St Andrews Folk Club with Jim Herd 19-10-75 (full concert)

In the latter half of the last decade Fife was home to many reknowned folksingers and songwriters – Barbara Dickson, Archie Fisher, Rab Noakes, Jean Redpath, Matt Armour and John Watt to name but a few. Jim Herd lived, worked and performed amongst them. A mainstay of the acclaimed Kirkcaldy Folk Club held in the “Elbow Room” Kirkcaldy – Jim was for some time both it’s compère and resident singer. Jim was also a talented songwriter, always popular with audiences for his performance of his own material and that of others ranging from traditional to that of artistes such as Dave Loggins and Jackson C Frank. In addition to performing in his home town Jim would simply drop in and perform, as a “floorsinger” at other nearby clubs. Jim also became a resident and compère at St Andrews Folk Club travelling around 50 miles of a Sunday evening to ensure audiences enjoyed some of the finest folk music around. Sadly, for us, Jim’s professional career took him away to the other side of the globe to Guadalcanal, an island in the Solomon Islands. This recording of Jim was made on a rare return visit to “Blighty”. Little has been heard of Jim in recent years although it is believed he returned to UK following retirement. He is known to have appeared at a Hong Kong Folk Society Reunion in Somerset in 2014 (see    • 1796. Peggy Gordon (Jim Herd & Jim O'Boyle...  ) and at the Great Fife Road Show 50th Anniversary Concert in 2019. This recording is a reminder of just how fine a musician he is. The recording also features some fine support acts: Tom Branston a stalwart of the club whilst based at Leuchars, during his service in the RAF. Tom’s wide repertoire was always popular with students, locals, tourists and fellow servicemen. This was sadly Tom’s last night before his relocation to Wales. Jacob, Janet and Christoph - an ad hoc trio comprising two German performers and Fife local Janet Russell. Janet attended university in St Andrews and was a club regular. Later she turned full time to music becoming well known on the Scottish folk scene. She released several solo records on the Harbourtown label, as “Sisters Unlimited” on Fellside and with Christine Kydd on Greentrax. A director of Yorkshire Dales Workshops, Janet produced the first English performances of “The Christmas Truce” with Coope Boyes and Simpson - a show that received a standing ovation at the Sheffield Raise Your Banners Festival 2001 and 2002. In 2005 the same team put on two performances of “Hearts of Coal” celebrating the lives of miners and mining communities with the Roses and Thorns choir, a magnificent group of 80 voices from across northern England. Whilst resident in London, Janet worked with Leon Rosselson, Sandra Kerr, and Roy Bailey in the Political Song Network Janet leads three community choirs, in Silsden, Burnley, and Settle and runs voice and harmony workshops, whilst bringing up her two sons with partner Jim Woodland. Aileen Carr was born in Coupar Angus, Perthshire. Her father, self-taught on the melodeon, had a fine Scots voice. Her mother sang and played piano at musical evenings, with songs past and present, old and new, traditional and popular. From this background Aileen, developed her interest in music and song and would happily sing to people- even on the bus - as a little girl, but was to shy to have her voice trained for public performance. Later she was encouraged to sing and perform on stage. Hearing the likes of Belle Stewart at the Blairgowrie Festival was a defining moment for her – along with the day she was given a copy of Norman Buchan and Peter Hall's 1973 Scottish Folksinger at teacher training college. Her family moved to Goole, Yorkshire, where she joined them as a teacher. A thriving folk club in South Cave encouraged her to become a floor singer both there and at the Bluebell Club in Hull, where she met many artistes such as Alison McMorland, and Archie Fisher. In the 1970s she returned to Scotland and Archie suggested she base herself in Fife. She became a regular unaccompanied singer at St Andrew's and other clubs, performing at Kinross Festival and throughout Britain and Ireland. In the 1980s she joined Ceolbeg, then with Maureen Jelks, Chris Miles and Gordeanna McCulloch performed as “Palaver” an acappella group, at the Ballyshannon Festival. Aileen’s album Green Yarrow released in 2000 on Greentrax. A double album featuring Aileen with such notables as Elspeth Cowie, Cilla Fisher, Annie Grace, Corrina Hewat, Heather Heywood, Maureen Jelks, Chris Miles, Gordeanna McCulloch, Alison McMorland, Anne Neilson, Karine Polwart, Sheila Stewart, Stravaig and Sheena Wellington was recorded “Live From Celtic Connections 2001” by Greentrax. The name of the other performer of the nights programme is unknown. A fine performance worthy of note he is thought to be a visitor to the town, volunteered or pressed ganged into appearing. If anyone can supply a name please note in “COMMENTS”.