On Tuesday 07 October 2025, our member Peter took us on a folk music tour of his past, including some of the artists he had met over the years.

He started with Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) and described the effect his music had had on a young Pete Seeger and a young Woodie Guthrie. Pete Seeger was to appear several times during the session, but we moved on to The Rock Island Line, perhaps better known in the UK thanks to Lonnie Donegan’s interpretation. Pete Seeger played as one of the Weavers, and we heard their interpretation of So Long (It’s Been Good to Know You).

That led to Jeff Walker and Mr Bo Jangles followed by Ewan MacCall and his song about the shoals of herring and the migration of your girls as they followed the catch landing places. We then had Donovan, Peggy Seeger, Judy Collins and the Dubliners.

There was Joan Baez, a very early Bob Dylan (with Mr Tambourine Man) and Harvey Andrews, before we stopped for a cup of tea.

After the break we had Steel Eye Span with All Around My Hat, Sandy Denny (who had sadly died at age 31) and Vin Garbutt, the Teeside Troubadour. He was followed by the Corries and Max Boyce. There was then just time for The Spinners (with Dirty Old Town), Bella Harding and Ralph McTell. We finished with Bellowhead and London Town, but some of the lyrics of London Town left us puzzled.

Our next tour will be led by Pete Meadows and will concentrate on the Swing Bands.