Getting to like folk folk after 60 years

IF anyone had ever told me 50 years ago that I would ever be sitting in a village hall with a group of 60 severals and beyond, for a strawberry tea listening to folk music ... well I'll leave you to imagine my response!

- JUDI SPIERS

I think it’s a hangover from my youth when folk clubs were one of the few music establishments I was allowed to go to. There was one up on the Plymouth Hoe somewhere which was frequented by strange people with wild hairdos and straggly beards... and that was just the women.

Who, for some reason, apart from the obligatory hand over the ear while performing, were never quite vertical but always leaned slightly to one side. I was definitely more comfortable with both hands over both ears and after a couple of visits decided folk ‘folk’ were not my cup of ‘tansy’ tea or whatever it was they drank.

Apart from anything it was the 60s and tales of rural life, sweet maidens and dashing squires couldn't possibly compete with what was coming out of Liverpool!