The Blaydon Races

This page is dedicated to the memory of a northeast live music venue that has largely been forgotten since its closure in 1969 – The Blaydon Races Hotel. It’s a great shame that the Blaydon Races has been virtually airbrushed out of the northeast’s musical folk-lore of the sixties. During the period 1965 to 1969 the venue booked more local groups than any other northeast establishment. Not only was the Blaydon Races very popular with the local bands that performed there but also with the hundreds of regulars who flocked there for the live music and late night drinking.

Over the past decade or so there’s been lots written about the music scene and the amazing clubs that were flourishing in the mid to late sixties. Quite recently I’ve watched programs and read articles that featured some of the iconic clubs in the London area such as the Marquee, the Scene, Klook’s Kleek, Eel Pie Island and many more. The sixties music scene was also vibrant in the northeast so it’s not surprising that there’s been a renewed interest in some of Newcastle’s favourite sixties haunts such as the Club a’Gogo and the Mayfair Ballroom. Unlike these two venues, which booked top national acts of the day, it was mostly local bands that appeared at the Blaydon Races Hotel. But in spite of this and the fact that it was an out-of-town establishment, the Blaydon Races flourished as a live music venue in the sixties. When the Club a’Gogo closed down in June 1968 the Blaydon Races was even earmarked to become the Gogo’s successor. Perhaps because of its remote location outside the city, the plans for the Blaydon Races to become the new Club a’Gogo unfortunately fell flat.

Many of the buildings that housed northeast sixties venues, including the Club a’Gogo and the Mayfair Ballroom, were pulled down in later years to make way for new developments. The Blaydon Races Hotel suffered a similar fate and was demolished several decades ago, most likely because the premises had deteriorated beyond repair. The hotel was situated at Stella just to the west of Blaydon on Stella Road (the B6317 Blaydon to Ryton road). In the 19th century Stella was a small community that played an important part in the region’s coal mining industry. The building that housed the hotel started its life as an 18th century stone built farmhouse. In the mid 19th century it became a licensed premises under the name of the Stella Staith Inn. Its position was very near to the Blaydon Race Course, which hosted race meetings between 1861 and 1916. In 1942 the Stella Staith Inn was hit by an incendiary bomb in a German air raid. Although the bomb caused fire damage to the interior of the building, the structure of the building remained mainly in tact.

Site of the Blaydon Races Hotel (to the right of the terraced houses)

After existing as a public house for around a century the Stella Staith Inn was renamed the Blaydon Races Hotel. Most Novocastrians would be familiar with the name “Blaydon Races” because of the well known Geordie folk song which links Blaydon to Newcastle and describes the shenanigans that took place at a 19th century race meeting. In 1962 the Blaydon Races Hotel was bought by a gentleman named Mort Yuill who updated the pub. He renamed the two bars the Penny Bar and the Saddle Room – the Saddle Room being a larger room at the rear, which Mr Yuill had intended as a dining area and for functions, such as wedding receptions. A few years later the back room would be the setting for the live music that took place there until 1969.

I haven’t been able to establish exactly when music nights at the Blaydon Races began. The first reference to musical entertainment in the Newcastle press was in September 1962. A short article referred to regular Jazz evenings five times a week featuring the Jimmy Miller Trio with vocalist Shelagh Corbett. It’s not clear how long these Jazz evenings lasted as they weren’t advertised in local newspapers. Indications are that by the beginning of 1964 the Blaydon Races was becoming a popular venue for entertainment. In addition to the music, the pub boasted a late night “supper” license, which meant that it could remain open serving alcohol for at least an hour after other pubs in the area had closed.

In January 1964 the local council deemed that the Blaydon Races Hotel was unsafe. The council erected a barrier around the premises with a notice saying that the building was dangerous. Apparently this didn’t deter customers who found a way through the barrier. The hotel’s owner Mort Yuill reached an agreement with Blaydon Council allowing business at the Blaydon Races to continue as normal for another seven months.

Article from the Newcastle Journal dated 25th January 1964
In July 1964 there were more difficulties for the Blaydon Races when the council took further steps to close it down. On Thursday 30th July the police entered the hotel and ordered everyone to leave the premises. The following night people arriving at the hotel, including a group that was booked to play, found that the place was locked up. This closure was followed by a visit from a bailiff who removed certain items from the premises including bottled goods. Owner, Mort Yuill clearly had financial problems. He took a route that many others in his position were forced to take – he disappeared. On 7th August the Newcastle Journal reported that the Blaydon Races had changed hands.The Blaydon Races Hotel was bought by Coopers Hotels of Gosforth. The company announced that they intended to make improvements and continue running the pub as a late night attraction.

A new era in the pub’s history began in 1965 when the Blaydon Races began regularly publicising its music nights in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle. The adverts, which listed the handful of groups appearing each week, would continue for four years. The first of the publicised events was on Monday 4th January 1965 featuring a local group called Don Juan. The following night the popular Silver Dollars appeared.

In the first year or so of the new era most of the groups that the Blaydon Races booked were well known on the working mens club circuit or were popular at local Saturday night dances in halls across the area. The really sought-after bands like the Junco Partners, Gas Board, Chosen Few and Sect had yet to play at the Races. The Juncos and Chosen Few had released singles in 1965 so may have been charging fees above the price range that the Blaydon Races was prepared to pay. That’s not to say that some of the groups that appeared at the pub in the early days were without recording contracts. The Silver Dollars, one of the first groups to have a regular spot at the Blaydon Races had released a single called “Rainbow” in 1964. A group called the Gogos that played at the Races several times in 1965 released a novelty record in late 1964 called “I’m Gonna Spend My Christmas With a Dalek”. Another group that played frequently at the Blaydon Races called the Normans also won a recording contract. The Normans changed their name to Phase 4 and released a single called “What Do You Say About That” in 1966.

Early in 1965 a pattern was starting to emerge whereby some bands picked up a regular weekly spot on a specific night; in other words what could be called a residency on a certain day of the week. A full gig listing for the Blaydon Races can be found at the foot of this page.

In September 1965 the Blaydon Races’ manager announced in the press that he was spending £2000 on the pub’s decor to give it the same ambience as some of the new discotheque clubs that were springing up. In a newspaper interview he was quite adamant that the installation of a new jukebox was not going to oust live groups at the Blaydon Races saying – “I believe youngsters will still want live entertainment. I do not see why groups should be made to suffer. We are installing a jukebox but groups will play for most of the evening. There will always be a home for them in the only live discotheque night spot.”

Perhaps as the result of the weekly adverts in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle or maybe by word-of-mouth, the Blaydon Races really took off as a live music venue in 1966/1967. Some of Newcastle’s favourite groups that had previously been absent at the Races started to play there on a regular basis. Groups like the Junco Partners and Gas Board who were popular at Newcastle venues such as the Club a’Gogo, Quay Club and Mayfair Ballroom helped give the Blaydon Races a competitive edge , attracting people who would normally go to clubs in the city centre.

On the outside the Blaydon Races Hotel was nothing special to look at, giving no hints that it was a live music venue. From the road the hotel looked like many rural stone built houses with a central doorway and small windows. There was a stone built terrace of houses to its left. The music room was at the rear of the building accessible by a side door. Inside this door and to the right there was a small booth where the entrance fee was collected. The drinks bar served both the music room and the room at the front of the building. The stage was quite low, much the same as the stage in the Jazz Lounge at the Club a’Gogo. There were seats and tables either side of the room leaving an adequate area for dancing if the place wasn’t too full. There was also a raised seating area at one side of the stage where light meals were sometimes served. The toilets were situated upstairs on the next floor. This level had no proper flooring apart from a raised walkway which led from the top of the stairs to the toilets. The ceiling of the floor below was clearly visible. Any drunken mishap on this passage would have ended up in a painful shortcut to the music room below.

During the time I played in northeast bands in the sixties I never got to play at the Blaydon Races so I can’t give any first hand account about what it was like as a venue from a performer’s perspective. I’ve recently asked some musicians from the sixties for their memories about the place. These are some of the comments I received: –

John Mendham who played at the Blaydon races with a band called Impulse said – “….it was a great venue, packed in so an amazing atmosphere. The stage was low so you were right in amongst it. One of my favourites.”

Ronnie Barker of the Junco Partners remembers playing in the back room of the pub on a small stage. The stage had a guard rail around it which he and the other singer, John Anderson, used to stand on.

Drummer Ian McFadden played at the Blaydon Races in 1966 doing over 20 gigs there with a band called ‘Pieces of Five’. Ian said – “… the manager told me we held the top attendance figures for every night of the week they put bands on. The fire limit was 250 – one Saturday we had 379 in. People had to stand upstairs where the toilets and cloakroom were.”

Brian Miles played at the Races with a couple of bands – ‘Some Other Guys’ and ‘ One More Mile’. He remembers the low stage, a dance floor with seats and table round – “a really good gig, great atmosphere. I always looked forward to playing there”.

In 1966 the Blaydon Races was being managed by a gentleman named Derek Brown. At this time there was a change of ownership at Newcastle’s top music venue, the Club a’Gogo. Mike Jeffery, the Gogo’s former owner had turned his attention to managing a stable of top artists including The Animals and the Jimi Hendrix Experience and consequently sold the club. Derek Brown eventually became the manager of both the Club a’Gogo and the Blaydon Races. In addition to the shared manager, there were a number of other connections between the two venues. For instance, local bands who were pushing for a gig at the Club a’Gogo first had to audition at the Blaydon Races. There is anecdotal evidence that bouncers who overstepped their authority at the Gogo were exiled to the Blaydon Races for a spell. Thirdly, bands who played at both the Club a’Gogo and the Blaydon Races in the same week were often paid for both gigs in a single transaction.

In late 1967 through to early 1968 there were signs that the Club a’Gogo’s reputation as number one club in Newcastle was beginning to decline. The venue was still booking top national bands and some acts from the States. However, attendance figures were dropping. Many young people who had packed out the Gogo’s unlicensed ‘Young Set’ in the mid-sixties had moved on. They were now of an age at which they were able to legally consume alcohol. A lot of them had transferred their allegiance to the Quay Club in Newcastle. A new club called Sloopy’s also opened up in the spring of 1968 attracting large numbers of young people. Between them, these two clubs were having a detrimental effect on attendances at the Club a’Gogo.

In June 1968 the Club a’Gogo shut down. Although adverts in the local press announced that the closure was only for a summer recess the club never reopened. Within weeks the premises had become a prize bingo venue. At the same time the Blaydon Races was being advertised as an alternative to the Club a’Gogo. In fact, adverts for the Blaydon Races were using the Club a’Gogo’s trade mark logo with the wording “Blaydon Races Goes a’Gogo”.

Although the Blaydon Races offered an alternative to the Club a’Gogo, it fell way short of the standard of live music for which the Gogo had earned its reputation. For instance in the couple of months before the Club a’Gogo closed its doors, some of the national touring bands that had appeared there were: John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, Taste, Geno Washington, Brian Auger & Julie Driscoll as well as US acts – the Ronettes and Captain Beefheart. On the other hand the Blaydon Races continued its policy of booking local northeast bands.

It’s doubtful that the Blaydon Races scheme to relaunch itself as the new Club a’Gogo worked at all. One ex-Club a’Gogo member remembers taking the six mile bus journey from Newcastle to the pub only to find that she and her friend were the only people there. The Blaydon Races continued for a few months after the closure of the Gogo but by the Christmas of 1968 had temporarily shut its doors. It reopened in January 1969 but only for a few months. The last band advertised to play at the Blaydon Races was on 15th March 1969. On 29th March 1969 a notice appeared in the Newcastle Journal that the Blaydon Races Hotel was to be sold by auction on 23rd April 1969 (unless previously sold privately). Apparently the hotel was not sold and remained in a derelict condition for four years until it was bought in 1973 by a Tyneside businessman. Although planning permission for a revamp was granted the ambitious plans to restore the Blaydon Races to its former glory were never achieved. The hotel remained unoccupied until it was demolished.

Although the Blaydon Races and the Club a’Gogo ran for a similar period as live music venues, it would be stretching it to make a direct comparison between the two. Notably because the Gogo booked the top national touring bands of the day whereas most of the groups that appeared at the Blaydon Races were unknown outside the Northeast area. However, some of the musicians who performed at the Blaydon Races did find fame in later years. For instance – Bryan Ferry appeared there with the Gas Board; all the original Lindisfarne members played there with their former bands – Downtown Faction (Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe), Autumn States (Ray Jackson) and Chosen Few (Alan Hull).

A lot of northeast musicians cut their teeth at the Blaydon Races. For many years in the sixties it provided great entertainment for a lot of young people – an acceptable alternative to some of the city centre venues. For these reasons it shouldn’t be forgotten.

