March, Jake Gilly/Little Rabbit/Soldiers Joy/Waiting for Nancy, Few Days, Unfortunake Rake
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Harry Boardman (R.I.P.)Greenland Whalers’Song, The Garland
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Sara Gray Miss Julia, Nellie Coming Home From The Wake, Nellie Small, Chapeau Boys, I’m Going To Leave The Country, Cole Creek Rebellion/March, The No 8 Mining Disaster, Whaur Will We Gang
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SINGERS' NIGHT January 28th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Harry Boardman - Jolly Good Ale and Old, Kitty and Robin, The Dreadnaught
Joe Kerrins - Dearest Willie, Lullaby
Steve Mayne - Seventeen Come Sunday, Bold Princess Royal, I sowed the Seeds Of Love
Harry & Lesley Boardman - Cock Fight, Handloom v Powerloom, Jack of All Trades
Tony Hill - Old Man’s Song, Avalanche, Alabama
Bob ? - Duncan Grey, Holy Willie’s Prayer, The Devil and the Exiseman
Harry Boardman - Tune
Steve Woolley - Kris Kristofferson Song, Blues Come Falling Down
Harry Boardman - Jeannie C, Liverpool Judies
Joe Kerrins - Mountain Stream, Parting Glass
SINGERS' NIGHT - February 4th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Tunes - Liliburlero, Lovely Nancy/Trip to Castle Howard, Old Wife Of Coverdale, My Love My Love, Lass of Dalogill
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Kitty and Robin, Cowd Stringy Pie, Grand Conversation On Napoleon
Bob Morton - Lass Of Hexamshire, Part The Road With Me, Isle of St Helena
Tony Hill (R.I.P.) - See It Come Down, Song Of The Irwell
Nick Dennerly - Whistle Tunes
Steve Mayne (R.I.P.) - Bound For Greenland, On A Monday Morning
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - You Seamen Bold, Johnny Todd, Santianna
SINGERS' NIGHT - February 11th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Rigs of London Town, Tom Brown, Whalerman’s Lament
Joe Kerrins (R.I.P.) - As I Roved Out, Family Ointment, ?
Bob Morton - Tarry Wool, Highland Harry, Ower the Water To Charlie
Steve Mayne (R.I.P.) - I Am A Brisk Lad, Seventeen Come Sunday, Butcher’s Wife And The Cobbler
Brian Peters - A Drop Of Good Beer, Bonny George Campbell
John ? -Tunes – Blarney Pilgrim/Lincolnshire Poacher/Wind Shakes The Bell
Tony Hill (R.I.P.) - Bogey’s Bonny Belle, Gresford Disaster
Bob ? - Bonny Lass In June, Jack Hart’s Song
Phil Harding - Grandfather’s Tune, Uncle Bernard’s Polka, Winster Processional, Blue Eyed Stranger
Brian Peters - Sent To Australia, Banks Of Red Roses
Joe Kerrins (R.I.P.) - An Old Man Came Courting Me
Bob Morton - Rap Her To Bank, Jowl And Listen
SINGERS' NIGHT - February 18th 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Tunes - Belfast Hornpipe, English Country Gardens, Whistling Rufus, Lass of Dalogill/My Love My Love/Old Wife Of Coverdale
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Coast Of Peru, Collier Lads Come Kissing Me
Steve Mayne (R.I.P.) - Blue Boy Lad From Yarrow, All Things are Quite Silent, Rumple Tum Too Ra Loo
Joe Kerrins (R.I.P.) - Lake Of Coolfin, The Gauger, West Of Ireland
Nick Dennerley - Whistle Tunes
Tony Hill (R.I.P.)- Ninian South, Bendigo
Norman Jones - Stain On The Taproom Floor
Steve WoolLey - Freight Train, Lindberg Kidnapping
Harry & Lesley Boardman - Telegraph Girls Of Cannon Street, Weavers’ Song, Merry Little Doffer
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Weaver Of Wellbrook
Joe Kerrins (R.I.P.)- The Old German Piano Mender, Stick To The Crature
MICK HEYWOOD AND MALCOLM RAMSKILL - February 25th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Tunes
Joe Kerrins (R.I.P.) - Rambling Irishman, Langay Stream, Miss Mouse’s Wedding
Steve Mayne - (R.I.P.) - The Unquiet Grave, Short Jacket and White Trousers, Lover’s Ghost, Polly On the Shore, Come All You Wild Young Men
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Kitty and Robin, Bard’s Reformation
Mary Humphries - You’re Welcome To Me, My Husband’s Got No Courage In Him
Frank ? - Dew On The Foreign Tree
Brian And Margaret Peters - Hopping Down In Kent, We Gets Up In The Morning, Farewell To Tarwathie, Bonny Hawthorne
Ken ? - Geordie
Mick Heywood and Malcolm Ramskill - Broken Hearted, Tunes (Bobby In June/Buffoon), The Bonny Boy Is Young But He’s Growing, Hole In The Wall/Black Boy Polka, Mary Oh Mary Please Come Home To Me, Students’ Lament, Stuttering Song.
THE UNICORN VILLAGE BAND - March 3rd 1984 (Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Tunes
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Jeannie C, Greenland Whale Fishermen, Whalerman’s Lament
Bob Morton - Tarry Wool, Derwentwater’s Farewell, Little Chance
Tony Hill (R.I.P.) - Coulter’s Candy, Bells of Rhymney, Servant of the Company
Mary Humphries - True To My Love, As I walked Out In The Pride Of The Season, Little Drummer Girl, Died For Love
Village Band - Tunes, Till the Tide Comes In, French Waltz, Newcastle, Tunes
Paul Connor (R.I.P.) - Skewball, ?
