Songs From The Rutherglen Academy Ballads Club
Enjoy an afternoon of music from The Rutherglen Academy Ballads Club at Rutherglen Town Hall on Sunday 19th April!
About Songs From The Rutherglen Academy Ballads Club
| 19th April 2026 | |
| 2.30pm | |
|
Rutherglen Town Hall 139 Main Street, Rutherglen G73 2JJ |
|
| £10 | |
| Visit the event website here |
Folk music was beginning to boom throughout the U.K. in the 1950’s. Much of it was heavily influenced by ‘Skiffle’. The great Lonnie Donegan used many songs from the American folk song scene, and this encouraged many British youngsters to go out and buy a guitar. Average sales of guitars at the time apparently rose from 2000 per annum to 300,000 per annum. At one stage there were over 30,000 recognised ‘Skiffle Bands’ in the U.K.
English teacher at Rutherglen Academy, Norman Buchan, was already a dedicated folk fan in 1957 when he decided to open a lunch time folk club, he called it a ‘Ballads Club’, in the school where he taught. Concerned that the idea might not catch on he described the opening event as a ‘Folk and Skiffle’ club. He needn’t have worried; the room was packed. And so, it remained for many, many years.
Norman’s politics were strongly supportive of Civil Rights; the CND and he leaned strongly to the left. Through this he met many of the currently top politically motivated folk singers, including the great Pete Seeger.
His personality, politics and folk song enthusiasm endeared him to many ‘stars’ who were willing to come along to the Ballads Club and perform a few songs, free of charge.
Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton, Ray and Archie Fisher, Matt McGinn, Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor, Josh MacRae and many more including Billy Connolly ensured the success of the club. It also encouraged many youngsters to follow a career in folk song. Not all became full time performers, but many became very well-established names on the worldwide folk scene. Sadly, not all of the ‘Ballads Club’ artistes are still alive but there are still quite a few who will come along and perform at this concert with a mix of old favourites and self-penned songs.
Norman Buchan passed away many years ago but his influence, and that of the Ballads Club is still very strong as will be heard at this event. This will be a great sing-along event so come prepared.
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