At the rear of the Institute was The ‘Jug ‘O Punch Folk Club,
which thrived in the 60’s. on Thursday nights.
The club was run by Ian Campbell,
for me the most under-rated influence in folk music
and a man whose influence rates alongside that of Ewan MacColl.
The Ian Campbell Folk Group included the great
Dave Swarbrick, Ian’s sister Lorna –
whose singing was unsurpassed in Britain
and the late John Dunkerley.
The group had also included one Dave Phillips,
and later Dave Pegg on bass, who was to join Jethro Tull,
and Fairport Convention
Compiled by Keith Law
‘Lycanthropy’, filmed in 2005-2006.
There Are Currently 18 Comments for this Post
I first went to the Jug O’Punch in August 1967, and returned each summer when I was working at the Midlands Arts Centre. As you say so many performers either started at the club or owe their early exposure to the Campbells. When I met my wife in 1970 I took her to the club, and Ian gave her a floor spot.
Some of the sessions were recorded – I think for some local or hospital radio. I don’t know if the recordings survive?
The 1960’s saw the dawning of a great period in Folk music. I vsited the Jug O’Punch many times in the early 60’s – great night out. It was later, when I moved to Worcestershire, that such great clubs as the Nag’s Head (Malvern); The Cock Inn (Droitwich); The Saracens Head and the Bush(Worcester) and the Worcester Collage folk club were all going strong. All now sadly missed.
I seem to recall Alex Campbell doing some TV shows, what happend to them?
Where in Birmingham was the Jug’o’Punch located?
Hi Kevin, it was located in what is now the Digbeth Institute. It was the Digbeth Civic Hall when the Jug o’Punch was operating. It was the side entrance on Milk Street and the downstairs part of the venue. Hope that helps!
I went to the club in the sixties when working in Brum and it was near the Digbath bus station.It was thr best.I remember one night the show was The Anthology of the Blues with Alexi Corner some of the hard line folk people did not think this was not for a folk club and started shouting.Alex soon put them right and a great night was had,well done Alex
Happy memories of the Jug of Punch in 1965-67. When did it end? Just read that Ian Campbell passed away in 2012, which is very sad. He was a great musician and an underrated influence on the folk music revival of the 1960s.
i can remember ‘the Jug’ being held at The Crown in. Station St when I first joined (about 1963) but then it moved to the Digbeth Civic Hall. They had some wonderful guests: Ewan McColl, Martin Carthy, Bob Davenportf and I am sure Paul Simon turned up quite often! The Campbells themselves were excellent and every Thursday night seemed to offer something special.
I remember buying raffle tickets one week, and winning an LP by The Young Tradition, who were the star turn that night. Didn’t like them on the night but have grown to love the LP!
Harvey Andrews was a new performer in 1964/5, at the Jug, rediscovered him in the 90’s, got all his CD’s and saw him at Shifnal on 22nd. June.
I went with Bernard Parttington ( not sure about the spelling) who I worked with repairing typewriters (Tony Iommi also worked with us till he left to go full time with Sabbath the boss told him he was making a mistake?) in the late 60s & possibly early 70s! Great music but my overriding memory is of really rough cider! And hangovers!
Used to visit the Jug of Punch in Digbeth on occasions and remember travelling back home to south Birmingham on a Midland Red 145 bus sitting upstairs behind the late great Dave Swarbrick who I had just been watching. Wish I had had the nerve to have strike up a conversation but far too shy in those days!
I was a medical student in Birmingham in the 60s and we went to the Jug of Punch in Digbeth almost every Thursday night — what a great place it was — none of that silly theatrical sitting in rows — it had a bar — and you could stand or sit and, if it suited, get drunk (never threw you out) & listen to the music the way you liked– it is so moving these days to read obituaries of the great singers and musicians that performed there – the great bearded Cornishman who died not so long ago —
Anyone remember who the Irish singer was who sang the old triangle at the Jug?
It was Dominic Behan, the brother of Brendan Behan who included the song in his play “The Quare Fellow”. It was written by Dick Shannon.
Dominic lived in Birmingham in the late sixties and was well known around the pubs of Moseley.
Would that have been Noel Murphy?
The Jug was a real club I went every week for about 3 years in the early 70s. I remember Ian’s sons doing floor spots and sometimes running the club when the Campbells were touring.
I saw many great acts and floor spots. Loved Ian and Launa’s mom singing “The Bunch of Thyme “
One of the legends of the club was that Paul Simon turned up a week late a guest appearance. Ian was reluctant to even give him a floor spot since he didn’t think he was much good.
Ian used to do a lighthearted song outlining the history of the folk revival I wonder if a recording exists.
It’s Lorna (not ‘Launa’) !!
Yes, the song is on the group’s ‘live’ed.
Great memories, they used to show Laurel & Hardy silent movies during the intermissions.