Here’s some photos of some of the bands that appeared at the Blaydon Races between 1965 and 1968: –

Finally, here’s a record of the bands that appeared at the Blaydon Races between 1965 and 1969 (based on newspaper adverts): –

1965

January 1965

Date Group
Mon 04/01/65 Don Juans
Tue 05/01/65 Silver Dollars
Fri 08/01/65 Denims
Sat 09/01/65 Senators
Sun 10/01/65 Denims
Mon 11/01/65 Rhythm Unlimited
Tue 12/01/65 Silver Dollars
Sun 17/01/65 Denims
Mon 18/01/65 Denims
Tue 19/01/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 20/01/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 23/01/65 Denims
Sun 24/01/65 Bits and Pieces
Mon 25/01/65 Senators
Tue 26/01/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 27/01/65 Denims
Fri 29/01/65 Rakes
Sat 30/01/65 Pentagons
Sun 31/01/65 Denims

February 1965

Mon 01/02/65 Denims
Tue 02/02/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 03/02/65 Keelbeats
Fri 05/02/65 Senators
Sat 06/02/65 Bits and Pieces
Sun 07/02/65 Denims
Mon 08/02/65 Go-Gos
Tue 09/02/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 10/02/65 Ravens
Fri 12/02/65 Denims
Sat 13/02/65 MI5
Mon 15/02/65 Go-Gos
Tue 16/02/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 17/02/65 Body Snatchers
Fri 19/02/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 20/02/65 Bits and Pieces
Sun 21/02/65 Rakes
Mon 22/02/65 Go-Gos
Tue 23/02/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 24/02/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 25/02/65 Lectrons
Fri 26/02/65 Senators
Sat 27/02/65 MI5
Sun 28/02/65 Denims

March 1965

Mon 01/03/65 Lyle and the Wayfarers
Tue 02/03/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 03/03/65 Tremmers
Thu 04/03/65 Denims
Fri 05/03/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 06/03/65 Denims
Sun 07/03/65 Elcort
Mon 08/03/65 Go-Gos
Tue 09/03/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 10/03/65 Denims
Thu 11/03/65 Lectrons
Fri 12/03/65 Pentagons
Sat 13/03/65 Rakes
Sun 14/03/65 Denims
Mon 15/03/65 Go-Gos
Tue 16/03/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 17/03/65 Normans
Thu 18/03/65 Denims
Fri 19/03/65 Senators
Sat 20/03/6> Denims
Sun 21/03/65 Vostox Combo
Mon 22/03/65 Night-Aires
Tue 23/03/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 24/03/65 Normans
Thu 25/03/65 Fables
Fri 26/03/65 Denims
Sat 27/03/65 Bits and Pieces
Sun 28/03/65 Pentagons
Mon 29/03/65 Kylastron
Tue 30/03/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 31/03/65 Denims

April 1965

Thu 01/04/65 Vostox Combo
Mon 05/04/65 Denims
Tue 06/04/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 07/04/65 Normans
Thu 08/04/65 Colts
Fri 09/04/65 Bits and Pieces
Sat 10/04/65 Senators
Sun 11/04/65 Denims
Mon 12/04/65 Rakes
Tue 13/04/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 14/04/65 Normans
Thu 15/04/65 Bits and Pieces
Fri 16/04/65 Denims
Sat 17/04/65 Vostox Combo
Sun 18/04/65 Denims
Mon 19/04/65 Vostox Combo
Wed 21/04/65 Don Juans
Thu 22/04/65 Colts
Fri 23/04/65 Denims
Sat 24/04/65 Rakes
Sun 25/04/65 Bits and Pieces
Mon 26/04/65 Solitaires
Tue 27/04/65 Denims
Wed 28/04/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 29/04/65 Senators
Fri 30/04/65 Denims

May 1965

Sat 01/05/65 Go-Gos
Sun 02/05/65 Normans
Mon 03/05/65 Bits and Pieces
Tue 04/05/65 Denims
Wed 05/05/65 Normans
Thu 06/05/65 Vostox Combo
Fri 07/05/65 Denims
Sat 08/05/65 Rakes
Sun 09/05/65 Senators
Mon 10/05/65 Denims
Tue 11/05/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 12/05/65 Senators
Thu 13/05/65 Denims
Fri 14/05/65 Del Five
Sat 15/05/65 Grey Man Sounds
Sun 16/05/65 Normans
Mon 17/05/65 Denims
Tue 18/05/65 Fables
Wed 19/05/65 Senators
Thu 20/05/65 Denims
Mon 24/05/65 Denims
Tue 25/05/65 Concords
Wed 26/05/65 Senators
Thu 27/05/65 Normans
Fri 28/05/65 Mirage
Mon 31/05/65 Paul Done and the Tzars

June 1965

Tue 01/06/65 Normans
Wed 02/06/65 Denims
Thu 03/06/65 Vostox Combo
Fri 04/06/65 Denims
Sun 06/06/65 Rakes
Mon 07/06/65 Vostox Combo
Tue 08/06/65 Concords
Wed 09/06/65 Denims
Thu 10/06/65 Normans
Mon 14/06/65 Denims
Tue 15/06/65 Silver Dollars
Wed 16/06/65 Normans
Thu 17/06/65 Denims
Fri 18/06/65 Colts
Sat 19/06/65 Five Steps
Sun 20/06/65 Rakes
Mon 21/06/65 Denims
Tue 22/06/65 Normans
Wed 23/06/65 Concords
Thu 24/06/65 Denims
Fri 25/06/65 Rakes
Sat 26/06/65 Five Steps
Mon 28/06/65 Denims
Tue 29/06/65 Normans
Wed 30/06/65 Colts

July 1965

Thu 01/07/65 Denims
Fri 02/07/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 03/07/65 Rakes
Sun 04/07/65 Fables
Mon 05/07/65 Vostox Combo
Tue 06/07/65 Bits and Pieces
Wed 07/07/65 Normans
Thu 08/07/65 Denims
Fri 09/07/65 Senators
Sat 10/07/65 Five Steps
Sun 11/07/65 Denims
Mon 12/07/65 Denims
Tue 13/07/65 Normans
Wed 14/07/65 Danny Green Five
Thu 15/07/65 Denims
Fri 16/07/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 17/07/65 Five Steps
Sun 18/07/65 Bits and Pieces
Wed 21/07/65 Normans
Thu 22/07/65 Denims
Fri 23/07/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 24/07/65 Demons
Sun 25/07/65 Five Steps
Mon 26/07/65 Denims
Tue 27/07/65 Normans
Wed 28/07/65 Colts
Thu 29/07/65 Denims
Fri 30/07/65 Five Steps
Sat 31/07/65 Dean Lewis and the Citroens

August 1965

Sun 01/08/65 Tony Bates Combo
Mon 02/08/65 Denims
Wed 04/08/65 Solitaires
Thu 05/08/65 Denims
Fri 06/08/65 Lectrons
Sat 07/08/65 Shades of Blue
Sun 08/08/65 Tony Bates Combo
Mon 09/08/65 Denims
Tue 10/08/65 Normans
Wed 11/08/65 Colts
Thu 12/08/65 Solitaires
Fri 13/08/65 Denims
Sat 14/08/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 15/08/65 Normans
Mon 16/08/65 Denims
Tue 17/08/65 Tony Bates Combo
Wed 18/08/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 19/08/65 Solitaires
Fri 20/08/65 Denims
Sat 21/08/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 22/08/65 Colts
Mon 23/08/65 Denims
Tue 24/08/65 Normans
Wed 25/08/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 26/08/65 Solitaires
Fri 27/08/65 Colts
Sat 28/08/65 Denims
Sun 29/08/65 Why and Where Four
Mon 30/08/65 Denims
Tue 31/08/65 Tony Bates Combo

September 1965

Wed 01/09/65 Why and Where Four
Thu 02/09/65 Denims
Fri 03/09/65 Bits and Pieces
Sat 04/09/65 Tony Bates Combo
Sun 05/09/65 Vostox Combo
Wed 08/09/65 Tony Bates Combo
Thu 09/09/65 Denims
Fri 10/09/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 11/09/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 12/09/65 Bits and Pieces
Mon 13/09/65 Denims
Tue 14/09/65 Normans
Wed 15/09/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 16/09/65 Why and Where Four
Thu 16/09/65 Silver Dollars
Fri 17/09/65 Denims
Sat 18/09/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 19/09/65 Crusaders
Mon 20/09/65 Denims
Tue 21/09/65 Normans
Wed 22/09/65 Why and Where Four
Thu 23/09/65 Denims
Fri 24/09/65 Vostox Combo
Sat 25/09/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 26/09/65 Bits and Pieces
Mon 27/09/65 Denims
Tue 28/09/65 Normans
Wed 29/09/65 Tony Bates Combo
Thu 30/09/65 Denims

October 1965

Fri 01/10/65 Bits and Pieces
Sat 02/10/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 03/10/65 Vostox Combo
Mon 04/10/65 Denims
Tue 05/10/65 Normans
Wed 06/10/65 Little Jimmy’s People
Thu 07/10/65 Denims
Thu 07/10/65 Foot Tappers
Fri 08/10/65 Bits and Pieces
Sat 09/10/65 Alibi
Sun 10/10/65 Why and Where Four
Tue 12/10/65 Normans
Wed 13/10/65 Colts
Thu 14/10/65 Denims
Fri 15/10/65 Bits and Pieces
Sat 16/10/65 Five Steps
Sun 17/10/65 Rakes
Mon 18/10/65 Denims
Tue 19/10/65 Normans
Thu 21/10/65 Silver Dollars
Thu 21/10/65 Styx n Stones
Fri 22/10/65 Lectrons
Sat 23/10/65 Consolidated Sounds
Sun 24/10/65 Why and Where Four
Mon 25/10/65 Denims
Tue 26/10/65 Normans
Wed 27/10/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 28/10/65 Alibi
Fri 29/10/65 String Beats
Sat 30/10/65 Consolidated Sounds
Sun 31/10/65 Why and Where Four

November 1965

Mon 01/11/65 Bits and Pieces
Tue 02/11/65 Normans
Wed 03/11/65 Tony Bates Combo
Thu 04/11/65 Coasters
Fri 05/11/65 Avalons
Sat 06/11/65 Rakes
Sun 07/11/65 Why and Where Four
Mon 08/11/65 Bits and Pieces
Tue 09/11/65 Normans
Wed 10/11/65 Colts
Thu 11/11/65 Alibi
Fri 12/11/65 Rakes
Sat 13/11/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 14/11/65 Elements
Mon 15/11/65 Avalons
Tue 16/11/65 Normans
Wed 17/11/65 Solitaires
Thu 18/11/65 Vostox Combo
Fri 19/11/65 Lectrons
Sat 20/11/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 21/11/65 Tony Bates Combo
Mon 22/11/65 Alibi
Tue 23/11/65 Normans
Wed 24/11/65 Colts
Thu 25/11/65 Solitaires
Fri 26/11/65 Bits and Pieces
Sat 27/11/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 28/11/65 Denims
Mon 29/11/65 Bits and Pieces
Tue 30/11/65 Normans

December 1965

Wed 01/12/65 Silver Dollars
Fri 03/12/65 Why and Where Four
Sun 05/12/65 Vostox Combo
Mon 06/12/65 Bits and Pieces
Tue 07/12/65 Normans
Wed 08/12/65 Alibi
Thu 09/12/65 Solitaires
Fri 10/12/65 Why and Where Four
Sat 11/12/65 Rakes
Sun 12/12/65 Alibi
Mon 13/12/65 Bits and Pieces
Tue 14/12/65 Normans
Wed 15/12/65 Demons
Thu 16/12/65 Solitaires
Fri 17/12/65 Why and Where Four
Sat 18/12/65 Alibi
Sun 19/12/65 Normans
Tue 28/12/65 Normans
Wed 29/12/65 Bits and Pieces
Thu 30/12/65 Why and Where Four
Fri 31/12/65 Denims

1966

January 1966

Thu 27/01/66 Stormbreakers
Fri 28/01/66 Avalons
Sat 29/01/66 Why and Where Four
Sun 30/01/66 Lectrons

February 1966

Wed 02/02/66 Silver Dollars
Mon 07/02/66 String Beats
Tue 08/02/66 Phase 4
Thu 10/02/66 Kravaats
Fri 11/02/66 Why and Where Four
Sat 12/02/66 Dayley Blues
Sun 13/02/66 Phase 4
Mon 14/02/66 String Beats
Tue 15/02/66 Phase 4
Wed 16/02/66 Silver Dollars
Thu 17/02/66 Kravaats
Fri 18/02/66 String of Beads
Sat 19/02/66 Why and Where Four
Pieces of Five
Mon 21/02/66 Vostox Combo
Tue 22/02/66 Phase 4
Wed 23/02/66 Alibi
Thu 24/02/66 Kravaats
Fri 25/02/66 Wild Set
Sat 26/02/66 Fables
Sun 27/02/66 Consolidated Sounds
Mon 28/02/66 Lectrons

