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For anyone who vaguely recalls the Woking / GU postcode area music scene.

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  • The 1994 Gig List

    The 1994 Gig List

    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, we like to claim are part of the Woking/GU Soundscene in 1994:

    January 3
    St Johns Tavern, Archway, London: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Love Family, and Summersalt
    The Cricketers, Westfield: The Ha Ha Men

    The Ha Ha Men are back at The Cricketeres, Westfield In 1994. Picture courtesy of Nathan Argonaut

    January 5
    Aitch’s, Godalming: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Backlash

    January 6
    Archduke Charles, Elephant & Castle: Who Moved the Ground?

    January 10
    West End Centre, Aldershot: Trousershock B.C., w/ Deceased Disease, Cosmic Thoughts, and FEYD

    1994 gig poster for Trousershock B.C. Picture courtesy of Nathan Argonaut

    January 12
    Lockwood Centre, Guildford: J.C. Regulator

    January 14
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Eat the Sofa
    Fantails, Woking: Imagination

    January 15
    Dew Drop Inn, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Lobster Stump Beat
    Aitch’s, Goldalming: Crazy Face
    The Parrot, Slyfield: Eat the Sofa
    The Abinger Arms, Abinger: Nightshift

    January 19
    Aitch’s, Godalming: Nitch

    January 20
    Axe & Cleaver, Boston: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Brittania Inn, Guildford: J.C. Regulator

    January 26
    The Old Trout, Windsor: Substance w/ Big Boy Tomato, and J.C. Regulator

    January 27
    Dublin Castle, Camden: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Manray
    Castle & Falcon, Birmingham: Parmaviolet

    January 29
    Cartoon, Croydon: Primitive Instinct w/ Rainland, and Ob-Jay-Da
    The Swan, Fulham: Big Boy Tomato

    January 30
    Orange, West Kensington: 800 Deep w/ Headnoise, and Canes Able

    February 4
    Blue Boy Hotel, Farnham: Who Moved the Ground?

    February 8
    The Compasses, Egham: J.C. Regulator

    February 10
    Cellar Bar, Bracknell: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Citizen Fish

    February 11
    The Crown, Peckham: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Three Lions, Farncombe: Nightshift

    February 12
    Queens Head, Alton: Who Moved the Ground?

    February 17
    The Roebuck, Lewisham: Who Moved the Ground?

    February 18
    The Bottomline, Shepherds Bush: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Stroke

    February 21
    The Monarch, Camden: Who Moved the Ground?

    February 22
    Merrist Wood College, Worplesdon: Who Moved the Ground?

    February 24
    Granby Tavern, Reading: Who Moved the Ground?

    February 26
    Aitches, Godalming: Bananafish

    March 3
    Old Ash Tree, Gillingham: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 5
    Chichester Hall, Witley: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 6
    Black Swan, Cobham: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 7
    The Forum, Tunbridge Wells: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 10
    Goldsmith’s College, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 12
    Haslemere Hotel, Haslemere: Bananafish

    March 13
    The Duke Of Edinburgh, Reading: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Rileys
    The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town: Vox Pop

    1994… Photo courtesy of Michael Bailey

    March 17
    The Skoolhouse, Milton Keynes: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 24
    Red Lion, Brentford: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 26
    Round The Bend, Deptford: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 28
    The White Hart, Frimley: Vox Pop

    March 29
    Ragamuffins, Camberley: Who Moved the Ground?

    March 31
    Mean Fiddler, Harlesden: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Doo The Moog

    April 2
    The West End Centre, Aldershot: J.C. Regulator w/ The Hairy Things
    Camberley Town Football Club, Camberley: Vox Pop

    April 3
    Altis Centre, Basingstoke: Vox Pop

    April 4
    Amersham Arms, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Doo The Moog

    April 8
    The Windmill, Four Marks: Who Moved the Ground?
    Hype, Bull & Gate, Kentish Town: Mega City Four

    8 April 1994: Voucher for discounted entry to Mega City Four at Hype, Bull & Gate, Kentish Town. Picture courtesy of Pete Cole

    April 9
    National Rifle Range Pavillion, Bisley: The Outcast Band w/ Who Moved The Ground and Skipper

    9 April 1994: Ticket for The Outcast Band, Who Moved the Ground! and Skipper at the National Rifle Range Pavilion, Bisley. Source: Blag Promotions

    April 10
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Who Moved the Ground?

