FOLK AND JAZZ

[hmld]

^-^

THIS TOPIC MIGHT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD HITHERTO MANY MOONS AGO?
FOLK AND JAZZ CLUBS PROLIFERATED DURING THE 1960s AND PETERED OUT THE 1970s TO ANAEMIA OF FORMER PROWESS.
THEY MOSTLY CONVENED AT PUBS.
IMPROVISATION.
SOME WERE ANARCHO-SYNDICALIST.  SOME STAGED TO RAISE DOUGH FOR KEY SOCIAL ACTION.
VENUES FOR PARTNERSHIPS, POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, CREATIVE PROJECTS: UNLIKE HEAVY METAL ROCK GRUNGE CONCUSSIVE AND FRENETIC DISCO PHOTO RICOCHETTE THE GLANDULAR FLUFF UP SNAPPER TOE TAP OF THE MENTATATION FOLK AND JAZZ SCENE, OFTEN FEATURING POETS, PARARPETITIC INSTRUMENTALISTS, PHILOSOPHERS, ARTISTS, INTELLECTUALS, THE DISGRUNTLED, WAS IN SOEM WISE AN INVALUABLE SELF IMMUNIZATION TO THE BLAGGARTING PRAGMATIC UNSCUPULOUS SPECULATORS RAMPAGING DESSOLATION OF HARD OBTAINED SOCIAL WEALTH AS HERITAGE.
MUSIC HALLS SPRING READILY TO MIND.
THE CLUBS THEN HAVE-A-GO PRIOR TO KARAOKE OK.

 

[Jerry]

Nice to hear from you again old friend.
because you're an infrequent visitor these days we're never sure of your current status vis a vis life sustainability.
As for the jazz clubs, I've mentioned on a previous posting that in the 60s we had many happy saturday evenings in the old crown in digbeth listening to the Eagle Jazz Band, a "kenny Ball" style outfit that is still going strong to this day

 

[Di.Poppitt]

Jazz was splendildy to the fore in Brum before the 60's HMLD.

We used to go to a Jazz club in a room over the Barton's Arms in the 50's. It's too long ago for me to remember the names of the bands.

 

[hmld]

THE LIFE SUSTAINABILITY IS AS EVER MOOT.
A SOUL STIRRING CONSCIOUSNESS SEARING OBSERVATION.

BIRMINGHAM ORIGINATION OF PREMIER JAZZ BANDS WAS NOT OF NOTE.
THE BEATNICS OF 'WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL' BESIDE. AKCER BIYLKE DITTO.
THE AMATEUR BLOW, TAP, IVORY TINKLE IS ALL AUGUST.
THE BULK OF JAZZ WAS TRAD. ALTHOUGH 'MODERN' JAZZ HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WHIZZ BANG TICKETY-BOO IN BIRMINGHAM, THOUGH I SUSPECT NO MORE NOR LESS THAN OTHER CITIES.

SURELY NOT ALL THOSE WHOSE ROBUST DRIVE IN THE 1960s ARE IN THEIR VERGING DOTAGE OR INDEED EXPIRED?

THE FOLK SCENE COMINGLED AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF INTERPENETRATION.
THE PUB VENUE MEANT AFFORDABILITY EASE OF ACCESS.
I VENTURE TO SUGGEST THAT MANY INSTRUMENTALISTS MADE A DECENT LIVING FROM DOING JUST THAT.

HOWEVER, I GET THE DISTINCT IMPRESSION THE SCENE HAS PETERED OUT.

(GLAD THE BARTLE ARMS WAS A STOUT SPIRITED VENUE. THE FACILITY IS BIG ENOUGH.)

I KNOW THE OLD CROWN DERITEND WAS POPULAR FOR BOTH FOLK AND JAZZ. THERE WERE A COUPLE OTHERS IN DIGBETH, NEARBY THE OLD MARKET. OTHER ALTARPIECES OF VICTORIANA RAZED.