March 1966

Tue 01/03/66 Phase 4
Wed 02/03/66 Kravaats
Mon 07/03/66 String Beats
Tue 08/03/66 Phase 4
Wed 09/03/66 Vostox Combo
Thu 10/03/66 Junco Partners
Fri 11/03/66 Wild Set
Sat 12/03/66 Consolidated Sounds
Sun 13/03/66 Why and Where Four
Mon 14/03/66 String Beats
Tue 15/03/66 Phase 4
Wed 16/03/66 Alibi
Thu 17/03/66 Lectrons
Fri 18/03/66 Silver Dollars
Sat 19/03/66 Demons
Sun 20/03/66 Why and Where Four
Mon 21/03/66 Vostox Combo
Tue 22/03/66 Phase 4
Wed 23/03/66 Silver Dollars
Thu 24/03/66 Junco Partners
Thu 31/03/66 Invaders

April 1966

Fri 01/04/66 Fables
Sat 02/04/66 Just Us
Sun 03/04/66 Jub Jub Clique Band
Mon 04/04/66 Vondykes
Tue 05/04/66 Phase 4
Wed 06/04/66 Silver Dollars
Thu 07/04/66 Stormbreakers
Fri 08/04/66 Junco Partners
Sat 09/04/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 10/04/66 Wild Set
Mon 11/04/66 Vondykes
Tue 12/04/66 Phase 4
Wed 13/04/66 Stormbreakers
Thu 14/04/66 Kravaats
Fri 15/04/66 Jub Jub Clique Band
Sat 16/04/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 17/04/66 Vondykes
Mon 18/04/66 Stringbeats
Tue 19/04/66 Phase 4
Wed 20/04/66 Silver Dollars
Thu 21/04/66 Invaders
Mon 25/04/66 Vondykes
Tue 26/04/66 Phase 4
Wed 27/04/66 Stormbreakers
Thu 28/04/66 Kravaats
Fri 29/04/66 Gas Board
Sat 30/04/66 String of Beads

May 1966

Sun 01/05/66 Wild Set
Thu 05/05/66 Junco Partners
Fri 06/05/66 Wild Set
Sat 07/05/66 Lindan & the Border Beats
Sun 08/05/66 Gas Board
Mon 09/05/66 Autumn States
Tue 10/05/66 Phase 4
Wed 11/05/66 Alibi
Thu 12/05/66 Impact
Fri 13/05/66 Wild Set
Sat 14/05/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 15/05/66 Pieces of Five
Times Four
Tue 17/05/66 Phase 4
Wed 18/05/66 Kravaats
Thu 19/05/66 Junco Partners
Fri 27/05/66 Daley Blues
Sat 28/05/66 Heatwave
Sun 29/05/66 Heatwave
Sun 29/05/66 Gas Board
Mon 30/05/66 Wild Set
Tue 31/05/66 Kravaats

June 1966

Thu 02/06/66 Invaders
Fri 10/06/66 Wild Set
Sat 11/06/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 12/06/66 Pieces of Five
Mon 13/06/66 Autumn States
Tue 14/06/66 Phase 4
Wed 15/06/66 Alibi
Thu 16/06/66 Junco Partners
Fri 17/06/66 Pieces of Five
Sat 18/06/66 Consolidated Sounds
Sun 19/06/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 19/06/66 Gas Board
Mon 20/06/66 Autumn States
Tue 21/06/66 Phase 4
Wed 22/06/66 Alibi
Thu 23/06/66 Invaders

July 1966

Fri 01/07/66 Lectrons
Sat 02/07/66 Vostox Combo
Sun 03/07/66 Gas Board
Mon 04/07/66 Alibi
Tue 05/07/66 Denims
Wed 06/07/66 Elcort
Thu 07/07/66 Junco Partners
Fri 08/07/66 Lectrons
Sat 09/07/66 Transit
Sun 10/07/66 Gas Board
Mon 11/07/66 Vostox Combo
Tue 12/07/66 Phase 4
Wed 13/07/66 Heatwave
Thu 14/07/66 Chosen Few
Fri 15/07/66 Alibi
Sat 16/07/66 String of Beads
Sun 17/07/66 Lectrons
Mon 18/07/66 Vostox Combo
Tue 19/07/66 Phase 4
Wed 20/07/66 Heatwave
Thu 21/07/66 Gas Board
Fri 22/07/66 Lectrons
Sat 23/07/66 Consolidated Sounds
Sun 24/07/66 Hylton K’s
Mon 25/07/66 Movement
Tue 26/07/66 Phase 4
Wed 27/07/66 Transit
Thu 28/07/66 Gas Board
Fri 29/07/66 Vondykes
Sat 30/07/66 Some Other Guys
Sun 31/07/66 Junco Partners

August 1966

Mon 01/08/66 Facts Of Life
Tue 02/08/66 Phase 4
Wed 03/08/66 Vulcans
Thu 04/08/66 Gas Board
Fri 05/08/66 Georgia Quintet
Sat 06/08/66 Sticks and Stones
Sun 07/08/66 Gas Board
Mon 08/08/66 Some Other Guys
Tue 09/08/66 Denims
Wed 10/08/66 Transit
Thu 1/08/66 Blue Chips
Fri 12/08/66 Alibi
Sat 13/08/66 Target
Sun 14/08/66 Gas Board
Mon 15/08/66 Denims
Tue 16/08/66 Phase 4
Wed 17/08/66 Transit
Thu 18/08/66 Urge
Fri 19/08/66 Urge
Sat 20/08/66 Some Other Guys
Sun 21/08/66 Some Other Guys
Mon 22/08/66 Pieces of Five
Tue 23/08/66 Denims
Wed 24/08/66 Bar 19
Thu 25/08/66 Blue Chips
Fri 26/08/66 Pieces of Five
Sat 27/08/66 Georgia Quintet
Sun 28/08/66 Gas Board
Mon 29/08/66 Pieces of Five
Tue 30/08/66 Phase 4
Wed 31/08/66 Transit

September 1966

Thu 01/09/66 Kravaats
Fri 02/09/66 Vondykes
Sat 03/09/66 Some Other Guys
Sun 04/09/66 Consolidated Sounds
Mon 05/09/66 Pieces of Five
Tue 06/09/66 Phase 4
Wed 07/09/66 Alibi
Fri 09/09/66 Vondykes
Sat 10/09/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 11/09/66 Consolidated Sounds
Mon 12/09/66 Pieces of Five
Tue 13/09/66 Phase 4
Wed 14/09/66 Alibi
Thu 15/09/66 Sect
Fri 16/09/66 Vondykes
Sat 17/09/66 Pieces of Five
Sun 18/09/66 Junco Partners
Mon 19/09/66 Sect
Tue 20/09/66 Phase 4
Wed 21/09/66 Bar 19
Thu 22/09/66 Blue Chips
Fri 23/09/66 Vondykes
Sat 24/09/66 Some Other Guys
Sun 25/09/66 Gas Board
Mon 26/09/66 Sect
Tue 27/09/66 Phase 4
Wed 28/09/66 Bar 19
Thu 29/09/66 Junco Partners
Fri 30/09/66 Some Other Guys

October 1966

Sat 01/10/66 Lectrons
Sun 02/10/66 Outrage
Mon 03/10/66 Sect
Tue 04/10/66 Phase 4
Wed 05/10/66 Bar 19
Thu 06/10/66 Gas Board
Fri 07/10/66 Georgia Quintet
Sat 08/10/66 Wild Set
Sun 09/10/66 Junco Partners
Mon 10/10/66 Sect
Tue 11/10/66 Phase 4
Wed 12/10/66 Hinge
Thu 13/10/66 Kravaats
Fri 14/10/66 Pieces of Five
Sat 15/10/66 Hylton K’s
Sun 16/10/66 Gas Board
Mon 17/10/66 Sect
Tue 18/10/66 Phase 4
Thu 20/10/66 Junco Partners
Fri 21/10/66 Some Other Guys
Sun 23/10/66 Gas Board
Mon 24/10/66 Sect
Tue 25/10/66 Phase 4
Wed 26/10/66 Combined Set
Thu 27/10/66 Junco Partners
Fri 28/10/66 Rakes
Sat 29/10/66 Movement
Sun 30/10/66 Jub Jub Clique Band
Mon 31/10/66 New Blues Review

November 1966

Tue 01/11/66 Phase 4
Wed 02/11/66 Some Other Guys
Thu 03/11/66 Junco Partners
Fri 04/11/66 Citroens
Sat 05/11/66 Hylton K’s
Sun 06/11/66 Miles Grover Group
Mon 07/11/66 Wild Set
Tue 08/11/66 Phase 4
Mon 14/11/66 George Harrison Combo
Tue 15/11/66 Phase 4
Fri 18/11/66 Why and Where Four
Sat 19/11/66 Lectrons
Sun 20/11/66 Junco Partners
Mon 21/11/66 Rakes
Tue 22/11/66 George Harrison Combo
Wed 23/11/66 Winetca Sounds
Thu 24/11/66 Gas Board
Fri 25/11/66 Special 5
Sat 26/11/66 Some Other Guys
Sun 27/11/66 Junco Partners
Mon 28/11/66 Jub Jub Clique Band
Tue 29/11/66 Phase 4
Wed 30/11/66 Blackjacks

December 1966

Thu 01/12/66 Facts Of Life
Fri 02/12/66 Georgia Quintet
Sat 03/12/66 Hylton K’s
Sun 04/12/66 Phase 4
Mon 05/12/66 Doug Vallan and the Soul Concern
Tue 06/12/66 Denims
Wed 07/12/66 Tricity Klan
Thu 08/12/66 Gas Board
Fri 09/12/66 Rakes
Sat 10/12/66 Combined Set
Sun 11/12/66 Wild Set
Mon 12/12/66 Outlines
Tue 13/12/66 Phase 4
Wed 14/12/66 Stormbreakers
Fri 16/12/66 Why and Where Four
Sat 17/12/66 Miles Grover Group
Sun 18/12/66 Rakes
Mon 19/12/66 Kravaats
Tue 20/12/66 Phase 4
Wed 21/12/66 Jub Jub Clique Band
Thu 22/12/66 Outlines
Fri 23/12/66 Pieces of Five
Sat 24/12/66 Vondykes
Mon 26/12/66 Wild Set
Tue 27/12/66 Phase 4
Wed 28/12/66 Combined Set
Thu 29/12/66 Set Up
Fri 30/12/66 Blackjacks
Sat 31/12/66 Gas Board

1967

January 1967

Sun 01/01/67 Phase 4
Mon 02/01/67 Georgia Quintet
Tue 03/01/67 Phase 4
Fri 06/01/67 Shady Kases
Sat 07/01/67 Some Other Guys
Sun 08/01/67 Rakes
Mon 09/01/67 Downtown Faction
Tue 10/01/67 Phase 4
Fri 13/01/67 Blackjacks
Sat 14/01/67 Vondykes
Sun 15/01/67 Rakes
Wed 18/01/67 Combined Set
Thu 19/01/67 George Harrison Combo
Fri 20/01/67 Phase 4
Sat 21/01/67 Habit
Sun 22/01/67 Rakes
Mon 23/01/67 Hylton K’s
Tue 24/01/67 Phase 4
Wed 25/01/67 Alibi
Thu 26/01/67 Tricity Klan
Fri 27/01/67 Winetca Sounds
Sat 28/01/67 Vondykes
Sun 29/01/67 Rakes

February 1967

Thu 02/02/67 Gas Board
Fri 03/02/67 Consolidated Sounds
Sat 04/02/67 Jefferson’s People
Mon 06/02/67 Impulse
Tue 07/02/67 Phase 4
Wed 08/02/67 Alibi
Thu 09/02/67 Gas Board
Fri 10/02/67 String of Beads
Sat 11/02/67 Downtown Faction
Sun 12/02/67 Winetca Sounds
Tue 14/02/67 Phase 4
Thu 16/02/67 Astronauts
Fri 17/02/67 Avalons
Sat 18/02/67 Some Other Guys
Sun 19/02/67 Junco Partners
Mon 20/02/67 Phase 4
Thu 23/02/67 Blue Chips
Fri 24/02/67 Lusika State Group
Sat 25/02/67 Vondykes
Sun 26/02/67 Tricity Klan
Tue 28/02/67 Denims

March 1967

Thu 02/03/67 String of Beads
Fri 03/03/67 Fables
Sat 04/03/67 Combined Set
Sun 05/03/67 Playboys
Tue 07/03/67 Phase 4
Thu 09/03/67 Tricity Klan
Fri 10/03/67 Alien
Sat 11/03/67 Vondykes
Sun 12/03/67 Junco Partners
Tue 14/03/67 Phase 4
Thu 16/03/67 Gas Board
Fri 17/03/67 Hylton K’s
Sun 19/03/67 Outlines
Tue 21/03/67 Phase 4
Thu 23/03/67 Georgia Quintet
Fri 24/03/67 Junco Partners
Sat 25/03/67 Autumn States
Sun 26/03/67 Age of Reason
Mon 27/03/67 Combined Set
Tue 28/03/67 Phase 4
Thu 30/03/67 Dying Race
Fri 31/03/67 Hylton K’s

