Club Of The Month
Club Of The Month is a regular feature that gives a club a little extra space to sell themselves. Please contact us if you would like your club to be considered:
Herga Folk Club
Club:HERGA
Venue:Pinner Green Social Club, Rickmansworth Road, Middlesex HA5 3TJ
Contact – artist bookings:Mike Sparks, mike@mjsparks.co.uk
Contact – promotion:George Papavgeris, george@folk4all.net
Website: www.hergafolk.org
When: Monday nights, 8:00pm
The club is one of the oldest folk clubs in England, having operated non-stop since March 1963. Once considered by many to be the “home of traditional song”, its membership over the years has included many of the greats of the traditional folk scene such as Jim Mageean, Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman and until his recent untimely death the great singer Johnny Collins. But this should not deter non-traditional singers, as among its members are also numbered several singer-songwriters, in all kinds of styles: Les Sullivan, Mike Sparks, George Papavgeris, Christine Connolley. It would be fair to say that pretty much anything good will be listened to and appreciated, song or tune, especially chorus songs, being essentially a singers’ club. Just try to stop us joining in the choruses – the “Herga Wall of Sound” is world famous!
Most Mondays are “open evenings”, where those who wish can take turns to sing a song or play a tune – 2 to 3 goes on average on a normal evening. But both listeners and performers are equally welcome. Our singers/audience mix on open evenings is roughly 50/50. Once a month we have a guest evening with a booked performer supported by one or two of the residents. This year we have booked singer/songwriter Les Sullivan (s/s from the S.East), Duncan McFarlane & his band (s/s from Yorkshire), the rising vocal trio Craig-Morgan-Robson, DanMcKinnon (s/s from Canada), Danny Spooner (traditional singer from Australia), Jim Mageean & Graeme Knights (traditional songs & shanties) and the wonderful duo Belshazzar’s Feast later in the year.
We are very conscious that we carry some history & tradition in the club’s name, but equally aware and keen to discover new things and promote new talent. In fact, the song “Friends Like These”, sung by many around the country and in Australia and recently recorded by Roy Bailey was written for Herga by one of our songwriters as a “thank you” to the club and its members for their support.
Come and join us – you won’t regret it!