Where to find us: 5432 Dalhart Road NWCalgary, AB Canada
(From Penguin Eggs Magazine Winter 2001) The Calgary Folk Club currently hosts its 30th successful season. A misty eyed Les Siemieniuk supplies the history lesson, class.
Johnny Worrall, The Wild Colonial Boys' lead singer, steps up to the microphone and sings that song - just as he has done ever second Friday at 8 p.m., from September to April, for the past 30 years. AS he launches in to the chorus - "And it's no, nay, never" - once again, on cue, as they have done for the last 30 years, the full house responds with The Wild Rover's mandatory clap, clap, clap.
Another night at the Calgary Folk Club is officially underway. After a 45-minute set by the Boys, and a break for beer and sausage rolls, Garnet Rogers takes the stage. He is not exactly sure, but he has played this club at least a dozen times over the years, both as a solo act and with his late brother Stan. The 30th season largely consists of audience favourites from the past.
It's hard to imagine this local music community was ever without the Calgary Folk Club. But in 1972, a wave of immigration brought Welshman, Mansel Davies, and his wife, Anne, from Birmingham, England to teach in Calgary. Mansel, a guitarist and bass player, had toured with the likes of The Corries and The Ian Campbell Group around Europe. Davies was soon teaching guitar for Calgary Adult Education. He also hooked up with local lawyer and bass player John Martland and Sheffield native Johnny Worrall. Together they formed The Wild Colonial Boys.
But where to play? In 1972, Calgary really was a cowtown, not the big, sophisticated Cow City it has become. Besides the ski hills, the music venues were few and far between. In Birmingham, Davies, with Ian Campbell, was heavily involved in The Jug O' Punch, a famous folk club there. "It was a great part of our social and Mansel's professional life," says Anne. "He played there all the time." One of the good things about being immigrants in the Promised Land, anything was possible. So they started their own club modeled on the Jug O' Punch. The Wild Colonial Boys became the house band and now had a regular place to play. Drawing from a built in audience of guitar students and teachers, the doors opened in September of 1972.
"The boys thought of it as a one-off. We didn't think it would last," says Mansel.
The initial hall was a log cabin owned by the Calgary Sports Car Club, featuring a septic field into which five gallon buckets from the washrooms had to be emptied throughout the night because there was no running water. "Usually, the men just went outside in the snow and some couldn't be trusted to carry the buckets all the way to the proper spot for dumping," says Anne.
Beer service and non-North American bathroom standards not-withstanding, the place was packed and necessitated a move to a larger hall very shortly. Three moves later, the club's current home, the Dalhousie Community Center, continues to sell out its 400 seats on a regular basis. Initially, Calgary musicians were booked. Mansel and Anne then looked to Edmonton and surrounding areas for their performers. As the club grew and prospered, Anne says, they realized they could actually book anyone they wanted from anywhere. So they did.
Garnet Rogers played the folk club first with Stan in the late '70s. At the time, he remembers, "They paid you well. They gave you $500, which was a lot at the time and helped you set up other gigs in and around Calgary so you could afford to come out (West.) And they treated you well. You got a sound check, a decent place to stay, that was rare then." Garnet reckons musicians playing the independent music scene owe a lot to the Calgary Folk Club.
Besides being an exceptional place to play, it is also a good place to listen to music. There is no bar service during performances so the focus remains on the music. And it has grown into a social event. People have sat at the same tables with the same people for years. Some bring their own food and they decorate their tables at Christmas. And as with most folk clubs, it would cease to exist without the volunteers. It started with the wives and families of the band members, but grew in numbers and professionalism. Suze Casey, who now handles the booking, first attended as an audience member in 1978 and started by stacking chairs at the end of the night. "We've built a community," she says. "It's become more than the music. It's a place like the world should be, when you're here." Casey, a former schoolteacher, now works professionally in music. She learned her trade at the club.
On a personal note, I arrived in Calgary in 1981 to take a job as a music producer with CBC Radio, which included producing Simply Folk, a national folk music program. I was from Winnipeg, home of a great folk festival, and had lived in London, England, but I had never seen a year-round folk music scene like the one in Calgary. Over the passing years, the success of the Calgary Folk Club had spawned others: The Rocky Mountain Folk Club, The Nickelodeon, The Saturday Night Special, The Bow Valley Music Club, The Lethbridge Folk Club and the Fort MacLeod Folk Club. There were even two in arch rival Edmonton. All operated on the same format - a community hall, volunteers, a house band, and a featured act. As the producer of a folk music program, I had landed in the best possible place as international folk acts passed through every weekend night on a regular basis. Live recordings from the Calgary Folk Clubs were an integral part of the show's nine-year run.
But all the history and stories aside, the best thing the Calgary Folk Club has done in 30 years is to provide a loving atmosphere for the music to effect the audience. Everyone I talked to researching this story had a magic moment where things rose above the norm because of the performances.
