Anyone remember a little folk venue called Mangles - JHB?

lindsmuse

It had a vegetarian restaurant upstairs and downstairs was this tiny little room with a couple of wooden tables and chairs. I was fortunate on my first night there to probly see the last of what they called 'the folk revival' it had such a vibe that place. That night I saw Edi Nederlander, Paul Clingman and a band called Attic - and I had never SEEN acoustic music like that in my life! It was awesome. And I was hooked. I'm curious to know whether anybody else experienced the 'SA folk revival' - how it was in Cape Town, other towns, cities, and whether there is anything similar to that around today ... Nice venue in OBs - ' Touch of Madness' - Thursday night is Irish music night apparently - was there about 3 months back. People who play Irish music just rock up there and start jamming. Cause Irish music has so many standards. That was also amazing ...

Bob-Dubery

lindsmuse wrote: It had a vegetarian restaurant upstairs and downstairs was this tiny little room with a couple of wooden tables and chairs. I was fortunate on my first night there to probly see the last of what they called 'the folk revival' it had such a vibe that place. That night I saw Edi Nederlander, Paul Clingman and a band called Attic - and I had never SEEN acoustic music like that in my life! It was awesome. And I was hooked. I'm curious to know whether anybody else experienced the 'SA folk revival' - how it was in Cape Town, other towns, cities, and whether there is anything similar to that around today ... Nice venue in OBs - ' Touch of Madness' - Thursday night is Irish music night apparently - was there about 3 months back. People who play Irish music just rock up there and start jamming. Cause Irish music has so many standards. That was also amazing ...

Where was this? I can think of an old folk club down the arse end of Hillbrow, but this may not be the same place.

And what era are you talking about? (Please note, I am NOT asking a lady her age - I'm sure you were just out of diapers and your Dad took you to this wondrous venue). There was a big folk revival going on in Durban in the early 70s. The Kitchen brothers, Brian Finch, Yay Lesson etc etc. Probably Fiona Tozer too.

lindsmuse

It was about 1974-ish. And I think it was actually in Braamfontein, near a reall drinking dive called the King Edward or something. Yes - the Kitchen brothers probly played there - it was part of that whole thing. It's quite sad that it never received the hype it deserved - the 'folk revival' that is. Probly cause some of it was partly political and that was a big no-no at that time. And just pre-TV. There was talent there that SA would probly have really been proud of. Those musos have come and gone - and they were total originals - excellent musicians. If they'd been around today they would've made a big splash... Yip my age is a mystery - even to me!

msch997

I came to JHb in 1977 <was from PE originally> to study at Wits. I joined the Wits folk club and discovered Paul Clingman, Edi Nederlander, John Oakaly-Smith amongst others from the people who were also members there, I also remember that name "mangles" so possibly I frequented it a few times or heard about it. But what I did do was get to see Edi Nederlander live a few times <she had quite a few dedicated disciples in the Wits folk club>, as an acoustic player and a song writer to me she was the pick of what was basket of jewels at that time. Incredible musician nothing she recorded though did justice to her true ability that came through in her live performances <I think she made two albums>.

Bob-Dubery

msch997 wrote: I came to JHb in 1977 <was from PE originally> to study at Wits. I joined the Wits folk club and discovered Paul Clingman, Edi Nederlander, John Oakaly-Smith amongst others from the people who were also members there, I also remember that name "mangles" so possibly I frequented it a few times or heard about it.

Mangles and the infamous "Dev" (the bar in the basement of the Devonshire hotel) are like the 60s - if you remember it you weren't really there.

Bob-Dubery

Paul Clingman is a marvellous player. Edi Niederlander is also a very talented musician. She's mostly teaching now - and teaching on line with virtual one-on-one sessions. That's quite interesting.

Another good muso from those days is Colin Shapiro. He popped up at TJs a few months ago. Very good player still.

lindsmuse

Mangles and the infamous "Dev" (the bar in the basement of the Devonshire hotel) are like the 60s - if you remember it you weren't really there.

Ya - the Dev that was it - the drinking hole!!! Colin - he was in that band Attic I mentioned - him Alan Jeffries and Virgil Ellis. We were all buddies back then. It was such a lovely combo ... Colin now writes music scores for doccies and movies - or at least he was, last I heard. And before Mangles there was the Troubadour - I'm remembering now - Virgils folks Beryl, Aubrey and Mel Miller and lots of others.... And Mandeville ...anyway. Pity it wasn all captured on film

msch997

What ever happened to Virgil Ellis the first time I ever heard surfing with the Aliens by Satriani it was Virgil playing it in some bar down Rocky Street. He could wield an axe with amazing skill.

