Dave Bennett - Coventry Ragtime Guitarist

Note - as partof the redevelopment of this site there is a new post about Dave Bennett on the The Coventry Folk Club Scene blogspot here http://coventryfolkclubs.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/dave-bennett-coventry-ragtime-guitarist.html

 

If you've ever done the rounds of Coventry area folk clubs over the last 30 odd years, the

Dave Bennett

chances are you will have seen, even know, maybe booked Coventry's top ragtime guitarist - Dave Bennett.

In his own words -

 

" I (Dave) started playing years ago when I was living in Aberystwyth and, influenced by Dylan, Tom Paxton,Joan Baez, et al, I concentrated entirely on fingerstyle guitar and became part of a folk group called the Pennyfarthing! To be honest, it wasn't the only thing I was concentrating on - I was completing my PhD in Insect Physiology at the University College of Wales. Then in 1970 I moved to Coventry where I continued playing in folk clubs and music sessions wherever I could. I was Sean Cannon's guitarist for a short while and even appeared on TV with him and made a cassette tape based on the TV programme. Then I met the Furey Brothers at "The Old Dyer's Arms" and developed my love of Irish music. Throughout the 70's and the 80's and 90'sI played many solo/combo gigs throughout the UK and Europe. Many Solo/Duo/ Rock Band /Irish Showband/Country Band gigs later I'm still playing!! I'm now with my partner Brenda and although she is basically an unaccompanied traditional singer, our repertoire consists of an eclectic mix of trad, contemporary and country songs and tunes".

More recently - Dave played with Rod Felton in a Grunt band style as Im and Im. Listen to his Ragtime style on Dave Bennett's My Space.

Dave Bennett

Dave was advertised in Hobo several time - my favourite ad he gave me for Hobo read "Blind Drunk Dave Bennett -  five fast fingers flashing up and down the fretboard" - the man has a sense of humour! Dave was and still is a highly popular artist on the coventry folk scene. In 1971 he performed at a major folk concert as part Warwick university's arts festival.

In issue 3 Feb 1974 - a small ad in Hobo ran -

"Dave Bennett, 8, Oxford St. Hillfields, Cov - Ragtime idiot; fool; PHD Zooology. Available for most things, preferably work!"

I first saw Pauline Black at the Old Dyers Arms around 1978 ish playing a Joan Armatrading and a Stones song - pretty good stuff but recently Pauline has said of Dave that  -

"you are the man who kick started my entire career at the 'old dyers arms' in coventry....those were the days...haha you had to put up with some pretty awful playing and singing back then...but many thanks for your encouragement and patience....glad to hear you are still playing and doing well...stay in touch and let me know when you are gigging.
best wishes"
Pauline

Another good example of the interface between the various folk and rock scene in Coventry and it was true of the Jazz scene too.

 

Comments

[PETE METCALFE]

It looks like that I started on the Leicester scene about the same time as you, Dave. Rod Felton used to come to Tony Savages' club in Leicester which I remember. Steve Tilston and Dave Evans used to come over from Loughborough.I played at The Couriers and various venues before plugging in and joining a working mens club band called The Warlocks who, I believe are still going.  People who used to play on the Leicester scene were Geoff Halford, Mark Newman, Christa Maine, who later played in my band Pageant and Harvey ????? I remember seeing Joni Mitchel ar The Couriers and Paul Simon. The good old days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!