Chester Folk Festival
1975
It all started way back in 1974, when the local folk clubs from around Chester organised a week of folk evenings at the Kings Arms Kitchen, a fine old pub situated just inside the city walls. Sadly this pub closed its doors some years ago, but its Lounge with its fine oak panelling and majestic seating had been preserved forever in the Grosvenor Museum Chester.
The following year of 1975 a group made up from the local area folk clubs, morris team, and country dance clubs set out with help from the English Folk Dance and Song Society and the first Chester Folk Festival was born.
The first year took place at the Arts Centre in the city and was a great success and we followed on the second year in the same place,
John Finnan Organiser 1975-1990
1975
The first year, held at the Arts Centre, was the year Bitter Ash was formed (John Walker, Roy Clinging and me) and Roy & I (John died a few years ago) are performing some of the songs from that era this weekend.
I also remember that the stewarding was done by a few volunteers, of which I was one. I remember it didn’t work too well as no-one wanted to do the door at the post festival ceilidh, so I volunteered to do a rota the following year – which was something I came to regret as it landed me the job for many years, helped occasionally by Ann Evans
Mary Clinging
1975
I played at the first Chester Folk Festival in 1975 in Yardarm. We were a local 3 piece band playing a mix of traditional and contemporary folk songs. In the photo we are (left to right) John Evans, Goff Jones and Steve Whitley.
The poster for the 1975 festival shows a mix of local and national folk singers, all for £3.25 for the whole weekend! The 1975 festival was based in the Arts Centre in Northgate Street, Chester. (the building later became the central Chester Library). I particularly enjoyed the songwriting session featuring Archie Fisher and Allan Taylor – they didn’t tell us much about the mechanics of songwriting, but they sang some great songs. There was plenty of enthusiastic chorus singing at the festival, particularly on “Bring us a Barrel” sung by Derek and Dorothy Elliot. There was also a very spirited performance of “the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Miriam Backhouse.
Steve Whitley
Some press adverts for the second Festival in 1976. sourced by Charlotte Peters Rock
(as are most of the press cuttings - thank you Charlotte)
1977
We moved in 1977 to the new Northgate Arena Leisure Centre, which newly built could accommodate more people. We stayed there for two years, but were never happy with the accoustics of the building and the problems this gave us (does anyone remember the para-chutes we hung from the huge ceiling to try and reduce the echo?).
the most memorable moment was that I was called to the Bar to be told that someone had a dog in the bar area, As animals were not allowed in the Arena the person was refusing to move. When I asked the barman what was said he told me that the dog was a performer and in fact had a ticket to prove it. When I got to the bar I found the great Les Barker performing his poems along with his dog 'Mrs Ackroyd' the barman and the Arena Manager were so impressed that they gave Les a pint and the dog some water.
That year at the Arena unfortunately the sound properties in a concrete and brick built sports complex were not good and we found to run the concerts and or dances were difficult acoustically. Also there were tiered Bleacher Arena seating which creaked and groaned at every movement. I priced to hire some theatre sound proof curtains which were astronomically expensive, So through a retired RAF friend I managed to acquire a number of parachutes and with the help of the Arena staff had them draped from the main Gym hall and the echo was incredibly reduced.
John Finnan
1977
The two years at the Northgate Arena – Bitter Ash were due to perform on the main stage and I was like a frightened rabbit. Johnny Cunningham (Silly Wizard) telling me not to be afraid (Dinna be feart) , then John Walker forgetting the words to “The Flying Cloud” after a few verses and starting again.
Mary Clinging
1977
The first Festival I attended was the third one in 1977 at the Northgate Arena. I remember it was a sunny weekend and one of the venues was a bar at the top of the building with a glass roof – it was like singing in a sauna!
I got to know quite a few folkies at that Festival and by 1978 had been roped in to steward. In 1979, we moved to Kelsall and I also got involved in helping set up the marquee, and sell tickets in the ‘office’ which was in a large dusty shed by the pub. The rest is history.