 

[hmld]

PS

IN MY HASTE I FORGOT TO SUGGEST THAT FOLK AND JAZZ ITEMS, INCLUDING POETRY READINGS AND OF COURSE DEBATES, WERE TANTAMOUNT TO EXCLUSIVELY AN INNER CITY PHENOMENON.
SUCH THAT CONTINUE LIKELY - WITH ISOLATED EXCEPTIONS - REMAIN SUCH.

THIS IS AN INDEX GERMANE AS TO A GENERAL BREAKDOWN IN THE QUALITY OF HOMELIFE.
CHOIRS WERE NEVER BIG. NOR BRASS BANDS - EITHER STILL OR PARADING.
ALL IN BIRMINGHAM AND THE BLACK COUNTRY.
A CURIOUS PHENOMENON.

I RECALL ONE BUOYANT FOLK CLUB AT A PUB THE OTHJER HEAD OF BROMSGROVE STREET BY THE ABATTOIR THE UPSTAIRS ROOM ON THE WALL OF WHICH WAS A LARGE FRAMED CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZING AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR THE ANCIENT AND VENERABLE ORDER OF DRUIDS, BARDS, OVATES, INITIATES. MARVELLOUS PIECE EARLY LITHOGRAPHY. ABOUT 3.5' x 2.5'. THERE SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

OF COURSE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY SELF GENERATED RETAIL WAS A TONIC AS WAS THE GENEROUS SOCIAL INTERCOURSE.

OTHER THAN THE MOTHERS' FACILITY ERDINGTON THERE WAS A WASTELAND OF SUPS.
TABLE BALL GAMES, EVEN DARTS, WERE EXTINCT BY THE 1960s - FOR THE MOST PART.
BIG SHIFTS IN MASS PSYCHOLOGY ARE MIGHTY TELLING.

ANYWAY, DI, I'M DELIGHTED YOU MADE SO MANY ROUNDS. IF MORE GIRLS WERE MORE SOPHISTICATEDLY OUTGOING THEY WOULD SURELY HAVE BUCKLED DOWN TO MAKING THEIR OWN CLOBBER INSTEAD OF CLAMPING INTO DENIM DUNGAREE JOBS, RUMBERING OUT THE DOOR AND LUGGING THEMSELVES ABOUT. IT IS SMALL WONDER SO MANY MALES OF THE SPECIES DIDN'T JUST STAY IN OVERALLS.

FOLK AND JAZZ CLUBS ARE IN A CERTAIN SENSE A SUBSTRATE.

THERE WAS NOTHING STOPPING FOLK AND JAZZ IN A MULTITUDE OF INTERESTING SETTINGS THEN: SUCH AS DERELICT BUILDINGS, DESOLATION SPREADS AND NOVEL LOCATIONS SUCH AS PARKS.
BANDSTANDS WENT BUST IN THE 60s YET REMAINED STRUCTURALLY INTACT AND SOM MAYHAP REMAIN AS ALMOST SURREAL (curiosities).

 

[BarryW]

Hi just out of interest can you remeber the name of the pub as I am doing a bit of research on the Druid orders and friendly/fraternal societies in general?

Regards

barry

 

[Big Gee]

Hi all.

This gives me an opportunity to plug a couple of music clubs I attend (and sometimes play at but don't let that put you off):

CHEQUEMATES FOLK & ROOTS CLUB - every Thursday at Hopwas Social Club, Hopwas, near Tamworth.

SUTTON BLUES COLLECTIVE - jam-night first Wednesday of the month at The Station Pub, Sutton Coldfield. Top-notch blues performers at regular intervals, too.

and Trad Jazz at Sutton Cricket Club, I think on Fridays but not 100% certain.

The Prince of Wales, Cambridge Street, has regular Sunday afternoon free sessions, but these vary from folk to blues to rock.

There are still numerous folk, blues and jazz clubs dotted around the Midlands, but for some reason don't seem particularly good at advertising themselves.

Regards,

Big Gee