"
It's nice to hear
the old songs,
sung the good old
way…

"
It's nice to hear the old songs,
sung the good old way…

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.

KEEP FOLK TALKING

PODCAST

KEEP FOLK TALKING

PODCAST

We want to 'keep folk talking' in our NEW Openhouse Studio Podcast with a new special guest for every episode including stories and songs from past to present.

OUR latestPODCAST

KEEP FOLK TALKING

Brian Jones with Alan Ainsworth

Brian Jones sits down with Alan Ainsworth, a songwriter who's been quietly crafting songs for over 60 years. From awkward beginnings at the Washouse Folk Club in 1963 to finding kinship among anarchists and poets at the Green Moose, Alan tells a story of persistence, politics, and the power of song. Once seen as the exotic "Nutcase" in a sea of traditionalists, he shares a witty, moving look at the folk scenes that shaped him – and the songs that stayed hidden far too long.

KEEP FOLK TALKING

WITH Alan Ainsworth

Brian Jones sits down with Alan Ainsworth, a songwriter who's been quietly crafting songs for over 60 years. From awkward beginnings at the Washouse Folk Club in 1963 to finding kinship among anarchists and poets at the Green Moose, Alan tells a story of persistence, politics, and the power of song. Once seen as the exotic "Nutcase" in a sea of traditionalists, he shares a witty, moving look at the folk scenes that shaped him – and the songs that stayed hidden far too long.

Let's start in 1963. My first public appearance was at the "Washouse" Folk Club, run by Pete Magovern and Billy Moore.
I played two Dylan songs, but they didn't go down well; they were a bit too contemporary for this mainly traditional audience.
Still, we all have to start somewhere…

READY TO TELL YOUR story

We would love to hear and share your stories from the folk scene,
get in touch to feature on our next podcast.

The Resident

He's always there week after week he puts up with a lot
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!

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