    April 11
    The Swan, Fulham: Who Moved the Ground?

    April 12
    The Racehorse, Northampton: Who Moved the Ground?

    April 14
    The Shed, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Suck Henry w/ Redefining Beautiful, and J.C. Regulator

    April 15
    Memorial Hall, Binfield: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Doo The Moog
    The Duchess, Leeds: Sebadoh w/ Big Boy Tomato

    April 16
    Town Hall, Stourbridge: Who Moved the Ground?

    April 17
    After Dark, Reading: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Babe Rainbow

    April 21
    Dublin Castle, Camden: Who Moved the Ground?

    April 24
    Connaught School, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? (afternoon gig)

    April 28
    Captain Cook, Acton: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Aggro Dollies

    April 30
    Leviathan, Watford: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Stroke

    May 7
    Old Trout, Windsor: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Oasis

    May 12
    Cellar Bar, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Bruce Collins, The Rileys, and Doo the Moog

    May 13
    Royal Oak, Hollywater: Bananafish

    May 14
    The Crown, Knaphill: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Perfect Circles

    May 17
    Marquee, London: Apes, Pigs and Spacemen w/ Headnoise

    17 May 1994: Headnoise, supported Apes, Pigs and Spacemen, at the Marquee. Source: The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene

    May 18
    Prince’s Hall, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Redefining Beautiful, Punching Judy, Strange World, Parmaviolet, Blind, and Headnoise (Battle for the Limelight event)

    18 May 1994: Flyer for Battle for the Limelight at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Source: Who Moved The Ground?

    May 20
    Goldsmith’s College, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?

    May 22
    The Castle, Reigate: Who Moved the Ground?

    May 26
    The Old Trout, Windsor: Mega City Four

    Mega City Four played The Old Trout, 26th May 1994. Source: Jastin Barwick via The Old Trout Windsor

    May 27
    West London Institute, Twickenham: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Doo The Moog

    May 30
    The Castle, Reigate: Who Moved the Ground? (afternoon gig)

    June 4
    The Kings Arms, Bagshot: Who Moved the Ground?

    June 10
    The Works, Corby: Beautiful People w/ The Little Green Men

    June 11
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Who Moved the Ground?

    June 15
    Royal Oak, Passfield: Who Moved the Ground?

    June 17
    Three Lions, Farncombe: Who Moved the Ground?

    June 22
    Goldsmiths College, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?

    June 25
    AJZ Club, Erfurt, Germany: Who Moved the Ground?

    June 26
    Gerber Strasse 3, Weimar, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    June 27
    V.E.B Radrenbahn, Erfurt, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 1
    22 Chrobrego, Inowroclaw, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 2
    Kinoteatr, Ostrzeszow, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 3
    Mrowisko, Zdunska Wola, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 4
    Kapusta, Grudziadz, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 5
    Kapusta, Grudziadz, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 6
    Lajba, Sopot, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads
    Agincourt, Camberley: Credit to the Nation

    July 8
    Schokolade, Berlin, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 9
    Local 7, Dunkerque, France: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Featherheads

    July 10
    Woking Raft Race, Goldsworth Park, Woking: J.C. Regulator
    Autonoom Tref Centrum de Vort’n Vis, Ypres, Belgium: Chorus of Disapproval w/ Ironside, Who Moved the Ground?, Kito, and Baby Harp Seal

    10 July 1994: Who Moved the Ground? performed at A.T.C de Vort ‘N Vis. Source: https://90svortnvis.wordpress.com

    July 12
    Concordia, Tongeren, Belgium: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Down by Law, and Kito

    July 16
    Eisenbahner, Berlin, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Des Virgheitors
    Hallams Court, Blackheath: Nightshift

    July 17
    Archiv, Potsdam, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Des Virgheitors

    July 20
    Club Zoro, Leipzig, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Des Virgheitors

    July 23
    The Cellar, Konstanz, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Des Virgheitors

    July 30
    The Fir Tree, Farnborough: Who Moved the Ground? (afternoon gig)

    August 6
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Vox Pop w/ Tamberlaine

    6 August 1994: Vox Pop play The Cricketers, Westfield with Tamberlaine.

    August 11
    Agincourt, Camberley: Chumbawamba w/ Mambo Taxi

    August 13
    Big Tent, Abbey Park Festival, Leicester: Mega City Four w/ Slinky, Neverland, F.B.I., Kookaburra, Headrush, Junk, Zipper, Storm Thieves, Psycho Groove Muthas, Platform 4, and Vivid.

