Long years as a "spit and sawdust" Club probably did the old Fo'c's'le image no harm at all in the (smarting) eyes of the average folkie, but times change and you don't smoke now once inside the clubroom, shown here with the usual mixture of folk celebrities (no prizes) and nonentities (the only prize is the satisfaction of knowing) on the occasion of Debra Chesman's leaving party. Whether you have also learnt to use apostrophes is debatable - we tend to leave the THIRD one out for goodness sake!

Our name is that of one of the oldest established folk clubs in the region, although we had a spell of a few years as "The New Fo'c'sle Music Club" to help jettison said 'spit and sawdust' and invite in some new ideas (we also had an American organiser at that time, which may have had something to do with it). We pride ourselves on being prepared to give a hearing to anyone who doesn't charge more than we can afford with our limited space. One thing only we do not tolerate - megadecibels. Prepare to unplug if you perform for us, or at the very least to let us set your volume control. In return we really listen (and sing) as visitors often appreciatively remark. Brian Hooper is one of us and a frequent floor spot and chief MC - you may remember his comments about volume in "Hooper's Column" which appears regularly in Folk on Tap. The academic connection is fairly tenuous, the "New" Fo'c's'le having been an amalgam of some University folk-singers with the aforesaid sawdust shufflers. It does give us something of a cosmopolitan air, universities typically being home to many nationalities, and the welcome they are afforded within the world academic community we hope you will also find at the Fo'c's'le whatever your background.

We meet on Fridays, under 16's are frequent (free) visitors and floor spots always precede the Guest(s) as a courtesy to allow the atmosphere to build.

The Fo'c'sle was run for several years by a lively American lady, Debra Chesman, who departed back the the States (in March 1997). It was notably successful under her eclectic eye and she it was who introduced the present format with alternating guest nights and singarounds, also the grouping together of floor spots at the beginning of the evening. Both policies continue.

Our current venue is The Duke of Wellington in Bugle Sreet. "Anything Goes" nights (one or two a month) are free, but there is a collection (for Club funds). Guest Nights are £4 or £5.

Just the Husband	Wawmania	Do you think I should?	Rock-a-Doodle Debra
Fiddle-me-ree	Fiddle-me-rol	Deb-a-Doodle Rock	Watching the Other Guys making ...
Majority Verdict	Light the f-word Up	Cons-Piracy	Ill-Meat by Moonlight

Last revised 21 September 1998.
"The Opinions expressed here are my own."

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