Welcome to
Openhouse Studio
Folk Music Legacy
Created by Brian Jones, with daughter; Samantha, this website is a legacy project designed to bring ‘folk up to date.’
Explore the website, listen to the music, Explore folk music heritage UK and read the stories starting from the 60’s revival through to present day.
Welcome to
Openhouse Studio
Folk Music Legacy
Created by Brian Jones, with daughter; Samantha, this website is a legacy project designed to bring ‘folk up to date.’
Explore the website, listen to the music and read the stories starting from the 60’s revival through to present day.
OUR latestPODCAST
KEEP FOLK TALKING
Brian Jones with Helen Sheppard
Brian Jones sits down with Helen Sheppard, described by him as the ‘unsung hero of Openhouse,’ whose harmonies and subtle touches have graced more than a dozen albums over the years. Helen’s voice has lifted countless recordings – from Ian Chesterman’s Over the Moors to the songs of Eddie Morris, Jeff Hurst, Roger Parker, and Jack Owen.
KEEP FOLK TALKING
WITH Helen Sheppard
Brian Jones sits down with Helen Sheppard, described by him as the ‘unsung hero of Openhouse,’ whose harmonies and subtle touches have graced more than a dozen albums over the years. Helen’s voice has lifted countless recordings – from Ian Chesterman’s Over the Moors to the songs of Eddie Morris, Jeff Hurst, Roger Parker, and Jack Owen.
Music has always been a major part of my life but I’m something of a ‘late arrival’ into the world of Folk.
As a small child in Stoke on Trent in the 1960’s I loved to sing – many a time my Mum accompanied me on the piano singing ‘The Ash Grove’ which became a great favourite of mine. I sang at Sunday School, and then in school and church choirs. My primary school had a wonderful music teacher and I was soon playing recorder and percussion and started to learn the piano at age 7 and cello at 8 – by then I already knew I wanted to teach music.
The Resident
He does what’s known within the trade as ‘The Kamikaze Spot’
He’s there to warm you buggers up and try to make you sing
But the highlight of the evening is when he breaks a string!
Folk don’t always listen they’re busy at the bar
Or chatting to each other and drowning his guitar
Sometimes he thinks he’s cracked it
When some open mouths he’ll see
But it’s only some old friends he’s brought
And they came in for free!
Why do we do it? I don’t know, we masochistic band
Maybe one day we’ll find that never, Neverland
Where an audience has ears and sings just like a choir
When you ask them to join in they raise their voices higher
Like some Eisteddfod winners far removed from any pub
Why then I’ll know I’ve really died and hosting Heaven’s Folk Club.
OUR song OF THE MONTH
When we arrived at Openhouse Studio for our monthly catch-up we didn’t expect to stumble into a new favourite song.
Brian was at the desk, mixing a track he’d recorded the night before. The song, written by his long time friend and collaborator Alan Ainsworth, immediately caught our ears. Brian told us the song had been circling in his head for days and he just had to find out if the version he was imagining would work. He wasn’t sure, but WE thought it did and as we needed a new song of the month, we sent in our secret agent (Sam) while Dad was out, to burn us a copy.
The track is called “I’ve been around some.” Here’s what Alan told us about it. “I’ve mostly written songs in the country and folk genres, but now and then I try to channel some of my heroes-Willy Nelson, Leonard Cohen, and in this case Waylon Jennings. This song was meant to sound like one of Waylon’s outlaw songs. It didn’t quite get there, but it’s not a bad song, so l kept it. It’s got all the right ingredients-an untethered singer- songwriter, constantly on the move, footloose, no roots, and no trust in anyone.” Alan and Brian have been working together for some time now, arranging and recording a collection of Alan’s songs to accompany a podcast series they recorded earlier.
With this new track setting the tone, we’re looking forward to hearing more of Alan’s songs and stories very soon. Stay Tuned!
discover
OUR ARTISTS
BRIAN
JONES
Brian shares his stories from the early years, starting out during the folk revival of the 60’s
GORDON AND BRIAN (BROTHERS)
In 1965, Brian and his brother Gordon started singing together in local folk clubs. Pete McGovern christened them ‘The Lads’
ALIAS GLOVER & JONES
Alias Glover & Jones played Folk Clubs from the Midlands to the North West in the 1970’s. Read Tim’s story…
JONES & COMPANY
Original Jones and Company; Brian, Helen and Janet; the start of the Jones Family harmony singing dynasty
THE JONES FAMILY
The first generation of Jones Family Band started in the 80s with Helen, my wife, and Janet, her younger sister.