    August 20
    The Royal Squadron, Ryde: Vox Pop

    August 26
    Lambada Tent, Greenbelt Festival, Northants: Who Moved the Ground?

    August 28
    The Bunker, Greenbelt Festival, Northants: Who Moved the Ground? (afternoon)

    August 29
    The Bunker, Greenbelt Festival, Northants: Who Moved the Ground? (afternoon)
    Guildford Folk & Blues Festival, Stoke Park, Guildford: Goats Don’t Shave, Roy Harper, Ralph McTell, Tom Robinson and Band, Tarika, John Otway Big Band, Alan Hull & Kenny Craddock, Dave Cousins & Brian Willoughby, Chris Smither, Boogie Brothers, The Blazing Homesteads, Eat the Sofa, and The Blues Boys

    29 August 1994: Guildford Folk & Blues Festival flyer

    September 1
    The King’s Head, Fulham, London: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Summersalt and Strookas

    September 3
    Connaught School, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground?
    Cellar, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Big Boy Tomato w/ The Love Family and Skipper


    September / October 1994 Gigs for Skipper with Love Family, Big Boy Tomato, Serious Plankton, Toys in the Attic, Who Moved the Ground?, and The Counterfeit Stones

    September 4
    The White Swan, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground?

    September 7
    The New Inn, Basingstoke: Who Moved the Ground? (acoustic)

    September 8
    The Cricketers, Westfield: The Wednesdays
    Granby Tavern, Reading: Who Moved the Ground? w/ J.C. Regulator
    Shed, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Summersalt w/ Headcopter, and Ampersand

    September 9
    Bears, Epsom: Maid in England
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Tamberlaine
    The White Hart, Farncombe: Eat the Sofa
    West End Centre, Aldershot: Germination w/ Serious Plankton, and J.C. Regulator

    September 10
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Bandog
    Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough: Eat The Sofa
    Dew Drop Inn, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Wheatsheaf, Aldershot: Skipper w/ Serious Plankton, Toys in the Attic, and more.
    The Iron Duke, Crowthorne: Thieves of Dreams


    September 1994: Thieves of Dreams had three gigs between the 10th and 17th in Crowthorne, Aldershot and Gosport. Source: TOD Thieves of Dreams

    September 11
    The White Swan, Aldershot: Thieves of Dreams

    September 12
    Aitche’s, Godalming: b.l.o.w. (ex-Little Angels)
    Bleak House, Ottershaw: The Roosters

    September 14
    Aitche’s, Godalming: b.l.o.w. (ex-Little Angels)
    Bizarre Bar, Guildford: Eat the Sofa
    The Maltings, Farnham: The Red Snappers
    Powerhaus, Islington: Skipper

    September 17
    Fighting Cocks, Bagshot: Who Moved the Ground?
    Trade Union Hall, Gosport: Thieves of Dreams w/ Restless Natives

    September 21
    Aitchs, Godalming: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Skipper

    September 22
    Young Peoples Fellowship, Fleet: Who Moved the Ground?

    September 23
    The White Swan, Greenwich: Who Moved the Ground?

    September 24
    Three Lions, Farncombe: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Abinger Arms, Abinger: Nightshift

    September 29
    Hand & Spear, Weybridge: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Doo the Moog, and Devolution

    September 30
    Leisure Centre, Salisbury: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 1
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 6
    Amersham Arms, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 7
    The Falcon, Camden: Who Moved the Ground? w/ English Rose
    The Red Lion, Brentford: The Counterfeit Stones w/ Skipper

    October 8
    White Hart, Frimley: Who Moved The Ground w/ Skipper
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Vox Pop

    October 13
    The Shed, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Flavour, w/ Fadeout, and J.C. Regulator

    October 15
    Iron Duke, Crowthorne: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 16
    The White Swan, Greenwich: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 19
    John Bull, Chiswick: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Lime

    October 20
    The Railway, Bromley: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 22
    New Inn, Basingstoke: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Swan, Fulham: The Counterfeit Stones w/ Skipper

    October 27
    Haslemere Hotel, Haslemere: Who Moved the Ground?

