Joyful news from those compilation loving types at Cherry Red Records. Early in 2024 they’re issuing ‘Les Cousins. The Soundtrack Of Soho’s Legendary Folk & Blues Club.’ A triple CD of virtually anyone who was anyone and played the legendary London venue. Long overdue this celebration of an iconic club is overseen by a musician and writer who played there back in the day: Folk Roots/fRoots chief Ian A Anderson, who has an encyclopedic knowledege of its story, having written an authoritative article in fRoots in 2014.

More from the Cherry Red press office.

“Les Cousins was a folk and blues club in the basement of a restaurant in Greek Street, in London’s Soho, which became a home and the epicentre for the folk revival of the mid-1960s, a venue where musicians met and learnt from each other. As such, it was influential in the careers of so many pioneers – Al Stewart, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Sandy Denny, John Martyn, Alexis Korner, Strawbs, Roy Harper, Paul Simon and many others.

The club’s vital importance to that scene is now commemorated with a triple-CD featuring folk’s illuminati from that period, as well as more obscure names who trod the boards in that Greek Street basement, with some tracks gracing CD for the first time. Compiled and annotated by folk historian and fRoots editor/publisher Ian Anderson, who also played at the venue, ‘Les Cousins’ pays fitting tribute to a unique place and time in British music history.”

Until the club’s tale is told in the form of a  book, this release is a vital document.  Watch for our full review coming soon.