Nottinghamshire traditional folk singer from the late 1950’s through to the 1970’s who is still revered today. Although never aspiring to becoming a commercial success or garnering fame she became an inspirational figure in the British folk revival and as with a lot of the figures of the 60’s and 70’s her cult status has grown. A traveller, guitarist and a ballad singer with a beautiful voice it was her wild spirit that endeared her to many while giving her the freedom to plough her own route through life.
Anne Patricia Briggs was born in Toton, Nottinghamshire 29th September 1944. Toton is sandwiched between Chilwell, Beeston and Long Eaton, a stones throw from the River Erewash and the Derbyshire border and with Stapleford and Sandiacre to the north. This area also threw up a few other traditional folk musicians around the same time. Roy Harris, Spike Woods and Wocko Watkins with Bob and Carole Pegg, Quentin Hood (Tony Lewis) and Eric and Joy Foxley from nearby regions. They all followed a similar path although not to the same acclaim as Anne, not that that was necessarily on any of their radars.
Anne’s story will be better told elsewhere than here but here is a small look into her career. I presume that Anne went to the Toton Primary school as in the following newspaper report on a school sports day from 1952 mentions an “Anne Briggs” twice in the results and also alongside the evocative sounding Marion Hood.
Anne’s childhood was not idyllic however and I recommend listening to this Radio 4 interview from 2016 and reading a rare interview with her at Uncut magazine which illuminates some of those difficult but also rewarding days. Anne Briggs interviewed
In the late 1950’s she performed alongside or with Spike Woods and Wocko Watkins in the local area. They encouraged her to go into Nottingham and sing at some of the coffee bars where stand up singers were accepted. The Bo (Bohemian) was a regular spot she could perform.
Between 1960 and 1962 Anne would sing at the Nottingham folk club ran by Eric and Joy Foxley but it was at a Centre 42 gig in Nottingham in 1962 that she was “noticed” and her career took off.
More coming later but for now here are some basic links: