There are a few anniversaries to celebrate this month but I’m going to kick off with the 50th anniversary and finale of a folk club ran by two women: Jacqueline McDonald and Bridie O’Donnell. The two became better known as Jacqui & Bridie and formed the first full-time British female folk-song duo in 1964. They went on to start a folk club which played a big part in the history of Liverpool’s music scene, the early stomping ground for the likes of Christy Moore, Tom Paxton, Martin Carthy and Peggy Seeger. Bridie O’Donnell passed away in 1992 and Jacqui carried on running it. On the 23rd January this year the club had its final night which was unlike any other. It took place the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and singers and musicians from the Folk Club’s past and present performed the duo’s music and folk classics.
A commemorative programme was released which you can browse below as well as watch a great video which also features as part of a commemorative DVD available through the link at the bottom of this post.