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Seeking only a quiet pint and maybe a bag of nuts on a cold winter evening, I was surprised to walk in a local pub and be welcomed by a selection of acoustic guitars, banjos, fiddles and the odd mouth organ - which at the time were playing a chorus of ‘Take It Easy’, by The Eagles.

I had walked into The Red Bull’s folk night, as had quite a few others.

Border Folk

The Red Bull is on the Staffordshire-Cheshire border near Alsager, and has a setting to be envied, overlooking a rural stretch of the Trent & Mersey canal. But even a pub with a good view needs more trade if it can get it.

On the night I walked in, the place was packed - much to the delight of the landlord Martin Moylon.

"I was approached in late 2008 by some people wanting to play music in the pub, but did not hear from them for a while. Then last week they phoned and asked if they could come in on Tuesday. How could I refuse?"

He added: "The trade as a whole is in decline, due to mostly supermarket alcohol prices being so cheap and pubs cannot compete. So, of course I’m glad the pub is full on a usually quiet night, but I also just like live music, and it is nice to hear it once in a while!"

The music varied from old Irish folk songs to modern pop and then on to American blues, with the occasional Dylan covers from one man in particular. 

Knock, knock, knocking on The Red Bull’s Door

Nicknamed ‘Bob’ by a few of the locals at the bar due to his appearance and obvious love for Bob Dylan, he carried the whole pub through an eight minute version of ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’.

This then lead into ‘Easy Like Sunday morning’ and then finally ‘Rise Again’ by Gabrielle, at which point everybody in the bar was singing loud (and so nearly in tune!).

… From this small acorn will a big oak grow? Clearly, Martin would like it to, and I was given to understand that, stemming from the Folk Night, is a small workshop for players who are interested in playing along and learning new songs.

For the moment too, the reaction has been so good that, for the foreseeable future, the Red Bull folk night will take place every second Tuesday of the month - and practice sessions are every Thursday night.

And, just in case, I’m practising the words to Knock, Knock, Knocking…

Daniel Finn