April 1967

Sat 01/04/67 Junkie Crop
Sun 02/04/67 String of Beads
Tue 04/04/67 Phase 4
Thu 06/04/67 Tricity Klan
Fri 07/04/67 Fables
Sat 08/04/67 Georgia Quintet
Sun 09/04/67 Autumn States
Tue 11/04/67 Phase 4
Thu 13/04/67 Junco Partners
Sat 15/04/67 Vondykes
Sun 16/04/67 Consolidated Sounds
Tue 18/04/67 Phase 4
Thu 20/04/67 Gas Board
Fri 21/04/67 Alibi
Sat 22/04/67 Some Other Guys
Sun 23/04/67 Autumn States
Tue 25/04/67 Phase 4
Thu 27/04/67 Consolidated Sounds
Fri 28/04/67 Stacey Smith Blues Band
Sat 29/04/67 Raymond Minge
Sun 30/04/67 Junco Partners

May 1967

Tue 02/05/67 Phase 4
Thu 04/05/67 Gas Board
Fri 05/05/67 Barbed Wire
Sat 06/05/67 Stacey Smith Blues Band
Sun 07/05/67 Wild Set
Tue 09/05/67 Phase 4
Thu 11/05/67 Reaction
Fri 12/05/67 Barbed Wire
Sat 13/05/67 Vondykes
Thu 18/05/67 Tricity Klan
Fri 19/05/67 Hylton K’s
Sat 20/05/67 Habit
Sun 21/05/67 String of Beads
Tue 23/05/67 Alibi

June 1967

Thu 01/06/67 Reaction
Fri 02/06/67 Wild Set
Sat 03/06/67 Destruction Co Ltd
Sun 04/06/67 String of Beads
Tue 06/06/67 Alibi
Thu 08/06/67 Winetca Sounds
Sat 10/06/67 Reaction
Sun 11/06/67 Gas Board
Tue 13/06/67 Alibi
Thu 15/06/67 Pipeline Inc
Fri 16/06/67 Stacey Smith Blues Band
Sat 17/06/67 Moving Target
Sun 18/06/67 Funny Farm
Wed 21/06/67 Alibi
Fri 23/06/67 Hylton K’s
Tue 27/06/67 Alibi
Fri 30/06/67 Tricity Klan

July 1967

Tue 04/07/67 Alibi
Thu 06/07/67 Phase 4
Fri 07/07/67 Stacey Smith Blues Band
Sat 08/07/67 Georgia Quintet
Sun 09/07/67 G G Brown and the Blues Line Band
Tue 11/07/67 Alibi
Sat 15/07/67 Moving Target
Sun 16/07/67 Lusika State Group
Tue 18/07/67 Alibi
Thu 20/07/67 Phase 4
Fri 21/07/67 Tricity Klan
Sat 22/07/67 Destruction Co Ltd
Sun 23/07/67 Gas Board
Tue 25/07/67 Hylton K’s
Thu 27/07/67 Pipeline Inc
Fri 28/07/67 Destruction Co Ltd
Sun 30/07/67 Phase 4

August 1967

Tue 01/08/67 Alibi
Thu 03/08/67 Playboys
Fri 04/08/67 Combined Set
Sat 05/08/67 Epidemic
Sun 06/08/67 Autumn States
Tue 08/08/67 Alibi
Thu 10/08/67 Downtown Faction
Fri 11/08/67 Munks
Sat 12/08/67 Jump
Sun 13/08/67 Combined Set
Tue 15/08/67 Alibi
Thu 17/08/67 Pipeline Inc
Fri 18/08/67 Bar 19
Sat 19/08/67 Invention
Sun 20/08/67 Consolidated Sounds
Tue 22/08/67 Alibi
Thu 24/08/67 Phase 4
Fri 25/08/67 Berts Apple Crumble
Sat 26/08/67 Dual Camp Set
Sun 27/08/67 Autumn States
Tue 29/08/67 Alibi
Thu 31/08/67 Phase 4

September 1967

Fri 01/09/67 Hylton K’s
Sat 02/09/67 17th Motorcade
Sun 03/09/67 Gas Board
Tue 05/09/67 Alibi
Thu 07/09/67 Phase 4
Fri 08/09/67 Playboys
Sun 10/09/67 Bar 19
Tue 12/09/67 Alibi
Thu 14/09/67 Phase 4
Fri 15/09/67 John Lewis Blues Band
Sat 16/09/67 17th Motorcade
Sun 17/09/67 Autumn States
Tue 19/09/67 Alibi
Thu 21/09/67 Phase 4
Fri 22/09/67 Hylton K’s
Sat 23/09/67 Dual Camp Set
Wed 27/09/67 Alibi

October 1967

Sun 01/10/67 Flower Garden
Tue 03/10/67 Alibi
Thu 05/10/67 New Generation
Fri 06/10/67 Darkness
Sat 07/10/67 Parchment People
Thu 12/10/67 Buster Summers Express
Fri 13/10/67 Jude Brown Show
Sat 14/10/67 Go Go Set
Sun 15/10/67 Pickwicks
Tue 17/10/67 Alibi
Thu 26/10/67 Tamla Express
Fri 27/10/67 Midnite Train
Sat 28/10/67 Roumer
Sun 29/10/67 Junco Partners
Tue 31/10/67 Alibi

November 1967

Fri 03/11/67 ABCs
Sat 04/11/67 Apper Clause
Sun 19/11/67 Junco Partners
Thu 30/11/67 Jimmy Powell & the Dimensions

December 1967

Thu 07/12/67 Guild
Fri 08/12/67 Maze
Sat 09/12/67 Lusika State Group
Sun 10/12/67 Hylton K’s
Fri 22/12/67 Herbies People
Sat 23/12/67 Maze
Fri 29/12/67 Epidemic
Sat 30/12/67 Maze
Sun 31/12/67 Household

1968

January 1968

Thu 25/01/68 Bemus Mint
Fri 26/01/68 Love Scene

February 1968

Thu 01/02/68 Epidemic
Fri 02/02/68 Moving Target
Thu 08/02/68 Hedgehog Pie
Fri 09/02/68 Maze
Sat 10/02/68 17th Motorcade
Sun 11/02/68 Junco Partners
Mon 12/02/68 Maze
Thu 29/02/68 Combined Set