Cheryl Hunt
Silly Wizard stick in my memory as one of the best groups we’ve ever had. In 1977/8 Phil Cunningham was only a teenager, though a whizz on the accordion, and was told off by his brother for drinking too much. Later on, at the Morris Dancer, my favourite group was Garva. We were putting them up near us in Hoole and trying to gather them together at the end of the night, to take them to Chester to their accommodation was like herding cats!
Mary Clinging
1979
As we could not provide camping facilities in the city, we moved in 1979 to our present venue at The Morris Dancer, Kelsall. Here we found a site that could accommodate all our requirements and run by a long standing friend, former morris dancer and folk enthusiast, Rusty Williams
One other memory is of the great Mud weekend when we had so much rain for months leading up to our weekend. In getting people and cars of the site was a mammoth task.
John Finnan
1979
The first year at the Morris Dancer – wearing yellow wellies all weekend because of the mud. I was one of many who had “I survived ‘79” badges made, and wore it with pride for a number of years. Of course, the Tuesday after the festival was sunny and warm.
Mary Clinging
There's a very funny explanation of dwile flonking in a book called "Beer and Skittles" by Michael Jackson (no, not that one). Out of print now, but I remember finding it very funny.
David Dunford
1980
Yardarm played at the Folk Festival a number of times over the years. By 1980 we had expanded into a five piece band. The photo shows us playing at the 1980 festival in the barn at the Morris Dancer, Kelsall. We were (left to right) John Evans, Goff Jones, Dave Russell, Ken Prydderch and Steve Whitley. When I went to pick up my guest pass and said “I’m in Yardarm”, the steward said “everyone’s in bloody Yardarm”.
Steve Whitley
The ‘Year of the Mud’, ferrying children back home, sticking them in a bath and bringing them back for another mud bath!
1979 with Archie Fisher, Allan Taylor. Never forget THAT one…
In the 70s, dwoile flocking in the field in front of the pub. Rusty applauding vigorously.
Susie Stockton-Link
During the 80’s
My wife Margaret (known as Meg) organised the Children's events each day in the early years at Kelsall. We had a Chester close friend the late Norman Griffiths who put on Punch & Judy shows each day for the children but in the Late night extra's he used to perform an Adult Puppet Show-same show as the kids BUT with adult language I can say this was hilarious and very popular.
John Finnan
Chester MM, Bradshaw Mummers and White Hart MM were regulars since the very first festival. They were old friends who delighted in pranking each other or egging each other on to do ever more crazy things. E.g. The people involved (John Finnan, Roy Clinging, Tom Clarke, Graham Proctor) could tell you more but I have memories of a Sumo wrestling competition in the Dance Marquee with some very dodgy costumes; one of the other sides stealing Chester’s bass drum; and one year a tit-for-tat of stolen furry animals and blow up pigeons.
Other memories include Sean Cannon’s curry wagon which was almost as popular as Sean’s singing (long before he became a member of The Dubliners); the long swing outside the pub kept all the older kids entertained for hours; and The Barn – before being incorporated into the pub building, this unique and much-missed venue provided such a wonderful atmosphere for less formal events, particularly the Late Night Extras.
Mal Waite
1984
We were always trying to improve the events over the weekends by introducing each year different ideas. Two of the most popular new events were 'Chance to Meet' the individual artistes and 'Late night Extra's' called 'Now For Something Different' the latter took place in the Barn at the Morris Dancer at 11.30 pm for weekenders only and usually ended up 3-4oclock finishes. I suggested to individual artistes if they would do something different away from their normal performances. A couple of examples, the Deighton family Band did a Rock and Roll set and a ceilidh band the Old Pull & Push performed the 'Battle of Britain' with live! Flying Cockroaches attached by to wood and string to fly out over the audience ( no Heath & Safety them days ! ) Along with sound effects, the audience split into German and Britain with the Americans up in the balcony always coming into (song) war late! Rule Britannia and National anthems were sung to finish, it was a rare one off festival event to behold.
John Finnan
I remember – singing in the “Ashtray”, the mezzanine floor in the old barn which served as the bar, & playing “Cardinals” and therefore drinking much more than advisable! There was the year in the Late Night Extra in the barn when Allan Taylor saved the day (night?) after another less experienced performer had been really boring and was booed.
