THE RAILWAY FOLK CLUB
Railway Hotel, Walmer Road, north of Fratton Station location for jazz, folk, rhythm & blues, rock & roll
The club started in October 1961 with the first guest ROD
FERGUSON.
The Railway Folk Club was first
run by Graham Platter who then passed it on to John Harvey and
finally
it was taken over by Sooty Broughton who has been running it from
1968.
Some of the artites that appeared;-
THREE'S COMPANY,
ROGER WATSON,
PAULINE CATO,
JOHNNY COPPIN,
BOBBY EAGLESHAM,
MAGPIE,
SIMON MAYOR & HILARY JAMES,
"SHANTY JACK",
JOE STEAD,
BERNARD WRIGLEY,
SONGWAINERS,
ISCA FAIR,
ROBIN WILLIAMSON,
SARA GREY,
TOM LEWIS,
BILL ZORN,
PINT & DALE,
TOM AND BARBARA BROWN,
JACK HUDSON,
STEVE TILSTON,
KEITH KENDRICK & LYNNE HERAUD,
BLUE SKY DIVERS,
ROBIN GARSIDE,
MIKE WEST,
STEVE MAY & TIM BROADBENT,
CHRIS FOSTER,
JON BRINDLEY,
KEN STEPHENS,
SHEP WOOLLEY,
MADDY PRIOR,
JUNE TABOR,
CATHY LE SURF,
JOHN KIRKPATRICK,
MIKE ELLIOT,
RICHARD DIGANCE,
SHOW OF HANDS,
RUBBER CHICKEN,
BENNY GRAHAM,
ANDREW PERRY,
BELASHAZZAR'S
RAMSKYTE,
MIKE NICHOLSON,
PARISIEN SWING,
REET PETITE & GONE,
PETE COLLINS,
GEOFF HIGGINBOTTOM,
ROD PATTERSON,
PORTSMOUTH SHANTYMEN,
THE BOARDING PARTY,
BERMUDA QUADRANGLE,
PIGSTY HILL LIGHT ORCHESTRA,
RALPH MCTELL,
JON BETMEAD,
DAVE AND TONI ARTHUR,
MIKE BALLENTYNE,
YETTIES,
MIKE ABSOLOM,
MUCKRAM WAKES,
THE WATERSONS,
OAK,
PETE QUINN,
COCKERSDALE,
THE HOT TAMALES,
BAND OF TWO,
PAUL DOWNES & PHIL BEER,
JON ISHERWOOD,
PAT NELSON,
VIN GARBUTT,
OYSTER BAND,
JEREMY TAYLOR,
MAXI & MITCH,
CILLA FISHER & ARTIE TRESIZE,
BILL WHALEY & DAVE FLETCHER,
DOUGIE MACLEAN,
JEZ LOWE,
ROY BAILEY,
EMILY SLADE,
DAVEY ARTHUR,
IAN BRUCE,
DEREK BRIMSTONE,
ROSIE HARDMAN,
MARTIN SIMPSON,
PETE & CHRIS COE,
TONY ROSE,
NIC JONES,
THE WILSON'S,
GARY & VERA ASPEY,
STRAWHEAD,
CHRIS NEWMAN & MAIRE
NI CHATHASAIGH,
EDDIE WALKER,
MARTYN WYNDHAM-READ,
DIZ DISLEY,
COSMOTHEKA,
KIERON HALPIN,
HIGH LEVEL RANTERS,
MUNDY TURNER,
CHRIS WHILE,
JULIE MATHEWS,
MIKE SILVER,
LEE COLLINSON,
DANGEROUS CURVES,
BILL JONES,
RON TRUEMAN BORDER,
YING TONG JOHN,
ENGLISH TAPESTRY,
JOHN JAMES,
MIKE HARDING,
BILLY CONNOLLY,
JASPER CARROT,
ISLA ST CLAIR,
MARTIN CARTHY,
JAKE THACKRAY,
BILLY MITCHEL (LINDISFARNE),
KEITH DONNELLY,
FRED WEDLOCK,
NOEL MURPHY,
MCCALMANS,
RALPH JORDEN,
CARL HOGSDEN & JANE THRELFULL,
RORY MCLEOD,
HOT TAMALES,
KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN,
HEN PARTY,
EILEEN MCGANN,
PETER BELLAMY,
ALLAN TAYLOR,
BILL CADDICK,
CHRIS WOOD,
ANDY CUTTING,
JIMMY CROWLEY,
PETA WEBB & KEN HALL,
BRIAN PETERS,
GERRY LOCKRAN,
DAVE PASKET,
MARIA BARTON,
JON BURGE,
GRAHAM MOORE,
FASTEST BAT,
GERRY HALLOM,
PAUL METSERS,
MECHANICAL HORSE TROUGH,
STEVE TURNER,
JOHN FITZGERALD,
BOOTLEG,
CURATE'S EGG,
DAVE MOSES,
NEW MODERN IDIOT GRUNT BAND,
KATE RUSBY,
MYSHKIN with Mike West,
NOEL MURPHY,
KEITH KENDRICK,
PARISIEN SWING and REET PETITE & GONE ,
JULIA FORDHAM,
PIGSTY HILL LIGHT ORCHESTRA,
JON ISHERWOOD,
COLIN HAZARD,
GERRY LOCKRAN,
PAUL DOWNES,
PHIL BEER,
BOBBY EAGLESHAM.
