The Wivenhoe Folk Club meets at The Royal British Legion Hall, The Quay, Wivenhoe where we have moved following the closure of The Flag Inn.
The Club meets on the first Thursday of every month, with occasional special ‘extra events’. Run by a small band of volunteers (some of whom are also a small band!) we welcome many styles of largely acoustic music. People who come to Wivenhoe say that we are very friendly and welcoming – we like to think they’re right!
Our booked guests are nationally known and often internationally known performers; we also have a wide variety of floor spots at each club night. Our guests play two 45-minute sets with a short interval in the middle. Each set is preceded by floor spots – the majority open the first half of the evening with rather fewer to open the second half.
While many of our floor spot performers are ‘gigging’ musicians in their own right, we also give a warm welcome to beginners trying out their material. Everyone gets a friendly and supportive reception from a ‘listening audience’.
On guest nights however, you do need to book a floor spot in advanceas the spots are more limited and we get a lot of people.Handy tip: don’t leave it until one or two days before the club night!
Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.
‘Thursday 7th April Open Stage at our lovely new venue!
As Wivenhoe residents will know, The Flag Inn has sadly, closed. All nearby businesses had been hit hard by the road closure and as James was only 1 year in at The Flag it was not sustainable. We extend our gratitude to our lovely publican James for making the pub such a fantastic place to be and for looking after us so well while he was there – and we send him our very best wishes for the future. WIVENHOE FOLK CLUB HOWEVER HAS NOT CLOSED! We will now meet at The Royal British Legion, The Quay, Wivenhoe. The RBL kindly agreed to accommodate us – starting 7th April 2016 – so we won’t even miss a month! It’s a really nice venue, complete with a bar (we thought you’d like that bit) so be sure to join us there for the Open Stage.
Important: Parking tips (mainly for those unfamiliar with Wivenhoe)
People won’t be able to park outside the venue (booked guest performers arriving early will be able to unload and then move vehicles). The most plentiful parking spaces available are in the publlc car park opposite The Greyhound – it”s then a very short walk down to The Quay. Tip: Turn right out of the car park exit (opposite The Greyhound) and walk towards St Mary’s Church; keep walking past with the church on your left, across the ‘square’ and keep going – you will see The Quay ahead – turn left at the corner and you are at the Royal British Legion.
There is some very limited parking in Station Road – residents’ restrictions don’t apply in the evening, but do bear in mind the spaces will be mostly filled with residents’ cars. There are a few spaces outside the church – but not many.
If you are coming into Wivenhoe on a train it’s a short walk
Turn left out of the station and walk down Staton Road. Turn right at the end of Station Road and walk towards St Mary’s Church; keep walking past with the church on your left, across the ‘square’ and keep going – you will see The Quay ahead – turn left at the corner and you are at the Royal British Legion.
We will sooon have a new map on our calendar page – and we might be able to post a video on facebook of us driving in and walking the route! Watch this space.’
On ‘Open Stage’ Nights just turn up between 7.30 pm and 8pm to put your name on the list with our MC Alan Van Loen who will do his best to fit everyone in. You’ll recognise him easily – he’ll be the little bloke with a pencil and paper, a fixed grin and an air of mild panic. A floor spot at Wivenhoe is usually two items (songs, tunes, poems or stories).
Admission on guests nights is�6, concessions are �5 and for floor spot performers �2. *Concessions= OAP, student, unwaged/benefits
On our ‘Open Stage’ nights, performers get in free and admission for non-performers is �2.
You can become a club member, which gets you onto our mailing list. Membership is free for life – just give your details to our club secretary Denise Van Loen.
For club membership and guest bookings contact Denise on (01206) 827759
For floor spots ‘phone Alan, also on (01206) 827759
E-mail us at: wivenhoefolkclub@tiscali.co.uk
Find us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/wivenhoefolkclub
Joan Gifford,of course is still involved with the club – don’t miss her wonderful floor spots!
Picture: Joan Gifford – trying not tobe recognised!
Click here for more details about Joan Gifford
Click here for the 2016 programme of Wivenhoe Folk Club sessions.
Local guitarist Tim Whitnell’s CD ‘In a Mind to…’ available from Wivenhoe Bookshop – click here
Click here for Tim’s page
Click here for Colchester Folk Club
TeaTime Assortment
‘TeaTime Assortment’ are a Wivenhoe acoustic trio with a real assortment of music, from bluesy-jazzy sounds to traditional and contemporary folk, from standard ballads to original material. The band consists of vocalist Denise Bidewell, Lola Barnes on flute and harmony vocals and Alan Van Loen providing the guitar & harmonicas. They play at many folk clubs in the region and have become the "house band" at Wivenhoe Folk Club. You can hear tracks from their CD, "TeaTime At Tom’s" on their Myspace site.
Click here for the link to TeaTime Assortment’s Myspace site: ww.myspace.com/teatimeassortment
Want to play Folk Guitar?
Enrol for lessons.
CallJoan Giffordfor details on01206 822087
or Tim Whitnellon01206 826316