Carousel Club, Farnborough

(c’66-’68) Situated on Camp Road, Farnborough, above Whites / J.G. Ward car showroom, the club was buzzing in ’66, having opened on 17 December ’65, went on a hiatus throughout early ’67 finally reopening in June ’67 and continued to rock until Mar ’68. The likes of Otis Redding, John Mayall & the Blues Breakers, The Kinks, Lee Dorsey and so many more graced the venue.

Robert Fox, who owned the Expresso 1 Cafe in Farnborough, had the bright idea of opening a club for the town’s youth, found some premises, and submitted planning permission to Farnborough Council. His first attempt failed, but after leasing land behind Newbury’s for parking his second application for the Carousel Club was before the council on 26 October ’65. Planning permission was granted, by a margin of one vote, and the Carousel officially opened on 17 December ’65, with one of the first regular presenters of Top of the Pops, Pete Murray spinning the discs. Murray also introduced live sets by The Koobas, who recorded ‘Ready, Steady, Go’ earlier in the day, The Riot Squad, and Grant Tracy & The Sunsets.

The club kicked it into another gear in the New Year with The Artwoods performing on 17 January ’66; followed four days later, on 21 January, by The Action, supported by The Soul Pushers. A succession of big names entertained the club members in the lead up to Valentines Day ’66: Starting on 11 February the Mark Leeman Five were followed the next night by Flamingo Club regulars The Train, then Alan Bown Set on 13 February in the buildup to 14 February ’66 that featured The Small Faces, with The Rockhouse Band warming up the crowd. Not that the estimated 500 attendees needed much warming up. The screams were deafening and the venue struggled to get The Small Faces to the stage through the throng. There was an attempt to pull Steve Marriott from the stage and it was just as difficult to get the band out of the venue with one person injured in the post-performance crush. Elkie Brooks, Keith Powell, The Marionettes, and Mike Finney and The Excels were all at the venue on 25 February ’66. The Artwoods returned on 5 March ’66, and The Poets were supported by The Symbols on 11 March ’66. The Five Proud Walkers supported Jimmy Brown Sound the next night, 12 March, although the big draw that week came on Sunday with Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames on 13 March ’66. On 28 March ’66 The Kinks put out a press release confirming that Ray Davies was still ill and all concert dates were cancelled, including the Carousel Club that night. The Kinks were rescheduled for 16 May ’66.

In the meantime, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers appeared on 4 April ’66. On 15 April ’66, The Symbols opened for the six-piece The Quite Five and the next month, on 2 May, The Small Faces returned, followed four days later by The Trekkas on 6 May ’66. The very next night Island Records singer and songwriter Jackie Edwards was backed by The Sidewinders; followed by Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band on 8 May ’66. Graham Bond bought his Organisation to the Carousel Club on 20 May ’66, with The Score helping to pack the venue the next night. Now making regular appearances at the venue The Small Faces performed on 22 May ’66. A week later, on 27 May, Herbie Goins and The Nightimers took to the small stage. A few days later legendary soul and R&B singer Ben E. King performed on 30 May ’66. Details on much of the remainder on the year are sparse, but we do know that on 2 September ’66, Top of the Pops’ Samantha Juste was at the venue, The Carnaby performed on 3 September ’66, and The Alan Price Set the next night. The Shevelles appeared on 9 September ’66 and then, for only his second performance in the UK, Otis Reading, back by a 14-piece band, filled the venue on 13 September ’66; with support by Manchester’s The Score.

The Carousel Club closed its doors two weeks before Christmas ’66, with an appearance by The Move scheduled for 30 December ’66 cancelled. It reopened as The Big ‘C’ Club on Friday 2 June ’67, as the only club in the Britain run by Radio Caroline, with a set from The Turtles and support from Moon’s Train. The venue’s group bookings were now handled by Laurie O’Leary, who’d later be a pallbearer at both Charlie and Ronnie Kray’s funerals, while Ronnie Turner and Alan Beck shared managerial duties. While it was The Big ‘C’, The Amen Corner are rumored to have made an appearance, Jefferson Airplane were allegedly booked, and Dave Entovan – who’d go on to manage Robbie Williams – spun a disc or two. Certainly, on 4 July ’67, Moon’s Train played, returning on 9 September ’67. The 3 November ’67 saw the venue hosting Episode Six, and The Junior (Pretty Boy Kerr) Group with vocalist Linda Lewis the following night. Later in the month Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers turned up, on 12 November. A week after taht it was Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band, on 17 November, followed by Moon’s Train on 18 November and The Ferres Wheel on 24 November.

On 17 February ’68, Moon’s Train returned once again and, on 23 February ’68, The Fantastics took to the stage followed by a return visit from Junior Kerr and Linda Lewis, this time with The White Rabbit, on 24 February ’68. Southampton based John Drevar’s Expression returned, although we have found no evidence of their first visit as yet, on 15 March ’68, and Little John and The Shadrocks dropped by the next night. On 19 March ’68, Odiham Magistrates Court refused to renew The Big C’s music license due to poor safety precautions and inadequate fire escapes – there was after all just one way up to the club above the showroom and one way down. The club closed immediately, and that night’s performance by Michigan’s The Marvelettes was cancelled, leaving some 400 disgruntled teenagers standing outside the club that night. The Marvelettes had been scheduled to play the club earlier in year but didn’t show and resident DJ, Lionel “Golly” Gallacher, having just lost his job, was left with the onerous task of breaking the news to the crowd again. Meanwhile, club manager, O’Leary cancelled Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band’s 22 March ’68 booking and promised that the club would reopen after upgrades – it never did…

Gallery: