There Are Currently 35 Comments for this Post

1. John Costello says:

   June 24, 2009 at 18:07

   went to see Matthews Southern Comfort in the seventies and Matthew didnt turn up ! Doh

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2. Tim Perry says:

   June 30, 2009 at 11:32

   Saw UFO there in 1976/77 with Michael Schenker probably one of the best concerts I have seen. Managed to get right down the front and get my foot upon to a moulding and use it to hoist myself up so I was quite high up as it was a very high stage. It closed down soon after as a venue for bands and has oly recently re-opened after extensive refurbishments

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3. Garry says:

   July 29, 2009 at 16:11

   FIRST gig I ever saw there was Ten Years After backed by Supertramp and Keith Christmas in Oct 71. Alvin Lee singing I’m Going Home was worth the entrance fee alone. BEST gig I ever saw there was Free in about 1972 on the Free At Last Tour. Bouncers lined up across the front of the stage but were swept away as soon as the band came on. Incredible atmosphere – completely wild and rockin. Most MAGICAL gig was John Martyn solo in about 77 on the One World tour. He kept saying he couldn’t play tracks off the album as he needed a band with him. Those of you who have seen John Martyn will know the sort of colourful language he would have used to convey this message. Anyway egged on by the crowd he succumbed and produced magical sounds from his Guitar and Echoplex. It was wonderful. Saw him again at the new Town Hall in Nov 2008. Brilliant again. Little did we know he would pass away a couple of months later. RIP John. WEIRDEST was Mott The Hoople in about 73 with Queen as support. Apparently this was the only time Queen ever did a support tour. Queen seemed to be involved in a running argument with a group of people sat in the Lower Gallery. Freddie Mercury was berating them in no uncertain terms over the mike with the rest of the band chipping in enthusiastically. I haven’t a clue what it was all about but the hecklers were certainly giving as good as they got. Maybe they were just impatient Mott fans but I didn’t have a clue what it was all about. It seemed pretty heavy though.

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4. Liz Jones says:

   October 23, 2009 at 00:32

   Anyone remember Tyrannosaurus Rex at Birmingham Town Hall (69′?) with David Bowie & a sitar player as support acts?
   Also those beautiful concerts by The Incredible String Band, Ah those were the days..

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5. fairport says:

   October 23, 2009 at 15:16

   Tyrannosaurus Rex played at Brum Town Hall on 15th February 1969. David Bowie was the supporting mime artist, Vytas Serelis gave a sitar recital and John Peel was the catalyst, introducting the acts and reading poetry. This was my second Town Hall gig and one of the most memorable. The first was The Incredible String Band gig on the 25th October 1968, the first of many ISB concerts at the Town Hall which never failed to impress me and they remain to this day a firm favourite. Hope that helps! Those were indeed the days…. I have a fairly comprehensive gig list for the Town Hall from 1968 to 1973 if anyone is interested?

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6. fairport says:

   October 29, 2009 at 16:23

   Have now sent the Birmingham Town Hall gig list that I mentioned previously on to the Brum Music Archive for its future use. It’s far from complete, but it at least includes headlining and support acts where known, mainly obtained from original BTH ticket stubs, handbills & posters from the period (so cancellations & drop outs may have taken place). Hope its of interest to someone. Re Iain Matthews comment, I’ve just been told about when Andy Roberts was supporting at the Town Hall (19/10/1971)and brought Ian Matthews (correct spelling at the time) out to sing for him as his voice was going due to the number of American cigarettes that he’d smoked whilst on a USA tour! Anyone else remember the Ralph McTell (BTH 22/12/1971) gig when his pedal organ came off the front of the stage mid song? Breathtaking! There are SO many great memories of this place….. and it looks better than ever now the restoration has been completed. In the words of Ronnie ‘anymore for anymore’ Town Hall memories????

