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Soho '65: Les Cousins at 60

Capturing the magic of London's sixties scene with Diana Matheou and Jon Wilks.

The best folk and acoustic music from Britain and beyond.

This week, Mark gets transported back to the legendary club Les Cousins in the company of Diana Matheou and Jon Wilks.

Les Cousins (known fondly as "The Cousins") was on Soho's Greek Street. After some false starts, it opened 60 years ago today: 16th April 1965.

Diana and her husband, the late Andy Matheou, ran the club in the basement of his parents' restaurant.

Thanks to Andy's instincts as a booker, and the club's all-night events, it became central to the swinging London folk scene of the mid sixties.

Paul Simon considered it his 'home gig' in London. Jimi Hendrix played there, as did John Martyn, Nick Drake, Anne Briggs, Martin Carthy, Wizz Jones, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Sandy Denny, Jackson C. Frank, Al Stewart and Alexis Korner. Van Morrison appeared in the early hours and was paid just £3.

Diana and the singer and journalist Jon Wilks help Mark Radcliffe to capture the magic of the famous club.

18 days left to listen

57 minutes

Last on

Wed 16 Apr 2025 21:00
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Nick Drake

    Cello Song

    • Island.

  • Good Habits

    Sunday

  • Findlay Napier

    Stamp Your Feet

    • The Bothy Society.

  • The Morris On Band

    Princess Royal

    • Island.

  • Jim Ghedi

    The Seasons

    • Basin Rock Records.

  • Poor Creature

    The Whole Town Knows

    • River Lea Records.

  • Derroll Adams

    Portland Town

  • Sandy Denny

    Milk & Honey (feat. Johnny Silvo)

    • Saga.

  • John Martyn

    May You Never

    • Island.

  • I’m With Her

    Find My Way To You

    • Rounder.

  • Paul Weller

    Galileo

    • Maiesta Music.

Broadcast

  • Wed 16 Apr 2025 21:00
    BBC Radio 2