Mary Clinging
1984
My first Chester Folk Festival, aged 16, and what a wonderful memory! I had found my happy place. I remember feeling so welcome, so accepted and so very safe. We had 2 marquees on the main field then and one was just for dancing. I spent many hours in the old Morris Dancer barn listening to people singing and p[laying until the wee hours. It was the first time I had watched the sunrise and heard the dawn chorus (on my way to bed)!
Rosie Robertson
We met on 17 March 1986 in Dublin. Our first date was at the Chester Folk Festival that year. We married in 1988 and have been attending the Festival most years since then.
Pete and Noëlle Baston.
1986
There was a race around the site to raise money for the Live Aid charity. I can remember John Finnan and Les Barker (possibly Barry Evans) racing dressed as women, to considerable heckling from festival-goers. Les won the race, as I recall.
Mal Waite
My memories of Chester Folk Festival begin in 1988 - the first time that I attended it. Prior to that, my only participation was listening to the music from my bedroom window - the house was situated in Earl’s Lane in Kelsall. My then husband wasn’t into folk music, so we never visited the Festival. But when I ‘disposed’ of him in 1987 - don’t worry, I didn’t kill him - I was able to visit the Festival with some friends who went every year. It became the highlight of my year and as it has taken place very near to my birthday a ticket is an ideal present for my daughter to give me. The artists I’ve seen and the music I’ve listened to have made my life so much richer and all these years on, Folk Festival weekend is still the highlight of my year. Long may it reign!
Liz Weston
1990
I remember sitting in my tent with the sun shining through the canvas early in the morning many times just listening to music starting up outside all around. I loved that. I also remember the fact that I was never worried when my two young children ran off to do their own thing - I knew they would be safe - the Festival was just like a huge 'family' gathering.
Poppy Hasted
1991-2
In 1991 and 1992 there were no Chester Folk Festivals, due to uncertainty over the availability of the field at Kelsall. Instead a Spring Folk Day was held on the Saturday at Hoole Community Centre, along similar lines to the February Folk Day which had been started in 1988. there was also a small Festival at Farndon in the July, organised by Ken & Heather Prydderech.
Chester Folk Festival resumed at Kelsall with a different group of organisers in 1993.
Cheryl Hunt
In 1994 Will Brent met Emma Clarke at Chester Festival…they married two years later and have been Mr and Mrs Riding for nearly 29 years!
Emma Riding
1996/7 - Desert Island Discs
These were recurring events over several years and were based on the long-running Radio 4 programme. Stan Ambrose, much-loved and missed presenter from Radio Merseyside’s Folk Programme and old friend of the festival, was asked to interview guests appearing at the festivals to find out about their lives, influences, and choice of eight tracks – plus a book and a luxury. Chris Lee provided the original BBC theme tune and guests interviewed included: Martin Wyndham Read & Pete Coe.
Mal Waite
1990's
I first came to the Chester Folk Festival in 199? as a steward and quickly fell in with the stage builders crowd, including Les Lawton. We stored the stage down in the courtyard of the Royal Oak in those days, where it was under cover. Later the pub wanted the space so allowed us to store it upstairs. Getting the forms and flats up there was always a struggle as the stairs were both unstable and unsafe. (no risk assessment in those days) We eventually solved the problem by erecting one section under a large upstairs opening and, by standing on the stage, could hand them up for someone to stack. I now look after the site facilities and health and safety documentation. I don't think that I would have approved of our approach back then!
Paul Thompson
1996/7 - Desert Island Discs
These were recurring events over several years and were based on the long-running Radio 4 programme. Stan Ambrose, much-loved and missed presenter from Radio Merseyside’s Folk Programme and old friend of the festival, was asked to interview guests appearing at the festivals to find out about their lives, influences, and choice of eight tracks – plus a book and a luxury. Chris Lee provided the original BBC theme tune and guests interviewed included: Martin Wyndham Read & Pete Coe.
Mal Waite
1990's
I first came to the Chester Folk Festival in 199? as a steward and quickly fell in with the stage builders crowd, including Les Lawton. We stored the stage down in the courtyard of the Royal Oak in those days, where it was under cover. Later the pub wanted the space so allowed us to store it upstairs. Getting the forms and flats up there was always a struggle as the stairs were both unstable and unsafe. (no risk assessment in those days) We eventually solved the problem by erecting one section under a large upstairs opening and, by standing on the stage, could hand them up for someone to stack. I now look after the site facilities and health and safety documentation. I don't think that I would have approved of our approach back then!
