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 Kathy Runswick

Join Brian Jones as he sits down with Kathy Runswick, organiser of Wallasey Folk & Acoustic Club and the first guest in our new Keep Folk Going – The Organisers series.

Kathy reflects on her lifelong connection to folk music, from childhood singarounds and family influences to helping run one of the area’s most welcoming folk clubs. Together they discuss the challenges facing folk clubs today, the importance of community, and how organisers across the region are working to ensure folk music continues to thrive for future generations.

 

KEEP FOLK TALKING

WITH Kathy Runswick

Join Brian Jones as he sits down with Kathy Runswick, organiser of Wallasey Folk & Acoustic Club and the first guest in our new Keep Folk Going – The Organisers series.

Kathy reflects on her lifelong connection to folk music, from childhood singarounds and family influences to helping run one of the area’s most welcoming folk clubs. Together they discuss the challenges facing folk clubs today, the importance of community, and how organisers across the region are working to ensure folk music continues to thrive for future generations.

Kathy’s podcast is the first in a new Openhouse Folk initiative called: Keep Folk Going – The Organisers.

Over the coming months we’ll be shining a spotlight on the people working behind the scenes to keep folk music alive.

The organisers, the volunteers, the committee members, the people who spend countless hours making sure clubs, sessions and singarounds continue to thrive.

We’ll be inviting organisers into the studio to tell their stories, promote their events and share their ideas for the future of the folk scene. Because if we’re serious about preserving our folk heritage, we need to celebrate the people who make it possible.

And Kathy Runswick is the perfect place to start.

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.

OUR song OF THE MONTH

Mal Jones was one of my oldest and dearest friends, and a lifelong force in the folk scene – always singing, organising, and inspiring others.

Take a listen to “In The Palm Of His Hand,” a song that beautifully reflects Mal’s spirit and the joy he brought to so many.

The songs continue, and so do the memories. Thank you, Mal.

Brian Jones

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.

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