Eric and Joy Foxley have been at the heart of the Nottingham Folk Scene for over sixty years, not least as founders of the legendary Fred’s Folks ceilidh band that is driven by Eric’s accordion playing and Joy’s calling. We catch up with them for an evening of playing and reminiscing over a curry at their wonderful home full of instruments and music, as well as Eric’s kiln and pottery.
Eric and Joy reminisce about the pioneering days of Nottingham Folk Clubs during the ’60s Folk Revival, from hosting the club at their own flat, to the Bohemian Coffee Bar, the Coop and the Newshouse. There’s a more detail history of the genesis of Nottingham folk clubs on their website here.

Freds Folks first appeared in 1961, performing on the BBC’s weekly radio
programme The Dancing English, initially on The Third Programme (Radio 3), and later on the Home Service (Radio 4). Over the decades since then they have played ceilidhs throughout the UK, and in France and Germany (calling them in French and German!) with the band involving both friends and family over the years.

From his earliest musical training as Morris Squire, Eric’s Accordion playing has been rooted in the English Morris tradition. The tunes are played with bounce, attack and a syncopation that is irresistible to the feet (and that proved equally irresistible to a later generation of English folk rockers). Feel it for yourself in this rendition of the morris tune The Winster Gallop, with guitar accompaniment on Carolan.

Joy and Eric also perform an extensive repertoire of traditional songs. Here’s the Cuckoo’s nest, a bawdy song about cuckoos and nests, sort of (you’ll have to work this out for yourselves), that my father also took great delight in performing.

Not only is Eric a fine musician, but he is also a Computer Scientists, having been a founder member of the School of Computer Science at The University of Nottingham, where he was a colleagues of Steve’s for many years. Indeed, they once regaled the students with a set if traditional tunes in a lecture. During this time Eric undertook pioneering work on digitally typesetting traditional music, including producing the extensive Fred’s Folks’ tune book, a fantastic musical resource for any traditional player. Here’s the set Jigs Six …

Beyond accordions, Eric and Joy’s home is a treasure trove of unusual and exotic
instruments, including a harmonium, Iranian sitar, a three string double bass, and this rather slippery lute that we get to try out.

It’s been an absolute pleasure to catch up with Joy and Eric, learn about the early days of Nottingham’s folk scene, share a curry, and accompany some fine tunes and songs on Carolan.