    October 28
    Wilde Theatre, Bracknell: Who Moved the Ground? w/ PressGang

    November 4
    West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Headnoise

    November 5
    The Arena, Drury Lane, London: Who Moved the Ground?

    November 8
    Grey Horse, Kingston: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Antidote

    November 9
    The Albion, Stoke Newington: Who Moved the Ground?

    November 11
    Bulmershe Court Annex, University of Reading, Woodley: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Rileys

    November 12
    Cavern Club, Exeter: Who Moved the Ground?

    November 13
    Jolly Farmer, Newton Abbot: Who Moved the Ground?

    November 14
    Ice Cold Beer Company (I.C.B.C.), Woking: Weaver

    14 November 1994: Weaver played ICBC, Woking. Source: Neil Barker via Pete Cole

    November 19
    University of Surrey, Guildford: The Bogus Brothers w/ The Hamsters, Eat the Sofa, Winterfall, Wildwood, and Sister Wendy
    West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Meanwhile & Skipper

    19 November 1994: Icarus Records promo gig with Skipper, Who Moved the Ground! and Meanwhile.

    November 20
    Blues Festival, Maltings, Farnham: Wild Child Butler with The Bob Pearce Band w/ Sonny Black & The Dukes, The Producers, Bogus Brothers, Ben Waters with Chris Jagger & Charlie Hart, The Hoax, The Werewolves of London, The Reidar Larsen Band, Ruthless Blues, Dr J.J. Badbreath’s Blues Band, and Hard to Handle

    November 24
    Old Ash Tree, Gillingham: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Bottom Line

    November 25
    Docs, Portsmouth: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Blind

    November 26
    The Anchor, Knaphill: Who Moved the Ground?
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Tamberlaine
    Redgrave Theatre, Farnham: Big Jim and the Weedkillers
    Six Bells, Farnham: The Roosters

    November 28
    Bleak House, Ottershaw: The Roosters
    Civic Hall, Guildford: Marti Wilde w/ Joe Brown, Eden Kane, and John Leyton
    Redgrave Theatre, Farnham: Mike Berry and the Outlaws w/ The Honeycombes, and Natasha Ross

    November 30
    Olivers, Gosport: Who Moved the Ground?

    December 3
    The Cricketers, Westfield: Who Moved the Ground?

    December 6
    The Abinger Arms, Abinger: Nightshift

    December 7
    Clapham Grand, London: Who Moved the Ground?

    December 8
    Cellar Bar, Bracknell: Who Moved the Ground? w/ J.C. Regulator

    December 9
    The Agincort, Camberley: Senseless Things w/ Who Moved the Ground?, and Joyrider

    December 10
    The Anchor, Chesterfield: Who Moved the Ground?

    December 12
    The Forum, Tunbridge Wells: Who Moved the Ground?
    Marquee, London: CUT

    December 15
    Canterbury Arms, Brixton: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Not All There

    December 17
    White Hart, Frimley: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Brad Obscure (aka Backlash sans Dan Hiscocks)  

    December 23
    The Albion, Stoke Newington: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Brad Obscure (aka Backlash sans Dan Hiscocks)

    December 30
    The Forum, Tunbridge Wells: Who Moved the Ground?

    Go Back to
    The 1993 Gig List

  • Polaris

    Polaris

    (c’79-’81) Brian Viner (lead guitar), Chris Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bob Heard (drums), Steve Lewington (bass) and Terry “Scully” Sullivan (vocals).

    Dead or Alive were a promising local band, even signing a publishing deal, but when Sullivan – who previously been in cabaret band Sweet Life, and fronted Monsoon – joined the band, and Viner replaced Stuart Huntingford, and Bob Heard took the drummers stool from Peter Fielder in late ’79 the band changed their name to Polaris.

    10 May 1980: Polaris played Agincourt, Camberley

    Manager Paul Dunford secured the band their debut appearance at The Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough on 4 February ’80, getting them a mention on Radio 210 from Bob Harris who witnessed the performance. They were also introduced to the Agincourt, Camberley crowd by whispering Bob, when he hosted ‘Rock Comes to Camberley’ for Radio 210 on 10 May ’80. They are also known to have recorded tracks at Chestnut Studios, Churt. Ken Staddon replaced Sullivan in late ’80, just before the band were scheduled to play Princes Hall, Aldershot; supported by The Mode, on 4 November that year. The band also appeared at The Cambridge Hotel, Camberley; Fleet Country Club, Fleet; The Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough; and as a support act for Splodgenessabounds at the Technical College, Farnborough.

