Re-living the halcyon days of folk music in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Terry & Tony re-visit the Artistes and Folk Clubs and Concerts from Epping (Blacksmiths Arms), Loughton (Corbett Theatre), Leyton (William IV), Ongar (Kings Head), Islington (Pied Bull), Walthamstow (Crooked Billet) & where it started..Leyton High School..
Tony Kingsbury:
How did it start?..Around 1967…Oddly enough on our school football pitch. One of my school chums had acquired a copy of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sound of Silence” I was impressed!
Soon after, a school folk club was started by some Buffy St Marie fans. It met on Thursday lunchtimes in the chemistry lab. A folk evening had been arranged where an amazing singer named Hratch performed gems such as “Like a Rolling Stone” and Al Stewart’s “Swiss Cottage Manoeuvrers” We subsequently discovered that he was resident at Bunjies Coffee House where he’d taken over from the increasingly popular Al Stewart.
After several Bunjies jaunts we visited the Marquee Club where we were knocked out by Fairport Convention (featuring Judy Dyble & Iain Matthews) with Al Stewart. We then went on to promote a concert, at school, featuring Al. who has remained a good friend ever since.
Another major influence was Ian A Anderson whose experience and advice was always available. It was he who largely responsible for broadening my musical interests. The rest, as they say. ……………🎶