HISTORY
The Early Days
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The Wurzel Bush Folk Club was founded on the 19th February 1972 by Dave Sampson and the first guests were Finbar & Eddie Furey.
Our first venue was the Denbigh Arms at Monks Kirby but as the venue only held about 100, the club soon outgrew the room and moved to the much bigger Fletch Hotel in Coventry. Taking advantage of the hotbead of folk talent that attended The University of Warwick and Lanchester Polytechnic, artistes like Steve Knightley, Keith Donnelly, Martin Oram and Sean Cannon were seen there regularly!
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The Brinklow Years
The Wurzel Bush's second move came to Dave's home town of Brinklow, where it stayed for many years. Most closely associated with the Royal British Legion Club until it's closure. The Wurzel Bush's last venue in the village was the Bull's Head where unfortunately it had to move from in 2016.
Move to Rugby and Live through lockdown
After leaving the Bull's Head in 2016, a new venue was needed. There was a brief stay at the Ansty Golf Club as an interim, where great acts like Martin Carthy, Gary and Vera Aspey and Meet On The Ledge appeared. With resident duo of Gary Painting and Kate Lucas appearing as Crybb Folk.
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The Wurzel then found it's permanent home at the Rugby West Indian Association in Rugby. Crybb were joined by Eddie Player and Craig Sunderland as resident musicians and the Wurzel Bush continued as it started, booking nationally recognised acts as well as supporting the best and brightest up and coming artistes from Warwickshire and beyond!
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Moving online for two years, broadcasting to Facebook every week, the Wurzel Bush celebrated it's 50th Birthday with Dave still at the helm abley supported by Gary.
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In April 2022, Dave decided that it was time to retire from organising Folk Clubs. The Wurzel Bush will continue.