Paul Thompson
1998
This photo is of Rosie Robertson, Ben Robertson with me at age 6 and Ben at 1 years old. We've enjoyed lots of Chester festivals since together.
Jenny Anderson
1998
Upstairs in the Morris Dancer Extension
I remember the first year in the uncompleted upstairs room when the dust raised from the unfinished concrete floor got into the PA amps and sound desk and f*****d them. Crackles, buzzing and the occasional spark.
Graham Waite
1999 or 2000
The pictures show a close encounter with James Bazley and the amazing juggling display. I risked a bad singeing from the flames but with the boys' skills, survived unscathed.
Ron Anderson, Rolling Hills Folk Club
2000
Rock and Roll night (idea from Mary Clinging)
I think this was around 2000. It was held in the Community Centre and various people sang and played R&R songs, culminating in Dave Burland impersonating Elvis to sing Blue Suede Shoes.
Mal Waite
2002
In 2002 John Evans, a founding member of Yardarm and a staunch supporter of Chester Folk Festival, sadly died. So in 2003, Yardarm played a memorial concert for John at Chester Folk Festival, with Ian Chesterman, our great local singer songwriter, joining us in John’s place. The photo shows us playing at the Festival. We were (left to right) Steve Whitley, Ian Chesterman, Goff Jones, Ken Prydderch and Dave Russell.
Steve Whitley
2003
Sitting at the Social Club one evening, trying my best to keep a 5 year old entertained (I am sure many of you have done this): I found a kindred spirit in another mother doing just the same. Well, I say we found each other, it was actually the boys. Later on when the freedom of the Festival field was returned to them, they spent many hours learning to juggle and play with a Diabolo. They listened to bedtime stories under the stars while drinking hot chocolate and munching on crumpets. Mustn’t forget the crumpets! We have all been friends ever since, 22 years! Thank you, Chester Folk Festival!
Rosie Robertson
2004
Stars in their eyes
Possibly taking some inspiration from the Rock and Roll Night, a few years later we produced an evening concert in the Community Centre that was loosely based on the TV show, where I took on the roll of Matthew Kelly and a host of thousands (well a couple of dozen) performed pretending to be someone else – some of them even well known folk acts.
Mal Waite
2006 Navvies
I asked Mick Ryan if he would allow me to produce one of his folk operas/shows at the next year’s festival. As an alternative, he suggested that the festival commission him to write a new one. Clearly the festival was delighted to accept this offer and the following year saw the premiere of The Navvies (later called the Navvy’s Wife), featuring Mick himself plus a host of local singers and musicians.
Mal Waite
2011
I was attending and reviewing the festival for RNR (RocknReel) magazine. My positive review mentioned a pregnant Nancy Kerr, Les Barker's daschund and its erections, Blackbeard's Tea party scaring off some of the grey beards, and seeing a local redheaded lad for the first time. I'll let the review take up the story "Greg Russell, a local eighteen year old, was taking time out from ‘A’ levels with a spot on the main stage. Greg’s a wonderful guitarist with a good voice and a killer version of ‘Romeo And Juliet’. Watch out for him". I did watch out for him and interviewed him for a feature in RNR two years later when he released his first album (with Ciaran Algar). The photo attached is actually from 2013. Chester Folk Festival should be proud of helping to nurture a high class performer who still does an occasional gig, as you well know, though he is usually otherwise engaged these days.
Ian Croft (RnR Magazine)
2014
My first year at Chester. I’d only just started singing. Late at night in the beer tent - I’d never before felt so much in the middle of music making.
2015 Duchess of Richmond’s Ball
An extravaganza featuring mostly traditional songs, music, dances and commentary from the time, to tell the story of the ball held in Brussels immediately before the Battle of Waterloo. During the ball, the many serving officers present were called away to rejoin their regiments. Battle was joined the following day. A host of local performers pulled off this mixed media historical performance in commemoration of the battle itself.