Bob-Dubery

lindsmuse wrote:
Mangles and the infamous "Dev" (the bar in the basement of the Devonshire hotel) are like the 60s - if you remember it you weren't really there.
Ya - the Dev that was it - the drinking hole!!! Colin - he was in that band Attic I mentioned - him Alan Jeffries and Virgil Ellis. We were all buddies back then. It was such a lovely combo ... Colin now writes music scores for doccies and movies - or at least he was, last I heard. And before Mangles there was the Troubadour - I'm remembering now - Virgils folks Beryl, Aubrey and Mel Miller and lots of others.... And Mandeville ...anyway. Pity it wasn all captured on film

The Troubador was in Hillbrow. That was Dave Marks's club. I don't know about film. but I'm pretty sure there are some recordings from that club in those days. Dave Marks has massive archives. He came to TJs last year some time and did a sort of multi-media presentation that spanned roughly from the late 60s at the Troubador through to Roger Lucey. He had some marvellous footage of Roger Lucey with one of his bands - I think it was from when he went "underground" to try and shake off the security police and started performing under then name "Tighthead Fourie and the Loose Forwards." Another name to conjure with - Johnny Blundell was playing guitar.

lindsmuse

Tighthead Fourie and Loose Forwards!!!! Where did he get these names .. the last band I saw him with (his band) was ' Dusty Roads'! Virgil was incredible!

Bob-Dubery

lindsmuse wrote: Tighthead Fourie and Loose Forwards!!!! Where did he get these names ..

They all had stage names like "Ray Stadig" and "Gene Parkering".

lindsmuse

Haha - they must've just about died laughing thinking up these names!

Bob-Dubery

IIRC the bass player was one Sakkie de Kok

Squonk

msch997 wrote: What ever happened to Virgil Ellis the first time I ever heard surfing with the Aliens by Satriani it was Virgil playing it in some bar down Rocky Street. He could wield an axe with amazing skill.

Virgil stayed next door to me in Yeoville in about 1988 (i think) was a small block of flats in Pope Street, used to hear guitar all the time.
He used to have parties on the roof and invite all the residents so they wouldn't complain about the noise.

Talking about clubs, I used to frequent a folky club in Hillbrow called "lachaim" not too sure of the spelling, cant even remember the street.
On Sundays they generally used to have an open mic followed by a main act.
I saw Colin Shamley and he was quite approachable when I asked some questions after his session.

Bob-Dubery

OK... here's a picture of Tighthead Fourie and the Loose Forwards

Left to right
Tennessee Ferreira
Lourenco Marques (Nee Sakkie de Kock)
Slim Gedagte
Tighthead Fourie
Ray Stadig

Drummer Gene Parkering is obscured

ColinS

Is that my dear old friend Lindsey who started this thread? HI!! ?

Mangles was in de Korte Street in Braamfontein, waaaa-aaaay back. The owner was Bob who served great food to Wits students and office folks by day, and served up great music at night.

I played there often and still have some posters from those days. (I WAS there and I actually do remember (some).....

The club in Hillbrow was called Nitebeat, run by Big Abe. I remember being on the bill one night and Dave Marks (who was running the music at the time) said there was a new young kid coming to play there, who did an amazing Zulu guitar thing - may have been his first gig. The kid WAS amazing indeed - Johhny Clegg.

Those were special times indeed.

Regards - Colin Shapiro

lindsmuse

Yes it is I haha check your messages! Hope to hear more about everything you know about music SA from you ...! Yes and you would know all about the folk revival amongst all the other wonderful stories you have to share ... Strange thing. Yesterday X-rated Bob posted a pic of Roger Lucy's band regarding him being folk musician and then last night I went to a little folk club in Cape Town (Rondebosch)called Barleycorn's -apparently it's been going for 32 years - and lo and behold - who should be playing there - the man himself - and he was pretty awesome! The audience there is great - they are so attentive and into the music. And another guy Donovan someone played a lap slide guitar - amongst other things - he was really good. Apparently this happens - different line ups every Monday night ...

PeteM

I happened to play on the same bill with David Marks last week at the Northway Showcase in Durban North. The organisers are reviving the folk thing here in Durbs. The line-up included a mix of old ballies like myself and David as well as some fresh young talent. David is still going strong.
I never frequented Mangles, although I was in JHB at the time - I lost interest in folk music concentrating more on studio work.

peters

Mangles was in Braamfontein in the 70's, went there once, something like the Barley Corn Club in Cape Town as far as the music was concerned