For those local to Stocksbridge, you may have seen some letters written to the Stocksbridge newspaper Look Local, about Friday Folk from someone identifying themselves as 'Old Folkie'. We were saddened and dissappointed to read these comments about the club, which were published throughout the months of June to August and stated he came to The Venue and was unable to find the club so left, in spite of signage and staff/ customers being present throughout the building.
'Old Folkie' then wrote to Look Local after briefly coming to the night of Friday 30th July, which was also published.
Here is 'Old Folkie's' second letter (we have been unable to track down the first as yet) followed by Charlie's response, which we have asked to be published to re-dress the balance:
"FOLK CLUB FOUND
I thought people might be interested to know that I finally found where the Last Friday Folk Club was in the Venue this month.
I turned up earlier this time- at about 7.20pm- and was able to ask someone for directions as there were more people knocking around in the entry hall than last time.
However it didn't start until 8pm and I was the only member of the public there. There were more musicians than audience so I didn't stay long.
Am I the only person in the area that likes folk music?
- AN OLD FOLKIE"
Response from Charlie Barker and The Partnership Media:
"Dear Look Local,
I am writing with regards to the comments published by ‘Old Folkie’ about Friday Folk, hosted by Charlie Barker at The Venue, Stocksbridge.
As the host and promoter of this night, I felt sad reading the recent letters about ‘Old Folkie’s’ experience of The Venue and his opinions of the folk club itself and would like to set the record straight on the many issues raised some of which bear no comparison to the club that I’ve seen grow since the early days of The Venue’s existence.
In the face of folk clubs closing down, pubs going bankrupt and live music disappearing from the social scene, our business launched a new folk event in the pit of the deepest recession in living memory. The Venue in turn gave their all in supporting us, to make the night a success and shortly after the local community welcomed us as a regular date in their social and musical calendars.
In the last 4 months the club has grown to the extent that we are rapidly outgrowing our current base in the Samuel Fox Suite and have on occasion moved into the 200 capacity Steel Room for events. We had anticipated a more modest growth but have been pleasantly surprised by the scale of our audience and regular musicians and guests, who are some of the friendliest people I know.
At every club we have an advertised guest musician and the majority of the night is taken up with a range of floor spot performers who turn up on the night, get their name down at the door and play to a full house. The night has been publicised as starting at 8pm every month, on our websites, flyers, posters and advertising and am unsure as to why ‘Old Folkie’ thought it may be different?
On the evening in question where ‘Old Folkie’ attended we had around 75 members of the audience, some made up of floor spot musicians (11 acts in total that night) and the majority who come to enjoy and listen to the music. Our regulars know it’s a frequent occurrence that we have to bring in more tables and chairs to accommodate everyone.
Not a single musician has been turned away due to numbers and as people know who regularly join us, sound engineer John and I will accommodate every musician who wants to perform and give them the best sound quality we can, even if we have to stay till last orders on the late bar.
As a club it is our policy to include and accommodate musicians from all backgrounds, regardless of ability, age or style. For us folk is the music of the people and categorising our audience in a genre is a means limiting creativity. We welcome a range of styles from traditional to contemporary, to world music and popular styles. I’m pleased to say we had our first international guests from China who treated the club to music from their culture, which received a standing ovation. ‘Folk’ to us is just a word, but the message we send out is ‘We’re all folk aren’t we’?
‘Old Folkie’, I remember you on the night in question and was pleased to see a new face at the club. It was a shame when I was collecting names of performers at the beginning of the night that you left. You would have had a warm welcome from our regulars if you’d had chance to meet them, who arrived shortly after your exit. By 8.30pm the room was full and the night was well underway. I assure you, there are many people who like folk music in the area.
We receive feedback all time and are pleased to have been named October 2009’s Folk Club of the Month in online folk magazine, Fatea.co.uk. One of our regular performers and writer/ reviewer, Steve, has said we are “By far the best open-mic night in South Yorkshire”. You can read more about this on our website www.fridayfolk.co.uk. If anyone has any feedback most people feel comfortable to talk to me directly and so far everyone has been very positive.
Don’t be a stranger Old Folkie.
- Charlie (& John) Barker, Friday Folk/ The Partnership Media"
We are pleased to see and hear that our regulars have stepped in to support the club in the face of the negative comments published and are most grateful. We genuinely believe we have one of the friendliest clubs thanks to our audience and are proud to host such an event.
Local musician Tina McKevitt has said:
"Pleased to read your detailed response to Old Folkie. I've only ever had positive experiences of the club (when I've been able to get there, which isn't as often as I'd like) and think you do a great job with it. We need to support and encourage ventures like yours that do such a lot for live music. Keep up the good work!"