Mal Waite
2017
On my 40th birthday, and 24 years of celebrating it at a Chester Folk Festival, my dear friend Sue presented me with a rather lovely bottle of champagne. This was shared with friends, along with strawberries. More and more friends joined us throughout the day and the idea of a bottle of Champers in a festival field in your wellies in Kelsall really took off. So did the Champagne sales at the Coop across the road! This carried on for many years and I think this year is a good time to resurrect it!
Rosie Robertson
2017 Summer of Love Concert
To commemorate the anniversary of the Summer of Love, the Monday teatime concert in the Methodist Church featured loads of songs from 1967 sung by local artists to a packed house of people who dressed up in typical hippie fashions and came ready to party from the first note. It was groovy!!?!
Mal Waite
2020
First the bad news…
A message from the organisers of Chester Folk Festival
It is with great sadness that we must announce the cancellation of this year’s festival.
In reaching this decision, our overwhelming priority has been the health and welfare of all the people who help to make Chester Folk
This is not a decision we wanted to make but we hope that you will understand why we feel we must make it, even though we as well as you will be disappointed by this outcome.
We send you all our best wishes. Stay safe!
..and the better news
a very successful online Festival was held over what would have been the Festival weekend.
2021
Chippenham & Chester combine for one amazing online Folk Festival experience in May!
Every year on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, two communities of like-minded people usually celebrate all things Folk, 175 miles apart. Not this year! We are thrilled to announce that this May we are combining forces to bring to you the best of both worlds in an online extravaganza jointly organised by Chippenham Folk Festival and Chester Folk Festival.
On hearing the news, John Kirkpatrick, the patron of Chippenham Folk Festival said:
“This is such an exciting idea – two great festivals pooling their resources to make one mighty weekend that can be enjoyed from anywhere in the world. In these strange times, it’s so impressive to see how constantly resourceful and inventive the folk community can be to keep the music alive and kicking.”
More recently
Helen Armstrong and I had set ourselves an ambitious target of dances to teach the festival-goers. Every year’s the same - you wonder how on earth you’re going to explain a new set of dances, yet two hours later you watch in wonderment that there’s a whole room now dancing to something they didn’t even know that morning.
Dave Vaughan
Living in Kelsall, each year watching the Green fill with the marquee, caravans, tents and folkie people, as the excitement mounts. Colourful Morris sides and mummers dancing outside the pubs. One year a wedding party processed down to the Dancer from the church and the Chester Morris Men provided a flowery arch and the chimney sweep from the mummers wished the newlyweds ‘Good luck!’
The young and amazingly talented John Boden and John Spiers camped in a tiny 2 man tent - they were bound to be famous!
The thunderstorm last year which caused power outage throughout the venues!
The late, much lamented Les Barker’s poems and the whole marquee joining in on the last line and laughing every time.
Belshazzar’s Feast - brilliantly clever musicians, hilariously playing tunes over each other.
My particular joy - the French music session in the back of the Oak. Sat on a comfy sofa with a coffee and a bacon butty on a Sunday morning - perfect!
Graham Bellinger and Rose Price providing a magical hour of Beatles tunes to sing along to in the Social Club . And the final session there when the comfy chairs and warmth set quite a few of the audience to sleep.
Pam Lewis
There are so many stories of happenings and events I could tell, of friendships with festival goers and many artistes along with so many wonderful volunteer's, manning the office, the site, and the needs and safety of our festival customers over the years. The joy and lasting memory for me was when the festival was restarted and headed by Cheryl and the Survivors to bring this festival where it is today fifty years on
John Finnan Organiser 1975-1990
And in conclusion:
This song is based on knowledge of folk and folk-protest, on my memories of listening over the years, to longer serving members of Committee, Chester Morris, Nick, John Finnan - and various others, (some now gone) on how the Chester folk scene transformed inside friendships, into a Festival.
It shows the value of friendships in its setting up and continuance, brings in the present day Young Performers, of whom we know there are never enough, states when and where it takes place,
greets the longstanding audiences, points up the fifty years and expresses a wish for long continuance, until the festival hits its century.
Charlotte Peters Rock