    Polaris came to an end when Viner, Heard and Lewington got together with Clifford Turner to form Gem-A-Ten.

    When Steve Brookes left The Jam, Viner was one of the guitarists auditioned at The Red House, Woking. Wilson now lives in Suffolk. Sullivan has unfortunately passed. Staddon would reappear in Tried and Tested.

    Gallery:

  • The Crew

    The Crew

    (c’80-’84) “Dutchie” Hollands (bass), Vince Ayling (?) Kevin Barnes (?), and Brian Barnes (drums).

    This Aldershot punk band are known to have had at least two ‘scrapes’ with the old bill – one friendly, the other not so much.

    The Crew’s garden concert in 1980 was halted by the police. Picture courtesy of Dutchie Hollands

    During the Ash Festival in 1980 the band held a gig in a garden which received a noise complaint. Allegedly when the first cop pulled up, he was seen to be ‘jamming out’ before he came to tell the band about the complaint.

    Deadlock – Flyer ’81

    On 21 January ’81 a punk gig was organized at Ash Vale’s Victoria Hall featuring Graffiti, Deadlock and The Crew. Live bands were not allowed at the 100 person capacity Hall; but punk being punk 300 tickets were sold and the venue was crammed. Using the other bands’ gear, The Crew were the first and only band to play that night, as the police arrived during their set. The band bolted out the side door and the authorities shut the show down.

    The Crew also played the Youth Center, Redhill at some point and The Greyhound, Ash in ’84.

    Holland emigrated to the US where he continues to be punk, playing in bands and hosting a radio show.

    Gallery:

  • Rod Bayton

    Rod Bayton

    (c’70 to date) Rod Bayton (singer/songwriter)

    Guildford folk music writer and performer Rod “Bearded Beanstalk” Bayton played the Ukulele and Banjo.

    To our knowledge he first appeared at the Stag Folk Club on the club’s opening night in ’70 and became a club resident, expertly warming up any audience for the evening. On 26 March ’72 the club meet was recorded by Tony Engle, capturing Bayton’s own track “Natural Gas Conversion” and his rendition of music hall song “The Old Dun Cow” written by Harry Wincott in 1893; with both included in the Stag Folk Club LP ‘Live Folk’.

    StagFolk album sleeve front. Picture courtesy of Bens Collectors Records

    Bayton also appeared at the Stag Folk organized free concert at The Guildford Show on 1 September ’73 along with Derek Sarjeant & Hazel King, Ian Russell, Mountain Line, Fred Hayes, Backhurst, and Damien. Two years later, on 20 August ’75, Bayton, along with Mountain Line, and Derek Serjeant & Hazel King, repeated this appearance at the Stage Folk Free Concert at Guildford Show with Cocky, Grass Roots, Don & Sarah Morgan, Dave Tarn, and Julian High.

    He was last seen performing in Guildford, where he still resides, band UkeRythmics, who formed in 2017 and he is rumoured to have attended the virtual meetings of the Anchor Folk Club Byfleet in 2020.

    Gallery:

  • Cherry Pickers

    Cherry Pickers

    (c’92) ?

    Farnham based band with a hard-edged Deacon Blue-esque sound.

    Gallery:

  • Blackbushe Airport, Yateley

    Blackbushe Airport, Yateley

    Construction of Blackbushe, on Hartfordbridge Flats, during the Second World War was completed at the end of ’42 and was originally called RAF Hartfordbridge, and was used by RAF squadrons throughout the remainder of the war for reconnaissance, defence and strike operations using Spitfires and Mosquitoes.

    Blackbushe, Yateley had been used for drag racing after ’62 and was the location for Dragfest. It was suggested as an outdoor music venue on numerous occasions. On 15 July 1978 it hosted an all-day open-air concert, The Picnic at Blackbushe, which was attended by some 160-200,000 plus people – one of promoter Harvey Goldsmith’s biggest ever events – although with a large volume of counterfeit tickets it may have been more.

