The venue started life as a tannery in the 1750s and was converted to a brewery in 1845 and expanded, with part of it becoming a malt house. Courage Breweries took over in 1925 and continued malting activities until 1956. Abandoned and in disrepair the property was sold to the town in ’69, to turn into an arts and community center with work converting the building taking years – some would say it’s still ongoing.
The people of Farnham raised £18,000, in a month, towards the £30,000 (significantly under market value) required by Courage Breweries to purchase The Maltings. The Farnham Trust raised the remaining £12,000 with grants from Surrey County Council, the Pilgrim Trust, and, it is believed, a contribution by Sir John Verney. The 31st Annual Report and Accounts 1975-1976 of The Arts Council of Great Britain, sub-headed ‘The Arts in Hard Times’ features a £15,000 line item Farnham Maltings Association Limited. Farnham Planning Officer John Wainwright also supported the late Alan Fluck in developing live music at the venue from ’75 to ’85. Before then, it is reported that, around September ’70 Mike Rutherford’s father helped Genesis, with the newly recruited Phil Collins, rent The Maltings where they rehearsed for six weeks and wrote what was to become their album ‘Nursery Crymes’.
From ’75, The Maltings has been ‘officially’ a thriving arts and performance centre and is commonly referred to as Farnham Maltings. Farnham College’s Music Club moved to The Maltings in ’75 arranging a number of concert series at the venue.
American, Stefan Grossman bought his acoustic fingerstyle guitar playing and singing to The Maltings on 5 February ’76. On 27 April ’76, BBC TV’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” recorded Rick Wakeman at the venue; some of the recordings from which would appear on “Rick Wakeman – Live at The BBC” released on Hux Records [HUX 085] on 26 February 2007. In 2013, a double LP of Wakeman’s 1976 recordings were released on Gonzo Multimedia [RICK002] titled ‘Rick Wakeman – Live At The Maltings 1976’. Originally intended to run during September ’76, the 1st Farnham Beer Festival was push back to April ’77 and featured live music from local musicians and a band called Paul, Peter, and Mary’s Brother, as well as a few beers over the events two days. In ’78 the original line-up of The Vapors performed at The Maltings, this was shortly after they dropped the ‘u’ from Vapours. In contrast, Yale Symphony Orchestra’s tour of Great Britain in May ’78 took in Farnham and they performed at the venue.
At some point early in 1980 the Surrey / Hants Music Competition was held at The Maltings, Farnham. We know that UBz came 3rd, Phantom Zone came 2nd, and Stripes won the 500 quid recording contract with Ray Dorset’s Satellite Label after competing against Impulse, and Lynx. The venue also hosted the Farnham Blues Festival for many years, to the point it was called the Farnham Maltings Blues Festival. The Farnham Folk Day, organized by creator of Folk Roots magazine Ian Anderson, was also held at The Maltings. He organized it from ’82 to ’88; skipping ’86 as the Maltings had double booked the date.
The Maltings hosted more than folk and blues, one of punk band Black Easter‘s first gigs was at The Maltings on 7 February ’82. The 1st Farnham Folk Day took place on 18 April ’82 and featured Martin Carthy, Michael Chapman, The English Country Blues Band, Dave Evans, John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris, The Old Swan Band, The Watersons, Peta Webb & Webb’s Wonders, Maggie Holland, Spredthick, Dogfludd, Alan Harlow & Maggie St. George, Heavy Weather, Keith James, Don & Sarah Morgan, Nigel Thornbory, Toffs, and Bob Walton. On 7 September ’82, punk returned with a gig headlined by Black Easter with support from Mutant Babies, Disease, Maxi Puch and the Macho Moped Men, Longpig, and Zylch. Folk rockers, Home Service also appeared, a couple of months later, on 4 November ’82. Then on 16 December, Death in June performed at the venue.
The Farnham Film Company used the venue as one of the locations to record the videos and promos for Ob-Jay-Da‘s “It’s So Strange” and “As If To Say” on 1 November ’83, they also used the multi-storey car park on Barrack Road, Aldershot; and Farnham Castle; with The Maltings providing the venue for the indoor performance elements.
On 29 April ’84 the 3rd Farnham Folk Day featured Brass Monkey, The Cooper Family, The Andrew Cronshaw Band, The Dead Sea Surfers, The English Country Blues Band, Flowers & Frolics with Eddie Upton, Jo-Ann Kelly with Pete Emery and Mike Deacon, La Ciapa Rusa, R. Cajun, Martin Simpson, and Peta Webb & Pete Cooper.
Another great of the folk rock era and a familiar sight at a number of other local venues, Fairport Convention reformed in ’85 and were at The Maltings on 7 January. Every year the Folk Day was getting bigger and The 4th Farnham Folk Day, on 14 Apri ’85, was no different with Alistair Anderson, The Blades, The Boothill Foot-Tappers, Cluster Of Nuts Band, Eric, Dick Gaughan, Maggie Holland & Chris Coe, Sarah & Dave Horne, Dave Hunt, Joe Hutton with Willie Taylor & Will Atkinson, Flaco Jimenez Tex-Mex Band featuring Peter Rowan, Debby McClatchy, The Oyster Band, Rogue Morros, The Seven Champions, Kathryn Tickell, Trubshaw’s Hawaiians, Eddie Upton, and Bob Walton. On 30 October ’86, Bill Boazman, then using the persona of “Sonny Black”, was in town as were 3 Mutaphas 3, who claimed to originate in the Balkans but were actually a British world music band, on 2 November.
