the venues
and events
major venues where the local bands supported bigger, nationally promoted
groups
Coventry Theatre - Hales St.
Opened in 1937 and a major variety theatre in the area. Most major acts played there and it was usually included in package tours over the years.
The Beatles played there twice (once in 1962 and during the height of Beatlemania in 1963), as did many other of the Merseybeat acts. American group The Byrds performed there in 1965, as well as the famous package tour of November 1967 which included Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Move, Amen Corner and The Nice amongst others. Later on in the early 1970's, both Deep Purple and Queen appeared.
Unfortunately the venue was demolished in 2002.
Hotel Leofric - Broadgate
Opened as part of the Precinct / Broadgate development in the late 1950's, there is a long history of Jazz and Blues at this popular venue. It hosted the 'Sunday Session' R&B Club during the mid 1960's, when record shop proprietor Barrie Phelps was the musical director. Such legendary names as vocalist, Chris Farlowe, Cliff Bennett, Zoot Money, guitarist, Davey Graham, Long John Baldry, reggae singer, Jimmy Cliff and 'ex-Yardbird guitarist', Jeff Beck all played there.
A switch to progressive rock acts as fashions changed in the late '60's saw the venue play host to such underground favourites as Spooky Tooth and Taste, as well as lesser known, but now legendary acts like Mike Stuart Span and Cream-influenced NSU. There was also the legendary night in 1968 when allegedly Jimmy Tarbuck got up to jam with Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac! (did anyone photograph it ?!!).
Still going strong as host to jazz sessions.
Lanchester Polytechnic - Priory
St.
Has hosted many major bands since the late 1960's including American outfit Love in 1970 and ELP in 1971. More underground acts like Mighty Baby and Idle Race were also part of the student circuit of the time appeared.
Still going as a popular venue.
Locarno (Later known as Tiffanys)
- City Centre Precinct
In the 1970's, it hosted Coventry's first 'all-nighter in October 1966, featuring John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Ronnie Jones and the Blue Jays.
This was later the venue where during the 1972 Lanchester Arts Festival Chuck Berry recorded the Number One hit 'My Ding A Ling'. Seven lears later another Number One single was recorded there by The Specials, the Too Much Too Young EP.
It eventually closed and became the Central Library in the 1980's, the Precinct landmark of the glass walled lift was moved inside the building line to what was formerly
Barnaby's toyshop.
Matrix
Dancehall - Fletchamstead Highway
Very popular venue, despite being out of town, most of the bigger, nationally known bands of the '60's such as The Beatles, Kinks, Who and Small Faces, played there often supported by a couple of local outfits. Later rock groups who played there in the late '60's included the American band Steppenwolf.
The venue closed in the late 1970's, but the building still stands (just).
Mercers Arms
Another hardcore R&B / Jazz venue, this played host to a number of regular club nights like The Yardbird Club (1967 - 69), Tudor Club (1967), Henry's Blueshouse (1969) and Pete Waterman's Floorboards Club (1970). Legendary acts like The Graham Bond Organization, sax player, Tubby Hayes, flautist, Harold McNair, pianist Stan Tracey, reggae outfit The Skatalites and Shotgun Express (featuring Rod Stewart when he was good!) all performed there.
Sadly the venue is now demolished.
Orchid Ballroom - Primrose Hill St.
Was a very important venue during the early 1960's, when Larry Page's Sunday evening talent showcases brought entrepreneurs from all over Britain.
Local talents like Johnny B. Goodison, Shel Naylor and girl group The Orchids were all spotted and signed there.
After a period as a bingo hall, it reopened in the late 1980's as the Tic Toc club and more recently The Colosseum and remains a very popular live venue.
Chesford Grange - Kenilworth
As an out of town country club, this venue played host to groups from around the mid '60's. The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown played there in 1968 and Reggae producer Lee Perry's Upsetters played there during their short 1969 tour. From around 1970 - 72 it went under the name Kinetic Cellar and it was possible to see progressive rock groups like The Groundhogs and Van Der Graaf Generator play there for 40p!
smaller venues with locally promoted clubs and
acts
40 Thieves, Precinct - Opened January 1968, renamed Busters.
Bantam, Holbrooks - Free Expression Club (1969 - 70)
Bagington Oak, Bagington - Fingal's Cave (1969)
Bulls Head , Binley Rd - Stocks (1967), West End Club (1970-71)
Student Union Hall,
Butts
The Cheylesmore - Toledo Club (1967), Dr. Watson's (1968)
Craven Arms (The Bear from March 1970), High St - Tudor Club (1967), Carousel (1970) Closed November 1980. demolished.
General Wolfe, Foleshill Rd - Charleston Club (1968)
Golden Cross, Hay Lane
Hen & Chicks - Club Part One (1966)
Navigation Inn, Stoney Stanton Rd
New Inn
Newlands, Tile Hill - Club Caroline (1967), Flamingo (1967)
Parkstone Club
Pilot, Burnaby
Rd. - Sorrows had weekly residency 1964.
Plough, London Rd - Tunn Up Club (1967)
Police Ballroom
Pump Rooms, Leamington
Queens Inn, Primrose Hill St - Coventry Folk Club (1967)
Railway Hotel, Lockhurst Lane - Club Vandella (1966)
Red House, Stoney Stanton Rd - Carnaby Club (1967-69), New Fontana (1969-70)
Sir Colin Campbell, Gosford St. - The Village (1969-71)
Sportsmans Arms, Birmingham Rd - Casablanca Club (1967), Bilbo Baggins Club (1969-72)
Tree Tops, Foleshill Rd - Pete Waterman's Roadunner Disco (1973)
Umbrella Club, Queen Victoria Rd - Arts Centre (1968 - 71)
Walsgrave Hotel, Walsgrave Rd
Wine Lodge/Tally Ho, Cororation St - Cofa's Tree Folk Club (1967)
Keith Eardley remembers: "Silk
ran a progressive disco and promoted live music (originally at the
Plough, later at the Builder's Trades club and the West End club). Jim
Twyneham (last I heard dj at Cov football club) and Graham Wood, later
joined by Paul Taylor, who I believe may have defected from the Village.
The Village was Andy Ronnyback and Mark Walters."
events
Technical College Arts Ball
December 1966 - Headlined by The Move
December 1967 - 'Naked Lunch' , Hotel Leofric - fancy dress ball, bands were: Moody Blues, Blossom Toes, Coloured Rasins, East Side Protection
Lanchester Arts Festival
1968-70: we're looking for info which bands were involved?
1971: Osibisa, Indian Summer and others
1972: Chuck Berry, Pink Floyd
Diggers Feast
Cathedral Ruins: 28th August 1970 - bands included Ra-Ho-Tep - who else
played?
Memorial Park / Carnival
Only confirmed band we know of are Peppermint Kreem (1973). - who else
played?
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