JOHNNY SILVO,
APICELLA,
TIM LAYCOCK,
ROB JOHNSTON,
FATHER JACK,
GEORGE WILSON,
BRIAN HOOPER,
WILDEST WISH,
JULIAN CARLA HENDRICKS BAND,
"KING" ROLLO,
ARLEN,
JIM BAINBRIDGE,
JIM MAGEEAN,
ANNE LENNOX-MARTIN,
JERRY'S BEAVER HAT,
SONJA CHRISTINA with STEWART COPELAND drummer from POLICE,
HILARY SPENCER,
CHERRINGTON AND WARD,
LEGACY,
TANIA OPLAND & MIKE FREEMAN,
JOHN CONNELLY & PETE SUMNER,
BOB WALSER & JULIE YOUNG,
ROD SHEARMAN,
JOHN TOWNSEND,
DEREK GIFFORD,
TALL STORIES,
WORKERS PLAYTIME,
JUDY COOK,
JIM COUZA,
THE HARD TIMES STRING BAND,
AN SEISIUN,
DEBBY MCCLATCHY,
BRAM TAYLOR,
MARKERR,
PETE HARRIS AND MARK HOUGHTON,
STEVE MAY LONGDEN,
JOHNNY COLLINS,
STRAWHEAD,
ROGER WILSON,
HARVEY ANDREWS,
LES BARKER,
ROBIN DRANSFIELD,
ARTISAN,
FEAST,
LYNNE HERAUD & PAT TURNER,
CHRISTINE ETTERMAN,
PARIS KERN,
BERNIE PARRY,
CANTORIS,
STEVE JORDAN,
DOGHOUSE,
DOUBLE TAKE,
LALLAN,
TIM LAYCOCK,
MARIE LITTLE,
GRAHAM MOORE,
SARAH MORGAN,
MIKE O'CONNOR,
STRING WHISTLE,
CHUCKLEFOOT,
BEGGAR'S VELVET,
IAN BRUCE,
DAVE BURLAND,
ANDY IRVINE,
TIM VAN EYKEN,
MICK RYAN,
PETE HARRIS,
DAVE WEBBER & ANNI FENTIMAN,
HUGHIE JONES,
JOHNNY COLLINS,
GILLY DERBY,
STEVE ASHLEY & CHRIS LESLEY,
TOM MCCONVILLE,
TONY WILSON & MICK DOONAN,
BOB FOX,
SIMON NICOL,
KEVIN DEMPSEY,
ALIANZA,
ANNE LISTER,
GRAHAM O'CALLAGHAN,
MARGARET WALTERS & JOHN WARNER,
STAN ARNOLD,
FIONA SIMPSON,
LONG FELT WANT,
3 MEN IN A BOAT,
ALEX CAMPBELL,
CYRIL TAWNEY,
STEVE BENBOW,
GRAHAME AND EILEEN PRATT,
REGAL SLIP,
COOPE,
BOYES AND SIMPSON,
SWAN ARCADE,
ROY HARRIS,
RED SULLIVAN,
MARTIN WINDSOR,
THE YOUNG TRADITION,
BARRY DRANSFIELD,
ALUN TAYLOR,
SHIRLEY COLLINS,
KEITH KENDRICK (SOLO),
FRANKIE ARMSTRONG,
ALISTAIR ANDERSON,
JOHNNY HANDLE,
THE AMAZING MR SMITH,
ANNE BRIGGS,
CROWS,
ASHLEY HUTCHINGS,
DAVE SWARBRICK,
Various MC's over the years:
Paul Warren --- Shep Woolley --- Craig Morris --- Helen Tudor --- Pete
Watkinson --- Chas & Dave --- Roger Courtney --- John Smith --- Dan
Ogus --- Bev Kew --- John Fitzgerald --- George Wilson --- Jason Hill
Pat Nelson & Jon Isherwood
A few noteable nights at the Railway
1961
Fratton’s Railway Hotel filled weekends with Dave Watson & his Broadcasting Group
The Railway Hotel reintroduced traditional jazz in late August
1962
mid-May and Derek Adye’s band played the Railway on Friday nights.