March 1968

Fri 01/03/68 Love Scene
Sat 02/03/68 Hedgehog Pie
Sun 03/03/68 Autumn States
Fri 08/03/68 Midway Blues Set
Sat 09/03/68 Pride
Sun 10/03/68 Junco Partners
Fri 15/03/68 Combined Set
Sat 16/03/68 Maze
Sun 17/03/68 Tyme
Tue 19/03/68 Alibi
Fri 22/03/68 Junco Partners
Sat 23/03/68 Midway Blues Set
Sun 24/03/68 Felix Welk
Tue 26/03/68 Links
Fri 29/03/68 Gravy Train
Sat 30/03/68 Leam Line
Sun 31/03/68 Junco Partners

Aprily 1968

Tue 02/04/68 Alibi
Fri 05/04/68 Pride
Sat 06/04/68 Geordie Bell’s Big Roll Band
Sun 07/04/68 Jimmy Miller
Tue 09/04/68 Alibi
Fri 12/04/68 Junco Partners
Sat 13/04/68 Love Scene
Sun 14/04/68 Jimmy Miller
Mon 15/04/68 Hylton K’s
Fri 19/04/68 Autumn States
Sat 20/04/68 Pride
Sun 21/04/68 Jimmy Miller
Tue 23/04/68 Alibi
Fri 26/04/68 Combined Set
Sat 27/04/68 Toy Cupboard
Sun 28/04/68 Jimmy Miller
Tue 30/04/68 Alibi

May 1968

Fri 03/05/68 Toy Cupboard
Sat 04/05/68 Rebuff
Tue 07/05/68 Alibi
Fri 10/05/68 Talcum Slice
Sat 11/05/68 Gravy Train
Tue 14/05/68 Alibi
Fri 17/05/68 John Lewis Blues Band
Sat 18/05/68 Axree Junction
Tue 21/05/68 Alibi
Fri 24/05/68 Gravy Train
Sat 25/05/68 Solid State
Tue 28/05/68 Alibi
Fri 31/05/68 Hylton K’s

June 1968

Sat 01/06/68 Highway Blues
Mon 03/06/68 Axree Junction
Tue 04/06/68 Alibi
Fri 07/06/68 Georgia Quintet
Fri 07/06/68 Short Blues Line
Sat 08/06/68 Fickett’s Steam Coffin
Tue 11/06/68 Alibi
Fri 14/06/68 Up North Combo
Sat 15/06/68 James Ingham Scene
Tue 18/06/68 Alibi
Fri 21/06/68 Merseys
Sat 22/06/68 Forever After
Tue 25/06/68 Alibi
Fri 28/06/68 Combined Set
Sat 29/06/68 North Carolina Blues

July 1968

Wed 03/07/68 Alibi
Fri 05/07/68 Fickett’s Steam Coffin
Sat 06/07/68 One Last Mile
Tue 09/07/68 Alibi
Fri 19/07/68 Traque
Sat 20/07/68 Midway Blues Set
Fri 26/07/68 Combined Set
Sat 27/07/68 Gin House

August 1968

Fri 02/08/68 Hylton K’s
Sat 03/08/68 Consolidated Sounds
Fri 09/08/68 Midway Blues Set
Sat 10/08/68 North Carolina Blues
Fri 16/08/68 Axree Junction
Sat 17/08/68 One More Mile
Sun 18/08/68 Autumn States
Fri 23/08/68 Smiles Infirmary
Sat 24/08/68 One More Mile
Sun 25/08/68 Alibi
Fri 30/08/68 Midway Blues Set
Sat 31/08/68 Traque

September 1968

Sun 01/09/68 Alibi
Fri 06/09/68 Guild
Sat 07/09/68 Smiles Infirmary
Sun 08/09/68 Junco Partners
Fri 13/09/68 Forever After
Sat 14/09/68 Talcum Slice
Sun 15/09/68 Hylton K’s
Fri 27/09/68 One More Mile
Sat 28/09/68 Short Blues Line
Sun 29/09/68 Junco Partners

October 1968

Fri 04/10/68 Alibi
Sat 05/10/68 Paisley Landscape
Sun 06/10/68 Sliced Fingers
Fri 18/10/68 Combined Set
Sat 19/10/68 Parchment Farm
Sun 20/10/68 Sliced Fingers
Fri 25/10/68 Budgie Johnson’s Blues
Sat 26/10/68 Parchment Farm
Sun 27/10/68 Alibi

November 1968

Fri 01/11/68 One More Mile
Sat 02/11/68 North Carolina Blues
Sun 03/11/68 Happy Medium
Fri 08/11/68 Axree Junction
Sat 09/11/68 Budgie Johnson’s Blues
Sun 10/11/68 Ignition
Fri 15/11/68 Traque
Sat 16/11/68 Free Wheel
Sun 17/11/68 Alibi

1969

January 1969

Sat 25/01/69 Music Factory
Ping Pong

February 1969

Sat 01/02/69 One More Mile
Sat 08/02/69 Juice
Sat 15/02/69 Vondykes
Sat 22/02/69 Free Wheel

March 1969

Sat 01/03/69 Vondykes
Sat 08/03/69 Raw Spirit
Sat 15/03/69 King Rat

9 thoughts on “The Blaydon Races

  1. 0
    0

    Well Done Rog with your email regarding the Blaydon Races Hotel!

    At least I now know where I was on three dates: 14/11/66, 22/11/66 and 19/01/67. I had struggled to remember a venue I played at, which I knew to be on the South side of the river but when I saw your posting, it all came back to me. You must have worked hard to extract that list of bands & dates from newspaper listings.

    I was then the guitarist with the George Harrison Combo but one or more of those gigs might well have been when Alan Hull stood in for George Harrison, as the latter was then taking what is now known as “paternity leave”. By February 1967 we became the resident band at the notorious Birdcage Club and had stopped gigging altogether.

    The description of the music area fits my recollections, I think it was painted very darkly and when you came in to set up with the lights on, it was a fairly drab & dingy setting but clearly a very popular and active one.

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  2. 0
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    Yes I used to travel to the Blaydon Races on a Friday night from Sunderland in 67/68 great gigs great music met loads of people.

    Great era loved being part of that scene aged 18 to 24.

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  3. 0
    0

    Great article on the ‘Races’. Did bring back so many memories of happy days.??

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  4. 0
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    We played the Blaydon Races for travelling expenses only as an “audition” before we got our first gig at the Go-Go.

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  5. 0
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    Great article Roger, never played at the Blaydon Races, but was the first resident band at The Club A Gogo
    You’ve certainly put some work in Roger, Very comprehensive story of the sixties. Thank you.

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  6. 0
    0

    Tommy Henderson… as I live and breathe; such a long time since I frequented Julies. Always fond memories of you.

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  7. 0
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    ps
    Bumped into Johnny S. while Christmas shopping… he doesn’t look a day older: he must have a portrait in his attic.

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