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7. Rod says:

   October 29, 2009 at 17:41

   I remember Andy Roberts bringing out Ian Matthews at the Town Hall. He was opening for Steeleye Span that night and had, I understand just returned from the states where he’d been touring with Richard Thompson and Ian as an acoustic trio. The previous time I’d seen him at the Town Hall had been in 1969 when his band The Liverpool Scene had been second on the bill with Blodwyn Pig opening and Led Zep top of the bill. The sight of Adrian Henry and Roberts performing their ‘Fletwwd Mac, Chicken Shack, John Mayall Can’t Fail Blues’ was the highlight for me. Why he never achieved the star billing given to many a lesser guitarist is astonishing given his credentials – played with Page, Hendrix, Gilmore and still had time to fit in gigs as diverse as The Albion Band, Billy Connoly and Hank Wangford and Pink Floyd. Speaking of whom – anyone remember the Floyd at Mothers supported by the mighty Flying Hat Band?

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8. fairport says:

   November 2, 2009 at 16:13

   Ahhh…. the mighty Flying Hat Band featuring none other than Trev Foster on drums, later to join the folk rock band Scotch Mist. Brums finest drummer. I believe the Mothers gig in question took place on 27th April 1969.

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9. Ron Brinsdon says:

   November 3, 2009 at 07:37

   The “new” Town Hall post renovation has made it a great venue once more but the locations picked by major touring bands these days means that we will no longer get the chance to see the modern equivalents (in terms of status) of Ten Years After or Free. Was dissapointed that Mott The Hoople, being fairly “local” could not fit in a Brum gig and chose just London recently.

   My own favourite from many,many shows here was Van Morrison and the New Caledonian Soul Orchestra one Sunday night in about ’74 before Van became a tad aloof from his fans. The Charisma Records package of Genesis,Lindisfarne and Van der Graaf Generator for about six shillings also took some beating – what price now?

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10. fairport says:

    December 5, 2009 at 16:19

    One for Ron Brinsdon re The Charisma Records gig with Genesis, Lindisfarne and Van der Graaf Generator at the Town Hall.

    The concert took place on Monday, 25th January 1971, and you were spot on Ron, the ticket price was 6/- or £0.30p. Well remembered! Great value or what???

    Yes, the Town Hall is once more a beautiful venue following the renovation work, and the acoustics are much better than I remember…. a real pleasure to be able to hear music there again after all these years, now well over 40 years since attending my first gig there, and around 45 years since I sang there in the Springfield Road School choir. Happy days!

    One of the best Town Hall lineups must have been for the gig on Saturday, May 2nd 1964 (not that I was there as I was only 10 at the time!) known as “The American Folk, Blues & Gospel Caravan” featuring none other than Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mississippi John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davies, Cousin Joe Pleasants & Otis Span with seat prices starting from just 5/-. Mind you, I guess five bob was a lot of money then…

    Keep those Town Hall memories coming…

    Another great Brum venue (well, almost!) was The Boggery Folk Club held every Monday night at the Old Moselians Club House on the corner of Lugtrout Lane and Field Lane in Knowle, Solihull. Definitely deserving its own section on the Archive website.

    Co-organised by Les Ward and our very own Jasper Carrott, who was also the MC, they had some of the best national contemporary folk and folk rock artists/bands perform there, as well as giving local bands the opportunity to play. Not so much a traditional folk club as Brum had quite a few of them anyway, which is probably why it was so successful… it had a great mix of humour, the best of contemporary folk music and a unique atmosphere as a result.

    Apparently The Boggery first opened its doors as early as 1961 when ‘Carrott’ was just 16, but I only remember it from the late 60′s onwards…. they were always packed out evertime I went there in the 70′s, which was most weeks.

    Artists I saw there that come immediately to mind were the likes of Dave Cartwright, Allan Taylor, Jake Thakray, the wonderful Contraband, Tudor Lodge, Hedgehog Pie, John Golding, Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra, Decameron, Hunter Muskett, Dando Shaft…. the list is endless.

    Anyone out there that can share some memories of this great folk club??

