Les Cousins (music club)

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The 1970 album: 49 Greek St, produced by Sandy Roberton
The 1970 album: 49 Greek St, produced by Sandy Roberton

Les Cousins was a folk and blues club in the basement of a restaurant in Greek Street, in the Soho district of London. It had its heyday during the British folk music revival of the mid-1960s and was notable as a venue in which musicians of that period met and learnt from each other. As such, it was influential in the careers of, for example, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, John Martyn, Alexis Korner, Roy Harper and Paul Simon. Several albums were recorded there, including the 1970 "49 Greek Street" compilation album.

[edit] Origins

Les Cousins was opened in 1963 or 1964[1] in the basement of a restaurant at 49, Greek Street, Soho (some sources give the address as 48 Greek Street). The restaurant was owned by a family called Matthews, whose son, Andy Matthews ran the basement club.[2] The club was reputed to have taken its name from Claude Chabrol's 1959 film Les Cousins, the story of a young man from the country who comes to the city to study law, but is distracted by the rowdy cousin with whom he shares lodgings.[3] However, the name was usually pronounced with English pronunciation, rather than French. The decor included a huge wagon wheel and fishing nets. The club was noted for its all-night sessions and was favoured by the innovative musicians who were less welcome in more purist traditional folk clubs.

Noel Murphy was the first resident musician and compere.[4] Other residents included Alexis Korner and Roy Harper.

[edit] Influence

Les Cousins was described by Roy Harper as "a spawning ground" for musical talent.[5] In similar vein, Ian Anderson (editor of fRoots) said "...the music got so exciting, 'cause everybody listened to everybody else. So although you might choose to just play one thing, at the same time, you had an open mind for something else."[6]

Notable performers incuded Alexis Korner, Ralph McTell, Sandy Denny, Bert Jansch, Alex Campbell, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Al Stewart, Long John Baldry, The Incredible String Band, John Martyn, Cat Stevens, Jackson C Frank, Martin Carthy, Al Stewart, Linda Thompson, Julie Felix, Bridget St John and Donovan.

Roy Harper recorded his album Live At Les Cousins there, 30 August 1969[7] and The "Spontaneous Music Ensemble" (John Stevens and Evan Parker plus Peter Koward) also recorded there in 1967.[8] In 1970 a compilation album 49 Greek Street was released, featuring various artists recorded there, such as Synanthesia, Keith Christmas, Andy Roberts, Robin Scott, Tin Angel, Al Jones, Mike Hart and Nadia Cattouse.

In November 1984, "Les Cousins" was reopened for a special Nick Drake tribute, to celebrate his brief but influential career.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ John Renbourn's website
  2. ^ Interview with Bert Jansch in The Scotsman
  3. ^ Christoph Grunenberg, Jonathan Harris; Summer of Love: psychedelic art, social crisis and counterculture in the 1960s, Liverpool University Press, 2005. ISBN 0853239290. p139
  4. ^ Tudor Folk Club website
  5. ^ BBC article on Roy Harper
  6. ^ Richie Unterberger, Eight Miles High: folk-rock's flight from Haight-Ashbury to Woodstock, Backbeat Books, 2003. ISBN 0879307439. p244
  7. ^ See [1]
  8. ^ See [2]
  9. ^ Nick Drake Tribute at "les Cousins"
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