30th March – Tribute Night

Tribute Night to mark IFC’s 50th Birthday: Irvine Folk Club celebrates its 50th birthday this year and to mark this notable achievement, a number of events are planned throughout 2016. The first one is on Wednesday 30th March and it’s a Tribute Night to some of the much loved artists who have played at the Club over its 50 years history and sadly are no longer with us.

Having presented Folk Music in all its various forms for 50 years on a continuous basis, the Irvine Club is very fortunate in having a rich seam of artists who were and are so much appreciated. To acknowledge the music, song and stories of some of these artists, a Tribute Night is planned at which local Floor Singers will sing songs sung associated with artists including Iain Mackintosh, Hamish Imlach, Matt McGinn and of course Johnny Silvo. It would be remiss not to mention the late Danny Kyle in this list: a man who regaled Irvine audiences for many years with stories about his Uncle Wullie and Auntie Petronella. But who could replicate Danny’s quick wit and sense of fun?

Wednesday 30th March is a first for the Irvine Club and it’s entirely appropriate that tribute is paid to some of the artists who helped put Irvine Folk Club on the musical map. The Tribute Night starts at 8pm in the usual venue of Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road and it’s BYOB.

Finally, it is sad to report the death of Eileen Whyte of Irvine. Eileen had a fine voice for whom harmonies were easy. She was a member of Tapsalteerie. Her introduction to folk music was via the Irvine Club when The Eglinton Arms was the Club’s home and where the late Joe Caldwell, Eileen’s uncle, was Mine Host. The Club’s sympathies go to Eileen’s family.