Mansel says of the first time Stan Rogers played the club, "He was so good he was too big for the stage. I'll never forget that night."
Anne was particularly moved by the transformation of Rita MacNeil as she took the stage. "She was a different person than the one I talked to earlier. It was magic." For Susan Casey, Odetta took her to that special place. And once, as a radio producer on the job at the Calgary Folk Club, my engineer and I let the tape run out because we were both so totally mesmerized by June Tabor and Martin Simpson. And Tom Paxton, after having played the club, wrote them a letter suggesting they write a booklet on how to run a folk club because, in his opinion, it was the best run club he'd ever encountered. The Calgary Folk Club - it's all about the music and it has touched a lot of lives. Here's to thirty more years.
(well, as complete as we can remember)
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Fortunate Ones(NL)/Carter Felker(AB) Kevin Bennett(AU)/Gabrielle Papillon (NS) The Ennis Sisters(NL)/Chris Ronald(BC) Valdy(BC)/Lion Bear Fox(BC) Harris, Greenway, Jencks(US) The Young 'uns(UK)/Jason Macdonald(NS) Ellis Paul(MA)/The Travelling Mabels(AB) John Wort Hannam(AB)/Prohibition Hall featuring Steve Pineo(AB) James Keelaghan(ON)/The Wardens(AB) James Hill and Anne Janelle(NS)/Nancy Laberge (AB) Billy Crockett(TX)/Perla Batalla(CA) Red Moon Road(MB)/Jory Nash(ON) Hot Club of Cowtown(TX)/Erin Costelo(NS)
The Duhks (Manitoba) Eric Bogle & John Munro (Australia) Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez (England) Cowboy Celtic Dave Gunning (Nova Scotia) The Cottars (Cape Bretton) Tommy Makem w/ Evans & Doherty (Ireland & N.S.) Le Vent du Nord (Quebec) Pete Morton (England) Connie Kaldor Pipeline (Germany) Bill Bourne & Eivor Palsdottir (Alberta/Iceland) Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women
Eric and Leon Bibb The Good Brothers Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Mollie O'Brien J.P. Cormier (Nova Scotia) The Bluehouse (Australia) Tom Paxton (New York) Sisters Morales The Bills (British Columbia) Steve Seskin (California) Ruthie Foster w/ Cyd Cassone (Texas) UHF (British Columbia) The Waybacks (California)
Evans & Doherty (Nova Scotia) Tannahill Weavers (Scotland) The Waybacks (California) Arrogant Worms (Ontario) David Francey with Dave Clarke (Quebec) Laura Love Duo (Washington) Tom Russell w/ Andrew Hardin (Texas) Martyn Joseph (Wales) The McDades (Alberta/Quebec) The Ennis Sisters (Newfoundland) Bill Hilly Band (British Columbia) Cindy Church, Laura Smith, & Susan Crowe (Ont., N.S., B.C.) Trout Fishing In America (Arkansas)
Lennie Gallant (Nova Scotia) The Whiteley Brothers (Ontario) Tri-Continental (Alta. & Que.) Archie Fisher (Scotland) Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies (England) Artisan (England) The Co-Dependents / Tom Wilson Barachois (P.E.I.) Diane Ponzio (New York) The Bluehouse Guy Davis (New York) Eileen McGann (AB) Austin Lounge Lizards (Texas)
James Keelaghan (Alberta) Harvey Andrews (England) Connie Kaldor (Quebec) Schooner Fare (Maine) Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Pied Pumkin (B.C., France) Christmas Special: Ian MacDonald, Anne Loree, Jenny Allen, Robert Burton Hubele (AB) Valdy / Fjellgaard (Brithish Columbia) Jean Hewson and Christina Smith (Newfoundland) Barra MacNeils (Cape Breton) Cowboy Celtic (Alberta) Vin Garbutt (England) Limeliters (Calif. Ariz.) Tom Paxton (New York)
Limeliters (Calif. Ariz.) Dave Mallet (Maine) The Arrogant Worms (Ontario) Grit Laskin (Ontario) Barachois (P.E.I.) The Fables (Newfoundland) Tim Williams (AB) and Anne Loree, as well as Steve and Esther Savanya, Ian Tyson (Alberta) J.P. Cormier (Nova Scotia) The Burns Sisters (New York) Matapat (Quebec) Mollie O'Brien (Colorado) Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir (Calif.) Fred Eaglesmith (Ontario)
Austin Lounge Lizards (Texas) Tish Hinojosa (Texas) Barra MacNeils (Cape Breton) Kavisha Mazzella (Australia) Steve Seskin (California) and Allen Shamblin (Tenn.) Bill Bourne (Alberta) Trilogy - Cathy Miller / Eileen McGann (Alberta) Evans & Doherty (Nova Scotia) Jez Lowe (England) Robin & Linda Williams Band (Virginia) Show of Hands (England) Colcannon (Australia) Quartette (Ontario/Alberta) Trout Fishing in America (Arkansas)
Moxie Fruvous (Ontario) Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill (Washington) The Paperboys (British Columbia) Diane Ponzio (New York) Fred Eaglesmith (Ontario) Balfa Toujours (Louisianna) Tom Chapin (New York) Valdy (British Columbia) Show of Hands (England) UHF (British Columbia) David Roth (Washington) Anam (Ireland) Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir (Calif.)
