What follows is a list of gigs, with images of tickets, adverts and flyers where possible, either at GU postcode venues or featuring bands, listed in bold if we have an image, we like to claim are part of the Woking/GU Soundscene from 1900 thru 1959:

1913

May 2
New Borough Hall, Guildford: Madame ‘Nellie’ Melba

Madame ‘Nellie’ Melba appeared at the New Borough Hall, Guildford; courtesy of Clark’s Ltd who reportedly paid 500 guineas (~£31,000 today) for her performance. Source: Guildford & surrounding area history

1916

February 5
Borough Hall, Guildford: Madam Clara Butt

Madam Clara Butt appeared at the Borough Hall, Guildford; courtesy of Clark’s Ltd. Source: Guildford & surrounding area history

March 18
Guard’s Camp, Pirbright: The Dennis Orchestra

1920

February 20
Church Room, Stoughton, Guildford: Co-Operative Concert Company

February 25
Borough Hall, Guildford: Co-Operative Concert Company

1922

May 7
Borough Hall, Guildford: The Salvation Army Silver Band and Songster Brigade

A free concert in aid of Feed the Children Fund was held at Borough Hall, Guildford with the Salvation Army Silver Band and Songster Brigade performing. The following week there was a concert directed by Mr. Leslie Fly. Picture courtesy of Philip Hutchinson

November 29
?, Ward Street, Guildford: The Regent Orchestra

December 1
Dennis Athletic Club, Guildford: The Dennis Orchestra

December 8
Dennis Athletic Club, Guildford: The Dennis Orchestra

December 13
R.A.E. Concert Hall, Farnborough: The RAE Orchestral Society

13 December 1922: The RAE Orchestral Society, played at R.A.E. Concert Hall


1930

July 26
The Common, Portsmouth: Haselmere Town Brass Band w/ Ardingley Brass Band

1945

December 26
Lion Hotel, Guildford: Keys of Swing


1949

February 9
Melody Maker Southern Counties Dance Band Championship, Bath Halls, Cheam: Keys of Swing 

September 22
Melody Maker South Britain Area Finals, Town Hall, Wimbledon: Johnnie Moss and His New Music, w The Top Five and Their Music, Eric Wakefield and his Band, and Keys of Swing


1951

February 10
New Ballroom, Guildford: Johnny Dankworth Seven

March 3
New Ballroom, Guildford: Graeme Bell’s Australian Jazz Band

March 24
New Ballroom, Guildford: Freddy Randall

September 22
Town Hall, Farnborough: The New Stars

September 26
Town Hall, Farnborough: Raymond and his Music

1953

April 25
New Ballroom, Guildford: Carl Barritfau’s Band

April 27
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

June 2
Elizabeth II Coronation, The Common, Cranleigh: The Merrymakers Band

June 22
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

August 24
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

November 2
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers w/ Roy Richards and his Mayfair Music

December 14
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

December 19
New Ballroom, Guildford: Ray Ellington Quartet

New Ballroom Guildford Advert. NME, 18 Dec 1953

December 24
New Ballroom, Guildford: Freddy Faulkner and His Band w/ Johnny Lawrence

December 26
New Ballroom, Guildford: Freddy Faulkner and His Band w/ Johnny Lawrence

December 31
New Ballroom, Guildford: Freddy Faulkner and His Band w/ Johnny Lawrence

1954

January 2
New Ballroom, Guildford: Vic Lewis and his Orchestra

April 24
New Ballroom, Guildford: Kenny Baker and his Quartet

May 1
New Ballroom, Guildford: Gracie Cole and her All Girls’ Orchestra

May 8
New Ballroom, Guildford: Sid Phillips and his Band

May 10
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

May 15
New Ballroom, Guildford: Freddy Faulkner and His Band

May 29
New Ballroom, Guildford: The Squadronaires w/ Harry Bence Orchestra

July 5
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

December 31
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

1955

March 5
New Ballroom, Guildford: Frank Wier Orchestra w/ Ric Richards, Jean Hudson, Lisa Ashwood, and Russ Hurren

5 March 1955: Advert for Frank Wier Orchestra dates list New Ballroom, Guildford. NME, 25 Feb 1955

March 6
Odeon, Guildford: Jack Parnell and His Orchestra, with Dennis Hale and Irene Miller