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11. Martin Jackson says:

    March 15, 2010 at 20:59

    When I was still in the 6th form some friends and I somehow managed to obtain jobs as Stewards on the doors at the Town Hall. This must I guess have been around 1969ish to start with. This was before they were known as ‘security’ in fact we had no uniform and were indistinguishable from the audience. We got paid twelve and six (37 and a half pence) for the privelidge and once the main act started after the interval we were free to leave or stay and watch.Needless to say I stayed for a good many, and when I think about it can’t believe how lucky we were to get that gig !
    The first concert I worked was Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and I remember showing Roy Wood to his seat and Frank Zappa telling what seemed like long stories about being on the road.
    One time an immaculately dressed Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull appeared at my door in the upper gallery to survey the view inside the Town Hall and reappeared on stage later in his more recognisable stage attire.
    From Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee to Segovia, Delaney and Bonnie with George Harrison and Eric Clapton to Conway Twitty, there’s a long list and some faded form the memory.
    Stand out memories include and ever diminishing space around Rory Gallagher as more and more of the audience joined Taste on stage.
    Pink Floyd (and Orchestra I think) performing and cooking Alan’s Psychadelic Breakfast live on stage, and Meddle in quadraphonic sound.
    Rory Gallagher playing solo for an hour and a half when the band got stuck in fog on the motorway, and coming back a couple of weeks later with full band for free.
    The wonderful mixture of music and mayhem that was John Martyn with Danny Thompson.
    Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple sneaking to the side of the stage to swap his guitar for a taped together old one in order to smash it up again.
    Loudon Wainwright , Stackridge, Procol Harum, Elton John, Yes, the Nice, Ten Years After, Free……….etc.

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    • John Midwood says:

      January 24, 2012 at 11:11

      “Rory Gallagher playing solo for an hour and a half when the band got stuck in fog on the motorway, and coming back a couple of weeks later with full band for free.”
      I remember this one, many musicians would have said, “sorry, can’t play tonight”, but not Rory. A true gent and master of the Strat – tragic loss to the music world.

      Reply
      • Moby the Villan says:

        May 9, 2012 at 20:41

        Spot on there John, just as I remember it.

        A magical evening…..for that band-less gig, I seem to remember Donal (his brother) was on keyboards and a roadie was put on drums.

        Rory came out and said he was just going to do a few songs and to my recollection, ended up doing two hours and two encores! In fact the free gig a couple of weeks later was, dare I say, not quite as good!

        Simon
12. Martin Jackson says:

    March 15, 2010 at 21:10

    As an aside in Response to Fairport’s mention of the “wonderful” Contraband. I went to see them at JB’s in Dudley.
    The singer Mae McKenna was the sister of a friend I made in the mid seventies whilst living in Portsmouth and whose other brother was Hugh Mckenna and cousin was Ted Mckenna of the Sensational Alex Harvey band and in Ted’s case later of Rory Gallagher’s band.

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13. Martin Jackson says:

    March 16, 2010 at 19:07

    Sorry I said the pay for stewarding at the Town Hall was twelve and six or 37 and a half pence when of course I meant 62 and a half new pennies, which was still enough for a few brown and milds.

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14. Chris G says:

    May 27, 2010 at 19:33

    I was a student at Aston 73-77 and the best gig I ever saw anywhere was Lynyrd Skynyrd and Golden Earring at the Town Hall in about 74.Golden Earring had just had the hit single,Radar Love,and were doing quite well,and nobody had heard of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
    So when these 7or 8 scruffy,really long haired yanks shuffled on,nobody expected much.With no fuss they just plugged in,cranked up the sound,and blasted into the first song.3 lead guitars,grand piano,bass and drums,locked into a rhythm that you could not ignore.Then this little chubby bloke in a cowboy hat starts singing like he meant every word.
    First song down,a bit of undecipherable drawl into the mike,and into another song ,better than the first.3 guitarists all playing lead and chords so close together that you couldnt tell who was doing what.It was breathtaking,and completely unexpected from a support act.
    Their whole set seemed to fly by,each song seemingly better than the last.No backing singers,no lightshow,just a solid rocking avalanche of unique sound.I think they ended with
    Freebird.The first time most people had heard it.
    I stayed to watch Golden Earring.I heard Radar Love.
    I think they knew they couldn’t compete.