Jo-Ann Kelly, Pete Emery, and Chinese musicians The Guo Brothers entertained the crowd on 1 February ’87. This was followed by Model T Slim on 16 April. In ’87 the Folk Day included a session called “Many Stringed Things From Far Flung Places” featuring Dembo Konte and Kausu Kuyateh on koras, Hassan Erraji on oud & bendir, and Sue Harris on English hammered dulcimer. The ensemble laid down a 20 minute set of what was described as ‘sublime music from the sky’. The phone rang for weeks with people asking if it had been recorded. Of course not…but those there on 26 April ’87 also got to see The Oyster Band, Dick Gaughan, Andy White, The Easy Club, John Kirkpatrick, The Old Swan Band with Dave Hunt, Brendan Crocker & The 5 O’Clock Shadows, The Copper Family, Peta Webb & Pete Cooper, Rory McLeod, Pete Morton, Crazy Hearts, Maggie Holland & Dave Parry, and Andy Turner & Chris Wood at the 5th Farnham Folk Day. On 10 September ’87 Sonny Black returned and towards the end of ’87 the Crane River Jazz Band filled the venue on 21 October, followed a week later by the Grits and Molasses Jazz Band on 28 October, and Sammy Rat’s Big Big Blues Band the following day.
On 20 April ’88 The Solent City Jazz Men visited Farnham’s Maltings. Late in ’87, Anderson had moved away, leaving the Farnham Folk Day in the capable hands of Steve Heap and ? Casey for the next few years. On 24 April ’88, eleven hours of international roots music rolled into the venue in the form of the sixth annual Farnham Folk Day. Roots music was represented that day by Martin Carthy, Michelle Shocked, Ali Farka Toure, Kathryn Tickell, Sileas, Jali Musa Jawara & Musicians, Malcolm’s Interview, Maggie’s Farm, Howlin’ Wilf & The Vee Jays, Gas Mark V, The Old Hat Concert Party, Calicanto, Ralph Jordan with Fi & Jo Fraser, Paul James & Nigel Eaton, Roger Wilson, and Broken Ankles. On 26 May’ 88 Blues Stew performed followed on 8 June by Blues n’ Trouble. Seven months after the Folk Day the Blues Festival rolled in on 20 November with Ruthless Blues, Blues Burglars, Hot Club Plus Friends, Rolling Drunks, T Model Slim, Sammy Rat’s Big Big Blues Band and Chuff Train Hot Dogs. The last gig listing at the venue we have at this time for ’88 is Cryin’ Out Loud on 1 December. A year later, The Hamsters were at The Maltings on 16 December ’89, followed by Hot Club on 28 December.
On-again, off-again concern, Blodwyn Pig visited on 10 March ’90 and toward the end of march, on 29th, Sonny Black was back at The Malting followed a few days later by the return of The Hamsters on 1 April ’90. On 22 November ’90, Snatch It Back took to the venue stage and eight days later on 28 November it was the turn of Basingstoke’s Rod Garfield Blues Band. The Summer Blues Bonanza Festival hit The Maltings on 23 June ’91 and featured: Hot Club Plus Friends, The Hamsters, The Gutter Brothers, Mick Pini Band, Buick 6, Root Doctors, The Poorboys, Angelina & The Corn Babies, and The Ant Hill Mob. Pub rockers Dr. Feelgood dropped in just before Christmas ’91, with a gig on 7 December.
After just over five years together, The Hamsters played their 1000th gig at The Maltings, Farnham on 4 April 1992. A Summer Blues Festival was held on 21 June ’92 with Giles Headley and The Bogus Brothers in attendance. Jazz clarinetist, sax and harmonica player, Ian Wheeler recorded a concert at venue, releasing an LP titled ‘Ian Wheeler At Farnham Maltings’ in 1993 that also featured Colin Bowden (drums), Ray Foxley (piano), Vic Pitt (double bass), Rod Mason (trumpet) and on trombone, special guest, Fesser Lindgrun. Later that year, on 21 November ’93, Nine Below Zero were off the hook.
On 2 July ’94 The Gutter Brothers performed at The Maltings again and The Eighth Farnham Maltings Blues Festival was held on 20 November ’94. Local band Womb opened The Maltings based Farnham Fusion Festival in ’94, but we are currently lacking any real detail on the event. The next year The Mighty 45’s, who you may recall as Angela Brown’s backing band, took over the venue on 13 July. American singer-songwriter, Loudon Wainwright III performed on 8 November ’95, followed the next day by the oft underrated blues rock of the Saiichi Sugiyama Band.