Hart-Rouge (Quebec) Harvey Andrews (England) Artisan (England) Austin Lounge Lizards (Texas) Vance Gilbert (Massachusetts) Jez Lowe (England) with Judy Small (Australia) Trout Fishing in America (Arkansas) Roy Forbes (British Columbia) Jennifer & Hazel Wrigley (Scotland) John McCutcheon (Virginia) Dave Mallet (Maine) Tim & Mollie O'Brien (Colorado) Alias Ron Kavana (Ireland)
James Keelaghan (Alberta) Evans & Doherty (Nova Scotia) with Liam Clancy Robin & Linda Williams Band (Virginia) Lennie Gallant (Nova Scotia) Andy M. Stewart (Scotland) with Gerry O'Beirne (Ireland) Quartette (Ontario/Alberta) Connie Kaldor (Ontario) The Local Scene Nashville Songwriters¹ Circle Tom Paxton (New York) Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Vin Garbutt (England) Bill Bourne (Alberta) and Shannon Johnson David Wilkie and Cowboy Celtic (Alta.)
Valdy (Brithish Columbia) The Foremen (California) Quartette (Ontario/Alberta) Artisan (England) Dougie MacLean (Scotland) Ian Tyson (Alberta) John McCutcheon (Virginia) Cathy Miller / Eileen McGann (Alberta) David Roth (Washington) Steve Seskin with Nina Gerber (California) Odetta (New York) Ad Vielle Que Pourra (Quebec) Irish Descendents (Newfoundland)
James Keelaghan (Alberta) Judy Small (Australia) Evans & Doherty (Nova Scotia) Vin Garbutt (England) Ranch Romance Murray McLauchlan (Ontario) Dave Mallet (Maine) Shari Ulrich (British Columbia) Robin & Linda Williams Band (Virginia) Irish Descendants (Newfoundland) Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Austin Lounge Lizards (Texas)
Lennie Gallant (Nova Scotia) Dave Mallet (Maine & Tennesee) Evans & Doherty (Nova Scotia) Oscar Lopez / Swinging Bovines (Calgary) The Wild Hearts (California) Connie Kaldor (Ontario) Tom Paxton (New York) Austin Lounge Lizards (Texas) Harvey Andrews (England) Jimmie Dale Gilmore (Texas) John McCutcheon (Virginia) Nancy White (Ontario) California (U.S.A.)
Vin Garbutt (England) Great Western Orchestra (AB) with Katy Moffatt (CA) Steve Seskin (California) Keith Hancock with Lee Collinson (England) Ranch Romance (Washington) UHF (British Columbia) Schooner Fare (Maine) Tommy Makem (Ireland) Barra MacNeils (Cape Breton) Tom Russell (New York) Eileen McGann / Cathy Miller (Calgary) Leon Rosselson (England) Robin & Linda Williams Band (Virginia)
Harvey Andrews (England) June Tabor (England) Stringband (British Columbia) Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick (England) California (U.S.A.) Calgary¹s Own Robin & Linda Williams Band (Virginia) Cosmotheka Jim Post (Wisconsin) Bryan Bowers (???) Judy Small (Australia) Tom Paxton (New York) The WCB Reunion
Nytez (British Columbia) Crary, Berline, Hickman, and Spurgin (Calif.) Oscar Lopez (Alberta) and Martin Simpson (England) Steve Seskin with Nina Gerber (California) Bill Bourne (Alberta), Alan Macleod, Jim Morrison Garry Fjellgaard (Brithish Columbia) Schooner Fare (Maine) Keith Hancock Margaret Christl / Joan MacIsaac (Alberta) Lucie Blue Tremblay (Quebec) Lennie Gallant (Nova Scotia) Liam Clancy (England) Vin Garbutt (England)
Valdy (British Columbia) Rick Scott Wyckham Porteous (British Columbia) Stephen Fearing (British Columbia) Judy Small (Australia) James Keelaghan (Alberta) Schooner Fare (Maine) Shari Ulrich (British Columbia) Lennie Gallant (Nova Scotia) Mike O'Reilly and Cody (Ontario) Harvey Andrews (England) Eric Bogle (Australia) Capercaillie (Scotland)
Jake Thackray (England) James Keelaghan (Alberta) Halloween Dance Tom Paxton (NY), Connie Kaldor (BC), Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Schooner Fare (Maine) Nancy White (Ontario) Christmas Special Christine Lavin Utah Phillips Mike O'Reilly (Ontario) Claudia Schmidt (Michigan) Harvey Andrews (England) St. Pat's Special Vin Garbutt (England)
