At our 25th anniversary event, Ric Bateman gave us a special gift – care of the notebook containing the first records of Club Acoustic events.
The book is mostly the notes of who was playing each evening – replaced nowadays by the rather less permanent ‘white board’.
So for those who claim to have been playing at Club Acoustic from the very start, we now have the actual record…
Looking through these early records has been fascinating. For instance, I now know when Club Acoustic had its Dylan at Newport Folk Festival moment, and stopped being purely acoustic. It took Bob Dylan around 5 years to make the leap. Club Acoustic took just five and a half months, with the entry for March 17th 2000 including the notation “Club Electric”…
Club Acoustic was started on 30th September 1999 in a small room in the Old Clubhouse, by Keith Smith and Ric Bateman (pictured some time later…).
A group of local musicians had been playing in noisy pubs around Buxton for some time, but wanted to create a space where music could be played, listened to and enjoyed in a quieter environment. Ric and Keith invited all types of musicians and music, just so long as it was acoustic. The intention was to create a very low maintenance event which was a pleasure to attend, so it was held fortnightly to make it a treat rather than an obligation.
25 years on, and Club Acoustic is still a fortnightly, low maintenance event which (I hope) is a pleasure to attend.
Over those years some things have changed; we’ve had a few different venues and now meet at the Working Men’s Club, and we aren’t always totally acoustic. But, at its core, we hold true to the original intention of being a place where music can be enjoyed by performers and listeners alike. People have joined us, some have left for other places and other activities and, sadly, a few have passed away.
During the Club’s lifetime, we’ve had performances from something like 200 different people. While these have mostly been singer/guitarists, we’ve seen an incredible range of performers with instruments from the accordion to the zither via things like the cajon, the harp (both stringed and blown), the piano and the saxophone. Not to mention many who have sung unaccompanied!
As 25 years of Club Acoustic seems something worth celebrating, our next meeting on October 16th will be an opportunity to celebrate the past and look forward to the future. We plan a longer than usual evening, starting from 7:30 pm, with the room available to us up to 11:30 pm. As well as our current group of regulars, we’d really like to see anyone who has been a part of Club Acoustic at any point over the last 25 years. Keith and Ric are already signed up to perform a few songs, and anyone else who turns up ready to play should be able to get a turn or two.
Owing to changed circumstances, unfortunately The Wye have had to withdraw from this month’s Showcase concert.
Michael has moved times to play the second, ‘headline’ set, and John McGrother has agreed at short notice to play a musical set as well as managing the PA!
So we can still expect an evening of great music, and hopefully The Wye can come and join us at a future event!
Only a couple of months since the last Showcase concert at the end of May, but July also has a fifth Wednesday this year.
On Wednesday July 31st we have a concert featuring Michael Clement and The Wye, two acts who have been preparing for the Showcase by warming up with performances in the Festival Fringe.
It promises to be a great evening of music at the Working Men’s Club on Lightwood Road!
Andrew Robinson & Friends on the WMC stage at the May Showcase
After Club Acoustic was told we could no longer meet in our original venue at the Old Clubhouse, we’ve had a bit of a struggle to find somewhere else that we can be ourselves once again. We’ve now settled at the Working Men’s Club on Lightwood Road. Following a successful Showcase Concert in at the end of May, we had our first regular Open Session at the start of July.
Wragged Tree performing from the dance floor area
Our new venue offers plenty of space to accommodate performers and audience, with everything dedicated to our music while we meet there.
Bryn Layton trying out the sound from the stage
Thanks to the many Club Acoustic members who suggested, searched out and investigated many potential venues, and to The Vault and The Railway who made us welcome while we checked out how well they’d fit with us.
So come along to Club Acoustic, Open Sessions on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, and a special Showcase concert whenever the month has a 5th Wednesday. The next Open Session will be July 17th 2024, and the next Showcase two weeks after that on July 31st.
Come to perform, come to listen. Hope to see you there!