The Folk Festival ’96 was tinged with rock on 21 April in the form of Redwood along with Kathryn Tickell, Dr Didg, Labi Siffri, Edward II, and John Otway. Who Moved The Ground? headlined on 6 May ’96 with Redwood in support. Shed Club and Bluefire Records/Snakebite City presented Farnham ’96 on 23 November ’96 booking These Animal Things, Dweeb, Posh, Supermodel, Posh, Chuck, Redwood, The Hairy Things, The Bigger God, Inter, Pharmacy, JC Regulator, PA Skinny, Oizone, Twister, Avalanche and Snowball.
The Farnham Fusion Festival took place at The Maltings again, on 15 February ’97, and featured Alabama 3, Womb, Beth Orton, Loop Guru, Dr Didg, Orphic Soop, Terminal Head, Redwood, The Dolman, Pineapple Tribe, Fish Pig, Seed & The Bridge, Decon Prom, Jabanna, Alien Mutation, Peter Sarstedt, Blazing Homesteads, and Past Caring. A couple of months later, on 26 April ’97, Shed Club and Snakebite City once again presented Farnham ’97, aka Indie Band Fest 1997, with Carter USM, Bennet, Spacemaid, The Bigger God, Garageland, Sons of The Tribe, Jolt, Pullover, Dustball, Inter, Disco Pistol, Descent, Gel and Oizone all performing. In late ’97, when Splatch! and Geronimo events could no longer be held at the Civic Hall, Guildford the folks at Farnham Maltings stepped up.
As a result of the Civic’s move, Midget – who’d have singles in the UK Singles Chart later in the year – and Glitterbox performed at The Malting on 10 January ’98 and the following week, on 17 January, Vex Red, Sonic Blue, Mindwire and Enertia. The Maltings hosted Farnham ’98, on 28 March ’98, featuring 20 bands across three stages at the all day festival. My Life Story, Drugstore, Libido, Ballroom, Jaguar, Salamanda, and Cato played on the Shed Club stage. On the Snakebite City stage: Glitterbox, Seafood, Inter, Spillage, Twister, Avalanche, Oizone, and Co Star played. Enertia, Vex Red, Taxi Driver, and Snideline performed on the third. ’98 was also the year that classical pianist and composer John Lenehan was recorded at The Maltings, resulting in Classic FM’s CD release ‘John Lenehan – Satie Piano Miniatures including 3 Gymnopedies’ [75605 57022 2]. Technival was held on 11 April that year with Serpico, Jetpak, The Monsoon Bassoon, Jolt, Fourth Quarter, and Magoo. Redwood’s Colour Blind tour included The Maltings on the roster of venues on 17 July ’98 and the following month, on 21 August ’98, Kilter booked the venue for a gig.
The L.A. Doors performed at the venue again on 23 January ’99. A few weeks later the Skunk Festival 1999 #1 hit The Maltings, on 12 February ’99, and featured Mindwire and Hipslinky. Easter Sunday 1999 saw The Maltings packed with six performance areas for Technoval: The Geronimo Guitar and Noises Swamp featured Stella Maris, Fourth Quartet, The Scrutineers, Mindwire, Blue Swimmer, and Caretaker. The Coalition Dance Emporium hosted Mark Sinclair, who’d started the Pendragon parties in ’92 and was a pioneer of Trance/Hard Trance in the UK; Defiant’s Paulo & The Sad Bastard; along with Tey, a key figure in the UK’s free party scene in the 90’s co-running ‘Sabbatical Sound’ and would be found later in the year banging out techno at Guilfin‘s Ambient Lounge at Glastonbury; Matt 505, and Tristan. The Guilfin Ambient Lounge at Technoval was headlined by the top dog of the Megadog / Club Dog club nights, Michael Dog; supported by Kinetic’s Dr Psychedelic; Frontside; and Alien Mutation. Cultural Images Dub Zone built up from Da Vinci’s Turk & Miles; to Sunray; back to Da Vinci with Natto P; and wrapping it up with Tufty Gee & The Fyne Tymes Crew. Funky Lloyd Jesus headlined the Superfly Funk Bunker with Me Camembert and Mr Spud, Duke Zuke, and Linz. Finally the Basement Bar held Essenes, Hipslinky, and Hotel Lounge. The Skunkhouse Festival 1999 #2 presented Mindwire and Enertia on 7 May ’99; and a month later, on 22 June, Kilter took to The Maltings’ stage again.
In 2000, Dreyfuss played the The Maltings, Farnham with Vex Red and Me Against It All in aid of Reef Protection on 22 February. That same year, on 22 January and 30 March, Dr JJ’s Blues Band recorded their sessions laying 11 of the tracks down their ‘Live’ CD Album released later in the year on Hal E. Tosis Records [CD HAL 003]. Booaloo went down at the Farnham Maltings on 16 November 2000, with The Guv’nors performing.
Blues, Classical, Folk, Funk, Indie, Jazz, Prog, Punk, Rock, Techno, Trance the venue has accomodated them all and more and continues to this day; celebrating 50 years recently.
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