    15 July 1978: Eric Clapton on stage Source: Liam Feeley‎ via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia

    Bob Dylan headlined, with Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Lake, and Merger also on the bill. This was Dylan’s last European appearance in ’78, and first UK date in 9 years, and Armatrading was flying in from the US just for this concert. The gates opened at noon, with the concert running from approximately 2pm to 10:30 that night. If you were at the back, with all those other punters in front of you, there wasn’t a great deal to see. During the event a few thousand ‘card parachutes’ were dropped from a helicopter over the audience promoting Dylan’s “Street Legal”.

    Armatrading performed in a rugby shirt; Billy Connoly finds himself standing next to Dylan to watch Clapton; and when Graham Parker & The Rumour came on, Parker yelled: “Anyone here from the One Oak?” – of course there was. Dylan performed in a Savoy doorman’s top hat and plays for almost three hours. In the audience – well probably backstage – are Jenny Agutter and Ringo Starr.

    In ’80 it was suggested by the media that Pink Floyd might do on outdoor show at Blackbushe, but this never came to fruition and to our best knowledge there has been no other live music event at Blackbushe. In 2017, “The Picnic at Blackbushe”, a hardback book in a metal flight case, is written/compiled by Jerry Bloom.

    Video:

    Gallery:

  • Crown & Cushion, Haslemere

    Crown & Cushion, Haslemere

    The Crown & Cushion, sat at 4 Wey Hill, Haslemere, a short walk from the station, and hosted bands in the early ’90s.

    On 20 September ’92, Thunderbox rocked the Haslemere venue, and four days later Hot Club heated up the joint, then on 25 October it was Kambium’s turn. Portsmouth based Bananafish, with roots in ska, reggae and rap, appeared and were filmed there on 5 December ’93.

    The venue continued to host the occasional live music through to 2012, with the likes of Vic Cracknell (who also played at The Hautboy, Ockham), Six Miles Away, and the Jono, Gareth Icke, Alan Frew combo. The pub closed in 2013 and has now been converted to residential use and is called Wey Hill House.

    Videos:

    Gallery:

  • Rising Signs

    Rising Signs

    (c’86-’88) Kendall Sparks (drums), Dean Low (guitar), Bobby Cass (bass), and Pippa Mitchener (vocals).

    This Aldershot group, who’d originally considered Man Made Soul as a name, debuted at the West End Centre, Aldershot supporting Drink Britain Dry. On 4 May ’88 they were one of the bands, along with West One, Paper Moon, and UxB, at Battle for the Limelight held at Princes Hall, Aldershot. Sparks left the band after the first couple of gigs and was replaced by Vince Southey of West One.

    The band were once more at the West End Centre for a local band night on 2 September ’88, with The F1-11s, supporting West One.

    Southey left us in the early 2000s, as did bassist Cass in 2020. Low would form acoustic duo Deano & Co sometime in the 2000s. As of 2024, Mitchener is still performing in Self Preservation Society and Man Made Soul (funnily enough).

    Tracks:

    Gallery:

  • Bunters, Guildford

    Bunters, Guildford

    (c’71-’82) Bunters, on the Shalford Road, opposite the Yvonne Arnaud was run by Billy “Bunter” Williamson, with bar manager Raymond Young. Prior to Bunters, from ’71 it was called Dronfields after that club moved down from Tunsgate to 11 Quarry Street. This club then changed its name to Frasers, before it became Bunters.

    Local police were often on site due to incidents caused by the “overzealous bouncers”, oft described as “little scuffles”. Entering from Quarry Street and once you got through the door, and passed the likes of bouncers Tuppenny Kendall, James “Coco” Essua (He would also join LongPig on stage occasionally playing bongos), Brian Durbridge, and John Wright, the venue was not particularly salubrious, with low ceilings, papers on the wall, three floors that were often ‘sticky’, and a different music genre in each bar supplied by resident DJ, Billy “Cat Weasel” Jepp. Occasionally Noel Edmonds was present, often promoting some alcoholic beverage.

