The Muckram Wakes
by SLHS on
Monday 26 December 2016
The Muckram Wakes was an English folk band that was formed in 1970 by John Tams from Somercotes, Roger Watson from Mansfield and Helen Wainwright from Marchington, Staffordshire (Roger and Helen married in 1972).
Although, John Tams was born in Holbrook like so many from the area, his father was the landlord of the New Inn, Birchwood Lane, Somercotes, and he grew up with the knowledge of local place names. After leaving school he joined a travelling fairground, known throughout Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and beyond as a “wakes”. In 1970, when the band was formed, it took the name of the small hamlet of Muckram and the local name for the fair, and became the “Muckram Wakes”.
The band made one album while John Tams was a member. Called “A Map of Derbyshire”, released on Trailer Records in 1973, it included a number of songs written by Tams and Watson on largely traditional lines.
John Tams left Muckram Wakes shortly after the album’s release to join the Albion Band, but the Muckram Wakes, continued under the same name with new members, gaining a great deal of respect and critical acclaim on the English folk circuit. By 1980 though, the band had no original members left, and the origin of its name may well have meant little to the band. Due to personal and professional reasons, Muckram Wakes disbanded that same year.
Discography:
- A Map of Derbyshire, Trailer Records LER2085, 1973
- The Pick & Malt Shovel (Roger Watson with Muckram Wakes and Colin Cater, Tradional Sound Recordings TSR017, 1974
- Muckram Wakes, Trailer Records LER2093, 1976
- Warbles Jangles & Reeds, Highway Records SHY7009, 1980
PHOTO: The sleeve of the Muckram Wakes first album "A Map of Derbyshire"