This album covers some of Julia’s musical activities in the years 1980-1990 across England.
For pictures of her music-making in Ireland (1950-1994); her activities in Norfolk and Suffolk (1978-1994), and the “London Years” (1942-1978), have a look at the other photo albums listed at the foot of the page.
Click on the images below to see them properly – you can then click again to enlarge them.
Please get in contact if you would like to use any of these images.
The National Folk Festival (Loughborough/Sutton Bonington) was a unique festival, putting older generation traditional musicians and singers from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales at the heart of the festival. Julia and John had visited the festival in 1979, probably attracted by the fact that Johnny O’Leary was a guest. They were then booked in 1980.
Julia appeared as a guest again at the National in 1984.
Julia appeared as a guest again at the National in 1984.
Julia appeared as a guest again at the National in 1987, in company with Michael and Caroline Kilbane and Nigel Towse from Suffolk, regular playing companions.
From the National programme from 1987.
Julia playing at the National in 1987. The festival was held in an agricultural college, using common rooms – hence the bookcases! Playing with Caroline Kilbane and Nigel Towse (Peta Webb in the background).
Playing with Nigel Towse and John Lyons (Co. Cork) who was also a guest. (Ollie Conway, Katie and John Howson (hidden) in the background).
Playing with Michael Kilbane (pipes, just in view), Eamon McGivney (Co. Clare, also a guest), Nigel Towse and John Lyons extreme right. (Ollie Conway & Katie Howson in the background).
A splendid portrait of Julia at the National.
A review of the 1987 National festival by Derek Schofield, in “English Dance & Song”, the quarterly magazine of the EFDSS.
Julia travelled all the way down to Cornwall to appear at the Cornwall Folk Festival in 1986. Julia travelled with Norfolk musician Tony Hall and they arrived a day early, in time to have a Thursday night session with Trigg Morris.
Also on the bill at the 1986 Cornwall Folk Festival were Cork musicians Matt Cranitch, Dave Henessy and Mick Daly, “Any Old Time”.
Saturday’s programme at the 1986 Cornwall Folk Festival.
With Michael and Caroline Kilbane at the Islington Folk Club, London in 1987.
Julia listening to Freddy McKay at the Islington Folk CLub, 1987.
The 1989 Islington Folk Club flier.
The 1990 Islington Folk Club flier.
The Musical Traditions Club was founded in 1990 by Peta Webb and Keith Summers, following the NAtional Folk Festival approach of putting music and song together and spotlighting the older generation of performers. Julia was invited to perform on the second night of the club, on 16th November 1990.
Unfortunately Julia ‘s health and mobility were not good enough for her to fulfil the booking on 16th November, so the club assembled a wonderful array of guests for a benefit night for Julia.
The benefit night was recorded (on cassette of course – it was 1990!). An amazing array of fellow musicians turned out to perform.
