If you are British you will know that most U.K Folk clubs are very much the same and most seem to be run in the same format. But for the benefit of others visiting the UK, and in particular the Chester, Wirral or Merseyside areas, I can highlight a few of the best clubs that are worth a visit and what to expect. In the main, British Folk clubs tend to take the music very seriously. You will find that most tend not to use a P.A. system and therefore you are expected not to talk while singing is in progress. If you keep this in mind you won't go far wrong! When an artist is working acoustically, this is what I term as real folk music, and if you have an artist's album produced in a studio environment, expect a marked difference in their performance.

Frodsham Folk Club. Queens Head Inn, Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire.

This club is high on my list of favourite venues, as I tend to visit it most weeks. It is held every Friday evening, at 8.30 pm and the venue is a real stable behind the Queens Head Pub in Main Street, Frodsham. It has to be said that this club can be a bit of a culture shock to some on their first visit. The Queens Head Pub was an old coaching house back in the 18th-19th century and the stable is where the horses were kept. It has been cleaned out a little, but still has the original cobble stone floor, stalls and shippons/mangers the horses used. The stalls it have been furnished with old church pews to sit on. Most of the stalls are in front of the 'stage' but some are to the side almost behind the singer. Either way you will not be very far away from the performer and will be guaranteed to hear what is going on. It is important, especially on guest nights, to arrive early in order to get a seat. Originally the club was founded by Ian Woods in about 1968/9, but for the past twenty years it has been ably run by Alton & Carol Alexander. The only real change they made over the years is the addition of some extra heating, but in the winter months it is still wise to wrap up warmly.

Around the walls of the club you will find some hession and Union Jacks hanging in amongst the various posters advertising folk festivals and performers, some dating back to the seventies. These serve two purposes, one is to add atmosphere and improve the acoustics, but secondly and mainly to cover the crumbling old brickwork and plaster. (It is important not to wear 'posh clothes' or brush against the walls in this place!)

When arriving at the Queens Head, it is best to avail yourself to one of the many different cask ales they keep in their cellar. Each week they have a different guest beer brewed in another part of the country, and it is usually well worth trying. This is a real drinker's pub, and unfortunately the bar can be quite smoky at times, but don't let this put you off! Carry your drink out through the back door of the pub. You will find the stable across the yard in front of you. It is an old sandstone building has a large black door with the Frodsham Folk club sign on it. If you are not sure ask the bar staff for directions, they are very friendly and will be sure to help you.

Essentially, Frodsham Folk club is a singers club and you will find this makes up ninety percent of the audience, but you are not obliged to sing if you do not want to. Don't be put off by a singer's night, as the standard is very high in this part of the country. Many of the regulars like Alton & Carol Alexander along with Tom Brown & Ian Goodier to name but a few, they can do more than hold their own with most professional singers. There is an admission charge of £1.00, this however is not collected, you just merely drop a £1.00 in the bucket on the table at the entrance. There is a guest night, usually about once a month, on these nights the admission charge is usually about £3.00. When you hear a famous artist working acoustically in a club like this it is a joy. Regular guests who, I am told, always ask if they can be booked again include Jez Lowe, Robin Laing, Allan Taylor, Pete Coe, Martyn Wyndham-Read, Sean Cannon, Bob Fox, Sara Grey, Tom McConville, Les Barker, Grant Baynham, Bernard Wrigley, to name but a few. Because the stage is only small, most of the guests tend to be solo artists or duos. In the past artist like Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Maddy Prior, and Isla St Clair, have all enjoyed singing here. Most of the repertoire you are likely to hear leans towards traditional songs, but there is no hard and fast rule, so be prepared for almost anything. No food is available here except the usual potato crisps and nuts etc.

Folk at the Prospect. The Prospect Pub, Weston Village, Nr Runcorn, Cheshire.

Not very far away from Frodsham, on the road to Runcorn, is the small village of Weston. It is about 3 miles from Runcorn (Runcorn is widely rumoured as being famous for having the railway station where Paul Simon sat, after a gig, waiting for his train to return to London, and wrote the song 'Homeward Bound'). In Weston village you will find the Prospect Pub. Every Monday evening at 8.30 pm they hold the Folk at the Prospect club. Entrance is free and it is held in the lounge bar. This is a long rectangular room partially separated from the bar by some glass walls. It is beyond this partition that the singing takes place, although if you arrive late it is still possible to see and hear what is going on from the bar area. But I recommend you arrive early to get a good seat. The club is run and hosted by Roger Hanslip. Chris Hanslip shares the resident singer's lot with Dave & Cheryl. It takes the same format as the Frodsham club being mainly a singers club with guest artist once or twice a month. Bryn Williams a local entrepreneur, who has a passion for Bluegrass music, often brings over and arranges a tour for American luminaries on the Bluegrass scene. He often arranges for them to do a guest spot here. So you can sometimes experience an evening of music ranging from English traditional -contemporary- Irish traditional - to Bluegrass. There is always an interesting guest list. More details can be obtained by telephoning Roger or Chris on 01928 731567 or e-mail roger@folkattheprospect.co.uk or visit the website.

Bromborough Folk Club The Bridge Inn, Port Sunlight Village, Wirral, Merseyside.

Finally another folk club worth a visit is Bromborough Folk club held every Wednesday evening at 8.30pm at the Bridge Inn, Bolton Road, Port Sunlight Village, Wirral, Merseyside. This is mainly a singers club but they do have guest artists occasionally. The club is run by John Coleman and Maurice Pursell who can be contacted by Tel 0151 327 7652 or e-mail mauricepursell@tiscali.co.uk I have mentioned this club because apart from being just a singers club they attract quite a large and good audience. Any visitor is sure of a real Merseyside welcome. I frequent the club as often as time permits usually about once a month and can honestly say every visit has been brilliant. The constant source of amateur talent in this part of the world is amazing. Entrance is free, but they do run a raffle, the prize being a bottle of wine or a CD. Tickets are 50p and the profit goes to booking a guest every couple of months, so do please buy a ticket if you can. As with all the clubs I have mentioned, any visiting guest singers are always warmly welcomed.

The Broadside

This is a bi-monthly Folk Newsletter of What's on, Who is on, and When. It is available free by e-mail. It gives details of these and 20 of the other clubs in the Chester/Wirral/Cheshire area. It is not 'spammed' and is only sent to people who request it. To be put on the mailing list send your request by e-mail to musica@plmassey.free-online.co.uk

[Peter Massey]