At the rear of the Institute was The ‘Jug ‘O Punch Folk Club,
which thrived in the 60′s. on Thursday nights.
The club was run by Ian Campbell,
for me the most under-rated influence in folk music
and a man whose influence rates alongside that of Ewan MacColl.
The Ian Campbell Folk Group included the great
Dave Swarbrick, Ian’s sister Lorna -
whose singing was unsurpassed in Britain
and the late John Dunkerley.
The group had also included one Dave Phillips,
and later Dave Pegg on bass, who was to join Jethro Tull,
and Fairport Convention
Compiled by Keith Law
‘Lycanthropy’, filmed in 2005-2006.
There Are Currently 2 Comments for this Post
I first went to the Jug O’Punch in August 1967, and returned each summer when I was working at the Midlands Arts Centre. As you say so many performers either started at the club or owe their early exposure to the Campbells. When I met my wife in 1970 I took her to the club, and Ian gave her a floor spot.
Some of the sessions were recorded – I think for some local or hospital radio. I don’t know if the recordings survive?
The 1960′s saw the dawning of a great period in Folk music. I vsited the Jug O’Punch many times in the early 60′s – great night out. It was later, when I moved to Worcestershire, that such great clubs as the Nag’s Head (Malvern); The Cock Inn (Droitwich); The Saracens Head and the Bush(Worcester) and the Worcester Collage folk club were all going strong. All now sadly missed.
I seem to recall Alex Campbell doing some TV shows, what happend to them?