Talk:Roy Harper/@comment-80.4.34.215-20180311203948

From: Ian Woodward

I saw Roy Harper a few times in 1967. I still have my pocket diary for that year, from which the following following dates are taken. The supplementary comments are down to memory - and it was a long time ago:-

Sunday, 28 March 1967: Hampstead Folk Club (The Enterprise, Chalk Farm, nearly opposite The Roundhouse): Nigel Denver was the main act. Roy Harper sang from the floor. I seem to recall three numbers, one of which was "Highgate Cemetery", I think - the one where sang into the body of the guitar. Another might have been called "E.C.T. Today". I think he was introduced as having recently returned from Europe (Copenhagen???). I'd not heard of him before.

Thursday, 30 March 1967: Gaslight Folk Club (Ye Olde Crowne, Highgate Hill):  I think this was the opening night of the club run by Bruce May, brother of Ralph (later Ralph McTell). My diary notes the following: "Cliff Aungier, Ralph May, Roy Harper, Ron Geesin, Henry". Henry ran a jug band with whom Jacqui McShee used to sing, though I did not note her or the jug band in my diary but they may have been there. I suspect the Cliff Aungier was the principal performer because he was there the following week with Jo-An Kelly.

Thursday, 13 April 1967: Gaslight Folk Club (as above): main act "John Renbourne and Jacqui" (McShee again). "Roy Harper" is noted but I suspect he sang from the floor.

Saturday,15 April 1967: Les Cousins (Greek Street, W1): all-nighter, so into early Sunday morning, 16 April 1967:"Young Tradition, Al Stewart, Roy Harper, John Henry Crockett, Tom, Moxy", is written in my diary.

Thursday, 11 May 1967: Gaslight Folk Club (as above): I've noted only "Roy Harper", so he was the main act, I think. (I saw Pink Floyd, "Games For May" at the Queen Elizabeth Hall the next night).

Friday 23 June 1967: Les Cousins (as above): Again; only "Roy Harper" is noted, so main act.

Tuesday, 11 October 1967:Enfield College Folk club (Students Union, Ponders End): Roy Harper was the main performer (the club was organised by the aforementioned Bruce May). I attended with Alan Tuppen, with whom I shared a flat not far from Chalk Farm tube station; he had a Jowett Javelin. Roy Harper was looking for transport back from North London and we drove him back to the tube staion. He sat on the back seat, far gone, and talked a bit about Cuba.

I can't recall seeing him again after that.

Ian Woodward