    Tuesday night was half price night and Bunter’s “restaurant” apparently produced some pretty tasty grub when you were a few pints into the evening. Disc jockey Andy Miles recalls The Jackie Lynton Band playing Bunters in late ’73, while he spun the vinyl with help from Frank Cox, but it was more likely Jackie Lynton’s Grande. The Jam are listed as playing the venue on the 7 and 21 July ’74 with another gig on 5 Oct, supporting The Rock Island Line, cancelled due to the bombings in Guildford. In an interview with Malcolm Wyatt, Rick Buckler states “I remember we set up the equipment in there, went home to Woking, had some tea, because we weren’t going to be on until really late at night. But then we got a phone call, saying we can’t come back because they’d literally shut the whole of Guildford down.”

    On 7 April ’76, Blackblood played Bunters, and George Gimarc’s “Punk Diary: The Ultimate Train-spotter’s Guide to Underground Rock, 1970-1982” does list The Sex Pistols as playing Bunter’s Club (which is listed on Sex Pistols site as The Place) on 28 September ’76, although we’ve found no evidence to date. Similarly, The Clash are also reported to have played Bunters, but there has been no evidence uncovered to date either, although page 211 of Marcus Gray’s “Last Gang in Town” does state: [The Clash’s] second trip out on their own, on some forgotten date in October [’76], was to a pub-cum-disco in Guildford run by Marmalade’s former bass player. It was the smallest venue the band ever played, and that the audience consisted of “one lone drunk refugee from the club/disco below, where the bouncers were having the shit kicked out of them by a bunch of squaddies”. Is that Bunters? According to an article by Malcolm Wyatt for The Guildford Dragon ‘The Clash’s Paul Simonon and Joe Strummer reminisced about that date in a 1982 NBC TV interview as having ‘only one person in the audience’. Another band to play the venue in the ’70s was Woking group the Slim Franklin Band.

    24 July 1978: Junction, Guildford hpsed Magnets and The Little Jimmies. Picture courtesy of John Hudson

    In the late 70’s / early ’80s, The Junction night took up residence on the top floor, featuring live bands every Monday – there was also a The Junction night at The Star, Guildford. The Bunker’s Junction hosted Jasmin Pie, supported by The Reaction on 24 April ’78. The Magnets, supported by The Little Jimmies, on 24 July ’78, and a month later, on 24 August, Crisis performed a 10-song set at the venue, On 12 November ’79, UBz supported Rockola. The following month Dick Middleton organized a Battle of the Bands night, this included Farnborough based rockers Kama Sutra who appeared at the event, on 19 December ’79. The next year Spider/s performed on 14 January returning on 4 February. El Seven dropped by on 14 April, Crosswinds on 11 August, and Pozer are known to have appeared there on 13 October ’80. They were followed a week later by Cavalry on 20 October and the triple header of The Chevrons with B Film, and Red Box on 3 November ’80, and then UBz returned on 12 November. Jumping to mid ’81 we find Panther opened for The Alligators on 10 July ’81. Other bands that are known to have played the venue are The Detroit Emeralds, The Golden Age of Metro, Heatwave, House, Duffo (with local keyboardist Sev Lewkowicz), The Dodgers who were supported by Squire in ’78, Luxury Glass Town, Patrick Fitzgerald, The Volunteers, Whirlwind, White Colors, and The Vapors.

    10 July 1981: The Alligators supported by Panther played Junction (top floor of Bunters), Guildford. Picture courtesy of John Hudson.

    The story goes that Williamson was a friend of the Krays and may have “done a runner” to Spain due to underworld connections / activity (which might explain the loaded gun in the glove box of his bright yellow jag). He lived above the club and had a small private bar where he reportedly entertained ‘off duty’ detectives; and was certainly seen waving a shotgun out of an upstairs window. Meanwhile, Essua – who liberally deployed a very colourful vocabulary when up trees in opposition to the local constabulary, ripping the lights from the roof of a police car, on buses, and when collecting debts – was charged for stealing sheep!

    It became Legion in 2007 and is now flats.

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  • Billie Davis

    Billie Davis

    (c’61-date) Billie Davis (singer)

    Born Carol Hedges in Woking, Robert Stigwood suggested the performing name Billie (Holliday)/(Sammy) Davis (Jr.). Backed by the Rebel Rousers she won a talent contest at Southall Community Centre singing Connie Francis’ “Many Tears Ago”; and subsequently teamed up with The Tornados to record a few demo tracks for Joe Meek, signing to Decca.