Derek Adye’s Jazz Band at the Railway in September
the Solent City Jazzmen at the Railway in NOvember
1962 July 26th Railway Hotel Mick Ferrier trombone and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 August 2nd Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 August 9th Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 August 16th Railway Hotel Cuff Billett trumpet and Dereque Adye’s “drums” Jazz Band
1962 August 23rd Ken Sunders drums and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 August 30th Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 September4 6th Railway Hotel Keith Ancsellclarinet and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 September 13th Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 October 4th Railway Hotel Ian Anscsell and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 October 19th The “Prof” piano and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 November 9th Railway Hotel Solent City Jazzmen
1962 November 16th Railway Hoytel Solent City Jazzmen
1962 November 23rd Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 December 7th Railway Hotel Ted Owen’s New Orleans Rhythm Boys
1962 December 14th Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 December 21st Railway Hotel Ian Anscsell and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1962 December 28th Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1963
the Stane Street Jazzmen at the Railway early in the year.
In early summer, the Rendezvous moved to the Railway Hotel in Fratton presenting the Keith Smith Climax Band and Alexander’s Jazzmen among others.
One of the new rhythm & blues groups, the Blues Brothers were appearing at a residency at the Railway Hotel, every Thursday.
Keith Smith Climax Band appeared at the Railway but the weekly Rendezvous jazz gigs had ceased for the time being.
the Stane Street Jazzmen at the Railway.
1963 February 15th Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1963 February 22nd Railway Hotel Cuff Billett and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band Jon Isherwood
1963 March 22nd Railway Hotel Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1963 April 30th Tuesday Fok Artistes WednesyCrescent City JazzmenThusday Josephine Collinson and the Boubon Street Six Friday Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band Saturday Keith Smith’s Climax Jazzband
1963 Thursdays Railway Hotel Josephine Collinson and the Boubon Street Six
1963 Fridays Railway Hotel Frank Hurlock and Dereque Adye’s Jazz Band
1963 May 8th Railway Hotel Jazz/Folk/Blues Association Cresent City Jazzband
1963 May 9th Railway Hotel Jazz/Folk/Blues Association Josephine Collinson and the Boubon Street Six
1963 May 10th Railway Hotel Jazz/Folk/Blues Association Dereque Adye’s’s Okeefenokee Jazzband
1964
the Back of Town Syncopators at the Railway.
1966
Jazz had been fairly quiet but Dave Rogers was presenting New Orleans-style every Friday at the Railway Hotel north of Fratton Station.
the Railway ran a “jazz rave” as well as weekly sessions where Dave Rogers welcomed 150 fans of the Solent City Jazzmen.
In addition, the Railway Hotel introduced folk on Mondays – it gradually became the main folk club in the city in the late 1960s.
1967
Johnny Silvo appeared at the Railway Hotel and in concert at Oak Park School, Havant with Pat Nelson and the Broadsiders.
Wizz Jones & Pete Stanley brought bluegrass to the Folkhouse and Jo Ann Kelly her Memphis Minnie-style blues to the Railway Hotel.
Banjoist Barry Gordon had been on the local folk scene from its start and took over running the Railway Folk Club on Mondays.
In October the Railway Folk Club featured the accomplished local guitarist Barry Roberts
1968
Despite the shift towards experimental rock there was also “vintage” rock & roll at Fratton’s Railway Hotel with Southern Sounds & Apex Four.
Folk-blues performer Gerry Lockran returned to the Railway Hotel, followed in May by Roy Harper and Diz Disley.
In December singer-songwriter Al Stewart at the Railway Hotel Folk Club.
on 23 December there was acoustic blues at the Railway with Gerry Lockran and Cliff Aungier.
The Railway Hotel, Fratton (the first 20 years) --- The King's Hotel,
Albert Road --- The Horshoe, King's Road (all bars as it was
progressively refurbished) --- The Festing Hotel, Festing Road --- The
Hornpipe Theatre, Kingston Road --- The Rail Social Club (just 'round
the corner from the Railway Hotel) --- The Alma Arms, Highland Road.
4th August 2003 FINAL NIGHT of the Railway Folk Club
4th August 2003 FINAL NIGHT of the Railway Folk Club
THE RAILWAY JAZZ CLUB
Two new modern jazz groups emerged in Gosport. Perdido enthused about the Modern Swing Quartet but saw promise too in the MJ4 who included on vibes and piano Mike Hugg, the future 'Manfred'. Their approach was "strictly modern". Portsmouth's Modern Jazz Club, based at the Railway Hotel, celebrated its third birthday although young promoter Jerry Allen felt there was "not a large following for modern jazz in Portsmouth" - a familiar comment through the decade.
On Mondays, Fratton's Railway Hotel offered Bill Cole's modern trio with guests like Ronnie Ross, Bill Le Sage, Kathy Stobart and Don Rendell. These jazz clubs joined together with others to form the Portsmouth Area Jazz Federation and one of their first initiatives was a series of jazz films on a Sunday – with a good second house.
As you may remrmber it
The site of the Railway Hotel in 2017
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