For our 30th birthday on 21st October 2013 we updated our 'Compleat History of the Ram Club' booklet (PDF format, 10Mb). Click to view or download - it's a 'must read', with a list of all the guests we have ever had plus some stories and pictures!
Below is a list of the past guests from September 2006.
DAVE started out in Folk clubs in the 70s, taking his cue from, and hanging out with, guitar greats like Jansch, Giltrap, and Renbourn. Early success and an album led to Old Grey Whistle Test, BBC 'In Concerts', gigs at The Marquee and supports to Rod Stewart. Then he met BOO, who has one of those great voices that subtly blends rock, folk, soul and jazz into her own unique style - and she plays a nifty bass and guitar too! In the 80s they went 'electric', became The Reactors, did Rock and Big Hair and attracted interest from top managers but ...! Since 1998 they have been happily acoustic again, and as ever will be delighting us with their great original songs (with lots from their new CD 'Living on Light'), and musicianship of the highest order.
http://www.daveandboo.com£7 members/£8 non-members
CHRIS WHILE and JULIE MATTHEWS are quite simply two of the best contemporary female singers you're likely to hear! Chris's soaring soul-influenced vocals and Julie's gutsy, bluesy delivery support and combine with each other in a match truly made in heaven. The pair are also brilliant songwriters in the acoustic rock/folk idiom covering life as they see it, from the industrial waste lands of the north, to injustice and freedom, matters of the heart and everything in between. They also have the instrumental talents to make the songs shine, and their talent was recognised in 2009 when they won 'Best Duo' at the BBC Folk Awards. Such is their standing that they rarely play folk clubs these days, so we have had to expand to accommodate them! Tonight they will be showcasing songs from their new CD 'Hitting The Ground Running' as well as old favourites, but as ever they will take you on a roller-coaster journey through the emotions.
http://www.whileandmatthews.co.uk/£10 members/£12 non-members
Steve graced us with a spot a little while ago and amazed us with his fingerstyle guitar playing. Folk, Ragtime, Celtic, acoustic pop, Classical, Blues, singer songwriter, jazz standards - he does the lot! In 2007 he met Lynn at a gig in Staffordshire. An outstanding vocalist and harmonist who can handle everything from the most demanding traditional songs or jazz standards to the gentlest of lullabies, they hit common ground after playing a few songs together and she sang on Steve's CD 'Guided by the Grain' released in 2007. Now a fully fledged duo, this is their Ram Club debut and no genre will be left unpolished!
http://www.myspace.com/hicksandgoulbourn£7 members/£8 non-members
The Magnificent Five from Guernsey return once more for another night of rampage, pillage and spillage. One of them, our very own IAN PALMER, is already here of course, and ROB McGHEE, PETE PURSLOW, STEVE LE TISSIER & DAVE JOLLY will be ready to walk the plank with him! Named after a pointless war with the Spanish over a severed ear, they met at sea in the days when press-ganging was still legal. And their songs are of the sea - well known and rousing shanties, songs from Cyril Tawney, newer ones like The Last Trawl, sad ones and a few originals. JE can be heard at seafaring festivals in many a port, and with their rugged charm, handsome looks, fine harmonies and fearsome instruments, they really are rather good. Nautical but nice!
£8 members/£9 non-members
BARRY, JIM and LESTER present a radically different, modern face to English 'a cappella' singing, with 'Trad' songs reworked so they shine and strong, original songs with memorable tunes, soaring harmonies and sometimes radical words that strike a chord and make you listen. CBS sing it as they see it, be it the futility of war, industrial and rural decline or the glories of our traditions and history. Their new CD 'As If' has gained rave reviews and airplay, and as special guests on Radcliffe & Marconie's Radio 2 show in June they opened the ears of an entirely new audience who hadn't realised 'Folk' could be this good!
http://www.coopeboyesandsimpson.co.uk/£9 members/£11 non-members