Paul Hann (Alberta) Sileas (Scotland) Connie Kaldor (British Columbia) Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Jim Keelaghan (Alberta) Valdy (British Columbia) Cousins & Willoughby (England) Mike Elliot (England) Jesse Winchester (Tennessee) Jim Post (Wisconsin) Mike O'Reilly (Ontario)
Judy Small (Australia) Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Battlefield Band (Scotland) Queen Ida & her Bon Temps Zydeco Band (U.S.A.) Bryan Bowers (???) Margaret Christl (Alberta) Don Freed (Alberta) Figgy Duff (Newfoundland) Cosmotheka (England) Spirit of the West (British Columbia) Vin Garbutt (England) Tom Paxton (New York) Murray McLauchlan (Ontario)
Eric Bogle (Australia) Garnet Rogers (Ontario) Rita MacNeil (N. S.) with Barry & Lyn Luft (Alta.) Magpie (Maryland) The Romantic Brothers (???) Paul Hann (Alberta) Margaret Christl with Plug Nickel (Alberta) Jake Thackray (England) Jim Post (Wisconsin) Schooner Fare (Maine) with Prairie Crossing (Alta.) James Houston (British Columbia) Connie Kaldor (British Columbia) Folle Avoine (Manitoba) Cody (Ontario/Quebec)
Dougie MacLean (Scotland) Joan MacIsaac (Alberta) Copperfield (Washington) Diamond Joe White (British Columbia) Ian Campbell Folk Group (England) Holly Arntzen (British Columbia) Margaret Christl (Alberta) June Tabor & Martin Simpson (England) Folle Avoine (Manitoba) Roy Harper (England) Tom Paxton (New York) Cosmotheka (England) Schooner Fare (Maine) Kate Wolf (California)
Valdy (British Columbia) Red Clay Ramblers (North Carolina) Connie Kaldor (Alberta) Robin Williamson (Scotland) Gordon Bok (Maine) Eritage (Quebec) Paul Hann (Alberta) Jim Post (Wisconsin) Jake Thackray (England) Cathy Fink (Maryland) Richard Digance (England) Cosmotheka (England) Dick Gaughan (Scotland) Queen Ida & her Bon Temps Zydeco Band (U.S.A.) Vin Garbutt (England)
Eric Bogle (Australia) Kieran Halpin & Tom McConville (England) The Jarvis Benoit Quartet Bill Staines (New England) Red Clay Ramblers (North Carolina) Vin Garbutt (England) Priscilla Herdman (New York) with Nina Gerber (California) Jim Post (Wisconsin) Doug McArthur Joan MacIsaac (Alberta) Eritage Ian Robb & Grit Laskin Robin & Linda Williams Band (Virginia) Tamarack (Ontario) Tom Paxton (New York)
Connie Kaldor (Alberta) Kevin Burke & Michael O'Domhnaill (England) Vin Garbutt (England) Margaret Christl (Ontario) Red Clay Ramblers (North Carolina) Robin & Linda Williams (Virginia) Pied Pear (British Columbia) Chris Caswell & Dan Carnahan (California) Sally Rogers (Michigan) Tamarack (Ontario) Kate Wolf with Nina Gerber (California) Barry & Lyn Luft, Don Freed & Ceard (Alberta) - Tom Paxton (New York) Stan Rogers (Ontario)
Humber River Valley Boys Howling Gael Connie Kaldor (Alberta) Pied Pear (British Columbia) John Allan Cameron Margaret Christl (Ontario) Gordon Bok (Maine), Ed Trickett, Ann Muir Paul Hann (Alberta) Jim Post (Wisconsin) Joan MacIsaac (Alberta) Robert Burton Hubele (AB) Ceard Odetta (New York) Barde Kate Wolf with Nina Gerber (California) Chris Caswell & Dan Carnahan (California) Stan Rogers (Ontario) Valdy (British Columbia)
Vera Johnson The Mystic Sons of the Coyotes Fraser Bruce Lyn & Barry Luft (Alta.) Calgary Ceili Band Bob Evans Ceard Paul Hann (Alberta) Ron Nolan Jon Bartlett & Rika Ruebsaat The Calgary Ukrainian Mandolin Orchestra Frank Guy The Trout Creek Pickers Chris Rawlings Sid Marty Judy Threet & Aliesje van Melle Sandy Greenberg Richard Harrow & Glen Mundy The Mandolin Brothers Robin Williamson (Scotland) Jim Page
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