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.)- Top Man And The Afterguard, Nine Times A Night
Village Band - Nellie O Bob’s At Crowtrees
PETE COE - March 10th 1984
(Recorded by Mark Dowding - Photo by Roger Liptrot)
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Phil Hare and Kim Farrell – Across The Hills, All I Need Is You, They’re Coming To Take Our Town Away
Keith Hancock – Untitled first song, Arndale Centre, Poor Old William Jones
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) – Greenland Whaling Song, Game of Pool,
Pete Coe – Manchester Angel,
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Pete Coe – Sick Parade, Tunes on Melodeon (Slow Air – The Slow Air of Swindon, Mazurka – Mazurka du Slirvon , Slide – The Barrel Organ), Land of Hope and Glory,
Unknown performers – Unknown tunes, Lady Hanson’s Puck, Unknown tune
GORTON TANK - May 12th 1984 ( Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Coalowner and the Pitman’s Wife, Teaching The Creel
Gorton Tank - Polkas, Granny’s Old Armchair, Billy Barker, Lish Young Buy A Broom, Tunes, The Collier Brig, Tunes
Bob Morton - Nellie O Bob’s At Crowtrees, Sister Suzie, Tunes, Jeeves Reel
Brian Peters - Ballad Of Springhill
Gorton Tank - Tunes, Captain Webb, Gorton Town, Handloom Weaver’s Lament, ?, My Way, Tune-Liliburlero
SINGERS' NIGHT - May 19th 1984 ( Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Harry Boardman (R.I.P.)- Colcannon, Kitty and Robin, Jolly Good Ale and Old
Mark Dowding - The Old Miner, Salmon, Sticks and Stones
Mary Humphreys - No Sir No, The Willow Tree, Johnny Sands and Betsy Haig
Joe Kerins (R.I.P.) - The Verdant Banks of Screen, The Gander, Lowlands of Holland
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.)- The Flying Cloud
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - The Flying Cloud (cont)
Mark Dowding - Ale
Mary Humphreys - Matt Highland
Joe Kerins (R.I.P.) - The Gauger
Tony Hill and Ken - Ten Per Cent, Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy, You Won’t Get Me Down In Your Mine
Unknown Artiste- Oh The Day Rue The Day, My Love
Bill - As I Roved Out, Navvy Boots, Bold Fisherman
Mark Dowding - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.
SINGERS' NIGHT - June 9th 1984 ( Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Mary Humphreys - Golden Vanity, Blow the Candles Out, Bunclody
Harry Boardman R.I.P.) - Corpus Christie Carol, Whalerman’s Lament
Joe Kerins (R.I.P.) - Maids of Colmoore, She Moved Through The Fair, The Tinker and the Farmer’s Daughter
Mary Humphreys - The Generous Lover, Gentleman Soldier, Female Drummer
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Whoam Brewed.
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Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - The Bard’s Reformation, The Sheffield Apprentice
Joe Kerins (R.I.P.) - Heather Down The Moor, Bonny Anne of Five, The Paddy Dam, Maids When You’re Young
SINGERS' NIGHT - June 16th 1984 ( Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Mary Humphreys - The Bird In The Bush, The Gresford Disaster, Maid In The Garrett
Tony Hill (R.I.P.) - Old Man’s Song, Old Pendle, A Servant of the Company
Mark ? - Tunes
John Dowding - Washday Remembered, What’s Folk, Owd Hercules
Paul Connor (R.I.P.) and Helen Rhodes - Tune, White Knuckle Ride, Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Ken ? - The Blacksmith, The Rose of Eve(?)
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Unknown Irish Singer - Old Woman of Wexford, Brigg Fair
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Game of Pool, Liverpool Judies, Plodder Seam
Mark Dowding - Maginot Waltz, Streets of London, Schooldays End Medley.
JANET & LOL LYNCH – June 2nd 1984 ( Recorded by Mark Dowding)
Mary Humphries - Long Pegging All, As I Walked Forth, My Husband’s Got No Courage in Him
Joe Kerrins (R.I.P.) - Rambling Boys Of Pleasure, The Gauger
Phil Harding - Grandfather’s/Uncle Bernard’s Polka
Janet & Lol Lynch - The Knight In The Wood, Canadeeio, Here’s To You Tom Brown, The Collier Lass, Jack Who Pawned His Fiddle, Cob a Coaling, The Maid And The Box, Lady Dressed In Green
Steve Mayne (R.I.P.) - Rosebud In June
Janet & Lol Lynch - My Love Has Gone Away, (Belong To The Working Class), John Appleby, Aye For Saturday Night, John O’ Grinfilt, Tunes, Rolling In The Dew, Clogger
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UNICORN VILLAGE BAND - December 22nd 1984 ( Recorded by Mark Dowding)
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Village Band - Tunes, Drink the Winter Dry
Bradley - Pipe Tunes, Glencoe
John Dowding - Jemmy’s Garden, Nativity, To Daffodils
Mark Dowding - Maginot Walts, Dirty Old Town, Little Pot Stove
Village Band - Tunes
Mick Heywood - Unknown Title, Broken Hearted.
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Mick Heywood - Bonny Boy is Young
Harry Boardman (R.I.P.) - Blood on the Saddle, Rigs of London Town, I’ll Have a Collier For My Sweetheart, Liverpool Judies
Mary Humphreys - Johnny Sands, Queen of Galilee(?), Lord Ronald (Tune)
Village Band - Tunes, All The Good Times
flixton folk club at the bird i'th hand
A CD was produced in 1992 featuring the regular singers and residents of the folk club. These files were kindly provided by Chris Waring. The image is a very grainy copy of the cover of the CD.
If you can help by identifying any of the singers whose surnames are missing please do so via the 'CONTACT' button on the home page.
Likewise, if you have any further information about the history of this club or any documents or photos to share please get in touch.
