Walsall folk club gets in tune for relaunch as musicians reunite for first time in 50 years

The Folk Club at the town's Pretty Bricks pub in John Street will again be strumming sweet melodies when it throws open the doors tomorrow.

It was originally set up in 1963 by band The Packmen, some of whom are now helping to revive the sessions were held on Wednesdays and Fridays in those days.

Among the well-known performers who made appearances there were The Spinners, Alex Campbell, Harvey Andrews, Noel Murphy, Weston Gavin, Ian Campbell and The Corries.

The club closed down in 1968 but after a reunion last December, the new organisers, including Walsall councillor Chris Towe, decided to dust down their instruments and relaunch it.

When it strikes up tomorrow evening at 8pm there will be performances by Mr Towe and guest Tony Barrett, who is a regular at music nights at Bloxwich Bookmark.

Around 40 people attended a reunion of those who were involved in the original club and they talked about the possibility of starting it up again.

Mr Towe, who is also part of tribute band Out of the Shadows, and another musician Brian Collie were members of The Packmen.

They were supported by the trio the Three Sues who performed floor spots at the old club.

They were Sue Coleman, formerly Sue Finch, Sue Samaraweera, formerly Sue Roberts, and Sue Lane, formerly Sue Hunter.

Mr Towe, 70, said: "The Packmen was set up by Brian and myself after we met through work.

"I worked at the abattoir FMC Meat Limited that was near the pub and Brian was the local authority's meat inspector.

"We got talking about music one day and he said he was a singer and I told him I was also a singer. We decided to start the band with some other guys and formed The Packmen. It was the first folk club in Walsall.

"Brian is from Scotland and Ronnie Browne, of The Corries, is his uncle. They are sort of a Scottish version of The Spinners and of course both bands played at our club. We used to run about six folk nights across the region."

In addition to playing two nights in Walsall they were at the '76 Club, in Burton upon Trent, on Monday nights; The Prince of Wales, in Tamworth, on Tuesdays, the Old Crown pub, in Bore Street, Lichfield on Thursdays and on first Saturdays; and the Wheatsheaf, in Cannock, on Sundays.

"When Brian left The Packmen later on Mike James joined us. Both of them came to the reunion in December. Brian lives in Cumbria now, but he has promised to come and support the new club.

"We hope people will come along and soak up the atmosphere of the music and the pub which has not changed over the years."

Admission is free to attend the folk club which is being sponsored by the brewery Black Country Ales.