Advert for Jack Parnell and His Orchestra, with Dennis Hale and Irene Miller at Odeon, Guildford from NME, 25 Feb 1955

March 7
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

March 19
New Ballroom, Guildford: Nat Temple Orchestra

June 20
The Savoy, Southsea: High Curley Stompers

September 11
Odeon, Guildford: Ted Heath and his Music

Advert for Ted Heath and his Music at Odeon, Guildford from NME, 2 Sept 1955

1956

March 12
The Ritz, Woking: Billy Cotton and his Band w/ Terry O’Neil and Peggy Haig, Bea & Zelda Marvi, Kendor Bros., Fred Atkins, and Pierre Bel.

Billy Cotton and his Band, Terry O’Neul and Peggy Haig, Bea & Zelda Marvi, Kendor Bros., Fred Atkins, and Pierre Bel were at The Ritz, Woking. Picture courtesy of Celia Reed

April 8
Odeon, Guildford: The Ronnie Scott Orchestra with Tony Crombie, Joey Burnett, Janie Marden, Robert Earl and Desmond Lane

Flyer for The Ronnie Scott Orchestra with Tony Crombie and Joey Burnett along with Janie Marden, Robert Earl and Desmond Lane at Odeon, Guildford from the Eduard Eady collection. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

April 29
Odeon, Guildford: Chris Barber’s Jazz Band w/ Ottilie Patterson and The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group in the afternoon and The Eric Delaney Band in the evening.

Handbill for two concerts at the Odeon, Guildford: Chris Barber’s Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson and The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group in the afternoon and The Eric Delaney Band in the evening. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

1957

April 6
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 13
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 20
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 27
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

May 4
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

May 11
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

May 18
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

May 25
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

November 24
Odeon, Guildford: Terry Dene & The Dene-Aces w/ Ronnie Aldrich & The Squadronaires
Hippodrome, Aldershot: The Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Johnny Parker and his Band, and The Skeleton Skiffle Group.

The Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Johnny Parker and his Band, and The Skeleton Skiffle Group played at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town

1958

16 February
The Odeon, Guildford: Terry Dene and his “Dene Aces” w/ Worried Men Skiffle Group, Les Hobeaux Skiffle Group, The Cossacks, Terry Kennedy and his Sidemen, and Wee Willie Harris.

16 Feb 1958: Odeon, Guildford. Source: David Simpson via Cinema Treasures

June 29
Odeon, Guildford: The Treniers w/ Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, Hedley Ward Trio and Terry Wayne

July 26
?, Guildford: Wee Willie Harris w/ The Most Brothers, and Tony Crombie & His Rockets

September 19
Atalanta Ballroom, Woking: The Jazz Couriers w/ David James Trio

The Jazz Couriers supported by the David James Trio were at the Atalanta Ballroom, Woking. Picture courtesy of: Ben’s Collectors Records

1959

January 11
Odeon, Guildford: Cliff Richard & The Drifters w/ Joy & Dave Adams, Mike Preston, Johnny Duncan & The Blue Grass Boys, and Johns and Kennedy

February 7
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

February 14
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

February 21
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

February 28
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

March 7
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

March 14
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

March 15
Odeon, Guildford: Cliff Richard & The Drifters, and the Four Jones Boys, Daley & Wayne, Betty Smith Quintet, and Chas McDevitt & The Freight Train Boys with Shirley Douglas.

March 21
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

March 28
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 4
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 11
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 18
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

April 25
St. Peters Hall, Frimley: High Curley Stompers

May 17
?, Guildford: Marty Wilde w/ Billy Fury, Wee Willie Harris, The Rockets, The Bachelors, and Joanne Scoon

September 26
Odeon, Guildford: Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Al Saxon, Peter Elliot, The Jones Boys, Roy Young, Bill & Brett Landis, and Johnny Wiltshire & The Trebletones

November 1
The Odeon, Guildford: Andre Navarra

November 14
Technical College, Guildford: Bryan Drake

November 15
Odeon, Guildford: Craig Douglas w/ The Mudlarks, Cherry Wainer with Don Storer, Jimmy Lloyd, The Wiseguys, and David Conway

November 29
The Odeon, Guildford: Fou Ts’ong