The Insight Into A Memory Club: The Journey Of A Folk Band
- Remarque Author
- Mar 6, 2025
- 4 min read
Written By Rayhan Bengougou
When the light dim and the chatter goes down, it begins. The magical experience of the musical gig commences. Nothing beats the feeling of going to a pub or a concert with your friends and hearing the sweet sound of music entering your ears and make your body groove.
One kind of genre that seems to take up a live music night whether it be at the Jacaranda down on Bold Street or at Coopers in Southport, is folk music. It’s a whole kind of new sound that is sweeping the country like a roaring wildfire and has new and young musicians climbing on the rise.
Alongside the genre, one band in particular has been taking centre stage and stealing the spotlight as of late following their beginnings in 2023. The Memory Club is a group of hearty Manchester folks you shouldn’t sleep on and keeping an eye on, because they are rising like a supernova.
Founded by Luke Hart and Rose Marsden, the Memory Club started as a simple idea that over time shaped into something truly special that’s catching the keen viewers and listeners alike.
When asked about how it all began. Luke said: “I don't know how it started; we can't remember. I remember it was last year and a month or two or three September 2023, so September 2023.
Before that I come up with the idea of having a band called the Memory Club and hadn't really sunk my teeth into like folk music like before uni.
I was just kind of like we should do a band, and we should call it coach Kenny in the memory club and then we were like, not coach Kenny, just the memory club and that was kind of it from there. We kind of just went to openings and just see what the open mic scene was like. That’s where it kind of started”
After discussing their humble beginnings, Rose spoke about some of the progress the band have made since they burst onto the scene back in late 2023.
She said: “I think the progress is really cool. We've got, we've done gigs that were really lovely to do, and we've got ones that are going to be really lovely to do that we're really excited for. We've recorded stuff. We've written a bunch.
Luke would add to the conversation, he said: "We were also trying to navigate being students as well, which is a really lucky position to be in because we do have a good excuse to do music and stuff, but I think the field of work that we found ourselves in are trying to like to do professionally in a way. It kind of requires a lot. It requires a lot of energy.”
Despite all the fun and excitement that comes in being a musical group, there was a major challenge that comes along side it that is crucial for any good band to come together. Communication. Luke states: “One hardship of being in a band is literally like your communication's kind of got to be pristine and you kind of got to cut each other's slack. And which is good things to learn.
Rose, who lives in Manchester with Luke would add one of the upsides that came to forming a new established band. She said: “We've made loads of new friends doing it. I think friendship is obviously one of the hardest things, but then it's also one of the things that, like happens long way. It's like, oh, that was lovely to do…
we've kind of, we're a collective of people. That's all kind of formed through Just meeting people and meeting new friends, which is very nice. I like it.”
When it came to advice for what young and upcoming singers or musical artists should do to make their big move onto the stage and perform for the very thing they love. The two Manchester based singers believed that being inspired and experience the folk scene as it will guide people the right way.
Luke gave his words of wisdom saying: “I think, just go outside and make get a make a band with people. We went on tour last summer and we just kind of did it ourselves and we're doing it again this summer because we see artists that we like and friends that we have go on tour and thought why don't we try it? Not to say that we're cool or any way near enough A level like them are they are. But yeah, go outside. Play music. That's my advice.”
Rose would then dish out her most important piece of guidance to those keen on being involved in the folk landscape.
She concluded by saying: “There's something to do that's going to give you, like, a reward because you're going to notice, like, it's if you're going out to do gigs, open mics, anything. Whatever it is, even if you're going to go and busk in the street or like Luke said, go outside and just bring a guitar with you. Sit down somewhere. It's something to do and it helps you'll meet people that are like you and find a community in it.”
The world of live performance is one that presents itself with many opportunities and one place that welcomes youthful artists with open arms is Core Coffee shop just near the Liverpool St. John’s Shopping Centre in which they have fresh talent perform every week.
Tom Gamble is the man who organises the events at the local café shop explained why it was so important for them and how it’s a great addition to the business.
The 26-year-old said: “It's like the most important thing for me that I do in the building. It’s like the thing that I'm most passionate about, I love having live music on in here. It's really nice to use the space in an in a different way that's not normally used and giving friends and anyone who comes along the opportunity to play is like is nice and fulfilling.”
Featured Image by Rayhan Bengougou
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