    Woking born Carol Hedges, aka Billie Davis

    In August ’62 “Will I What” [Parlophone R4932] was released on which she performed with Mike Sarne, which reached No.18 in the UK Singles Chart. Her biggest success came early the next year with a cover of The Exciters’ “Tell Him” [Decca F11572], peaking at No.10. The promotion for “Tell Him” had Davis in Package Tours with the likes of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. This was followed by “He’s The One” [Decca F11658] which barely made the Top 40.

    1 May 1963. Source: bradfordtimeline.co.uk

    Davis went on an All-Stars Package Tour with Mike Sarne, John Leyton, Mike Berry, Don Spencer, The Innocents, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, Billy Doyle, Duffy Power, Grazina, The X-L Five, and Bick Ford across the end April and through May ’63. On Saturday morning’s the BBC broadcast Saturday Club, a show of predominantly pre-recorded “live” performances. Davis recorded tracks for Episode 239, 252, and 272, broacast on 27 April, 27 July, and 14 December ’63 respectively. The then 17-year-old, Davis split from Decca and moved to Columbia and got involved with married ex-Shadows bassist Jet Harris. In September, while returning from a gig their chauffeured car crashed into a bus, breaking Davis’ jaw and Harris received head injuries. The press focused on the “scandalous” side of the story, while Davis was unable to work for months due to the injuries received. But the photogenic, bobbed, long booted, leather mini wearing Davis would be back.

    12 Feb 1964: John Leyton w/ Mike Sarne, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Don Spencer, Billy Boyle, The Rolling Stones, Mike Berry and The Innocents, Billie Davis and the Le Roys. and Jet Harris

    One of those package tours, the All Stars ’64 tour, headlined by John Leyton, along with Mike Sarne, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Rolling Stones, Don Spencer, Billy Boyle, Mike Berry and The Innocents, and Jet Harris, bought Billie Davis and the Le Roys close to her hometown when it hit the Odeon, Guildford on 12 February ’64. She returned to BBC Radio 1’s Saturday Club on 13 June ’64 (Episode 298).

    Davies changed label from Columbia to Pye Records and released a Burt Bacharach number on 19 March ’65. The next month she appeared on Radio Luxembourg’s ‘Ready, Steady, Radio!’ with The Temptations and The Zephyrs on 3 April ’65. There was another appearance on Episode 369 of Saturday Club which went out on 30 October ’65.

    Early in ’66, Episode 380 of Saturday Club, broadcast on 15 Jan ’66, carried a Davis session. Also, in ’66, the duo called Keith and Billie formed and signed onto the Piccadilly record label. Together Keith Powell, of The Valets, and Davis released three singles including “Swingin’ Tight”, but without chart success the pairing dissolved. Dhe was back on the Saturday Club on 11 June ’66 (Episode 401). Peter Simensky, of The Manchester Playboys, recalls Davis working at The Scotch of St James, Mayfair around July ’67 when they were gigging in London. Back on Decca, Davis recorded several singles, including “Angel of the Morning”, in ’67, backed by Kiki Dee, Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Kay Garner, The Moody Blues and P. P. Arnold.

    Northern soul-esque “I Want You to Be My Baby” was Davis’ last charting single, topping out at No.33 in October ’68, possibly aided by an appearance on Saturday Club, Episode 517 on 31 August ’68 and Episode 526 on 2 November ’68.

    She left Decca again on ’71, after the release of an eponymous LP in ’70. The recording didn’t stop however, with a number of releases on several different labels and touring too, with “I Want You to Be My Baby” doing well in Spain; well enough for a Spanish language version to be recorded and released.

    Front cover of the eponymous “Bilie Davis” LP from 1970.

    In ’93, Davis was part of the Telstar Tour which visited Guildford on 25 February. Spanish TV aired her performing a cover of The Moody Blues “Nights in White Satin”, which also charted in Spain. A cover of Burt Bacharach’s “The Last One to Be Loved” appeared on the “Trains & Boats & Covers” compilation LP. Teaming up with Albert Lee in ’99, they created and released “Stormy”, an LP of Davis’ own songs. A retrospective collection of recordings, titled “The Decca Years” was released in 2005 and in January 2021, Davis was featured in The Beat magazine.

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  1. Human beings takes me back to 1981. Followed them all over the Surrey reading area for a year a great band and 3 good guys playing well written songs of the era. I wish john Tim and steve well what ever they are doing now. Should reform for a few shows just like Oasis but do the wooden bridge.

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