Gig guide from this week in 1981!

so it wasn't all big name indie bands playing the Metronome every night as I've been led to believe... here's a fascinating republication of gig listings from 1981, from the good people at www.kentgigs.com. Don't forget my Folkestone gig guide though.

We showed in our mailout on Tuesday that we have been supplying the press and music fans with listings for 25 years. It has raised a little interest so we have produced below the gig guide for this week, 25 years ago. Might bring back some memories for some and a chance to air some idle thoughts whilst typing.

Our first Gig Guide actually hit the press on 25th April 1981 in one Folkestone newspaper along with a write up for a band and a photo which was the deal we obtained. This newspaper was the only one who had a gig guide with more than just a couple of lines of information. If hadn't been for the national music press of the time i.e. NME, Sounds and Melody Maker we could have been the inventors of the Gig Guide. We also flyposted throughout the local area in the once many music shops, corner shops and record stores.

There were no computers, email or internet, affordable photocopying or home printers, just handwriting and relying on the local friendly printer who created our masterpieces by a screenprinting process. The newspapers were created by hand-set lead type in wooden blocks. When you went to the local press it was like a factory with clattering typewriters, smoke from the molten lead and guys with dirty hands.

GIG GUIDE A WEEKLY GUIDE TO SOUTH KENT MUSIC VENUES published in 1981

WEDNESDAY 4th NOVEMBER 1981

SPRING FIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - JUNCTION CITY BLUES BAND

LISMORE HOTEL (Folkestone) - CARLOS & HIS FLAMENCO GUITAR

SOUNDHOUSE (Hawkinge) - STEVES STAG NIGHT - Strippers and Comedians

THE DOVER STAGE (Dover) - Country & Western Night with THE RUSTLERS

RED LION INN (St Margarets) - BREAKAWAYS

THE CASTLE (Ashford) ­TBC


THURSDAY 5th NOVEMBER 1981

SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - RONDO

SPITFIRE LEISUREDROME (Hawkinge) - BONFIRE PARTY - B.B.Q. and DISCO

LOUIS ARMSTRONG (Dover) - INVICTA JAZZ BAND

THE ASH TREE (Gillingham) - BREAKAWAYS

FRIDAY 6th NOVEMBER 1981

SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - THE PETE STACEY JAZZ BAND and FRENDS

ROYAL NORFOLK HOTEL (Sandgate) - DENIGH

LISMORE HOTEL (Folkestone) - SILHOUETI'E DISCO

SOUNDHOUSE (Hawkinge) - DISCO 8 - 1.00 am

NEPTUNE MOTEL (Dymchurch) - BREAKAWAYS and FIFTH QUARTER DISCO

LOUIS ARMSTRONG (Dover) - ENRY

RED LION INN (St Margarets) - CITY BLUES BAND

CANTERBURY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (Canterbury) - THIN MEN + SUPPORT

THE CASTLE (Ashford) - J.C.B.



SATURDAY 7th ,NOVEMBER 1981

ROYAL NORFOLK HOTEL (Sandgate) - ENGLISH ROGUES

SOUNDHOUSE (Hawkinge) - DISCO 8 - 1.00 am

SPITFIRE LEISUREDROME (Hawkinge) - DISCO with T.R. SOUNDS

NEPTUNE MOTEL (Dymchurch) - FIFTH QUARTER DISCO

LOUIS ARMSTBONG (Dover) - SEVEN ACES JAZZ BAND - Trad. Jazz
RED LION INN (St Margarets) - ENRY

HIGH & DRY (Waldershare) - LIVE MUSIC - Country & Western­ - Guest Artiste

ASHFORD BREAKERS KEMPTON MANOR (Hothfield) - BREAKAWAYS

THE CASTLE (Ashford) - SANDY BEACH & THE DECKCHAIRS

SUNDAY 8th NOVEMBER 1981

Lunchtime - SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - TRANSATLANTIC BLUES BAND
Evening - SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - FOLK CLUB - Everyone Welcome

THE GOLDEN ARROW ( Cheri ton) - STAIRES

LISMORE HOTEL (Folkestone) - CARLOS AND HIS FLAMENCO GUITAR

BYBROOK TAVERN (Ashford) THE BYBROOK TAVERNERS - Trad. Jazz

THE COLT (Ashford) - HIS & HERS - Country Duo

MONDAY 9th NOVEMBER 1981
SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - VERNON WOODWARD

TUESDAY 10th NOVEMBER 1981

THE HIGH AND DRY (Waldershare) - KEEN COUNTRY

2006 :: Comment / reply

Weekend plans

For those of you in London, you could do worse than The Barfly, I'll hand over to them to explain why:

Spitfire Club's opening night plays host to riotous rockers Tokyo Dragons whose live set promises to be an onslaught of true rock n roll. Having just released their debut single Teenage Screamers through Island (produced by Pedro Ferreira who also produced some band called The Darkness they've gathered together an impressive collection of plaudits including Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Dazed And Confused, Ian Camfield… the list goes on. Musically, it's Thin Lizzy, The Ramones, Motorhead mixed with Motown, Glam Rock and Soul. The live show is an irresistible assault of electric anthems and adolescent deviance – possibly why The Datsuns personally invited them to support them at their Shepherds Bush Empire show last week. But the fun doesn't stop there. Au contraire. There's also a barrow-load of quality DJs on show to keep you dancing all night long. Latest chart icons and local heroes Razorlight top the bill with more than ample support from The Beatings' Dino, Radio 1 beauty Edith Bowman, Stuart (Kill City) and the sexiest pair of DJs this side of Camden Lock, Spin Dollys. On top of all this lot (not literally of course) there's gonna be all sorts of people popping up. The only way to find out who is to be there. I trust you will be.

Also this weekend, it's MJ Hibbett's birthday, and to celebrate he'll be live on Steve Lamacq's show on Radio 6, on Sunday...

2004 :: Comment / reply