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15. Perry Bennett says:

    August 5, 2010 at 23:56

    What a wonderful history, our very own Town Hall.
    Saw UFO a couple of times, agree with Tim Perry, they were fantastic. Saw ACDC in 76 with The Tyla Gang – anyone remember Sean Tyla saying, ‘If you don’t like it, you know where the door is!’ They were good really and so to were ACDC ofcourse. Thunderous rock n roll ala Dirty Deeds, High Voltage etc. The ticket, which I still have with the programme, was a quid! Greatest night was Slade in ’78. Commercially they were on the slide then but they had so many great songs and such vast performing experience it was one of the most memorable nights of my life. Met them all afterwards and they all signed my ticket!
    Also saw Gary Glitter, who was a great showman despite his evil ways behind closed doors.

    Reply
16. Aled Jones says:

    October 5, 2010 at 14:31

    I also saw the Golden Earring and Lynyrd Skynyrd gig which was on 20 November 1974. Actually me and my mate Bill only went to see Lynyrd Skynyrd who were really amazing, we left after their set having no interest whatsoever in listening to the Dutch band who were in the charts.
    Saw Fairport Convention there in late 1971 when they performed their new album Babbacombe Lee. Can’t quite remember if Lindisfarne opened for them or if I saw them on another night.

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17. Paul Alexander Evans says:

    October 11, 2011 at 16:45

    First show I saw there was Judas Priest in 1976, went for my ticket 2.00pounds from the box office the lady says to me don’t go too close to the stage cause they are quite loud..So I’ll sell you a ticket three rows back from the stage..great help that was, deaf at collage for three whole days…Love the venue only saw a handful of acts there, glad to see the town hall open again.

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18. Kirstie Dakin says:

    October 11, 2011 at 19:45

    A friend of mine is being very illusive regarding his musical past. He apparently played at The Town Hall (we think) in 1972 (possibly October) when The Kinks were also performing .. it was the night that Ray Davies’ microphone had been wired to live by mistake (assume this was rectified before the actual performance)

    Does anyone have any information that will help me track him down, ie exact dates or details of other bands performing that night/around that time?

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
19. Ron Brinsdon says:

    October 11, 2011 at 19:47

    Kirstie, without checking my old ticket stubs ( I am at work right now )the only band I remember supporting The Kinks at the Town Hall around 72/73 were called “Amsterdam Lill”

    My own diary notes for that gig were quite complimentary for them as I recall but they did not seem to ever appear on the radar again.

    Will try to look out stub for date.

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20. Pete Baret says:

    October 11, 2011 at 21:50

    Here’s my list from memory of gigs at the Town Hall, starting with my first ever which was Kraftwerk in 1975. Followed swiftly by Magna Carta ( given free tickets by a Security Guard outside), Be Bop Deluxe, Judas Priest, Gentle Giant, AcDc, Pat Travers with Lone Star, Motorhead who I think destroyed the foundations and closed the place, that UFO gig with Michael Schenker on a sunday night in 1976, Boxer, Crawler & Moon, City Boy, Gordon Giltrap (not sure why) . Probably plenty more I’ve forgotten, but I do remember that Bob Seger’s ‘Mainstreet’ was always played before every gig.

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21. Chris Meehan says:

    October 17, 2011 at 21:49

    My best venue,as it was then/not now.seen loads there judas priest 1976 ..£1.00,..ac/dc 1976..75pence to name but a few.got some good photo’s of some bands when sneeking my camera in.still got all my ticket stubs.used to walk up the stairs to the balcony to get different shots of the bands as well as in the stalls….great venue

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22. Chris Meehan says:

    October 17, 2011 at 21:51

    17TH MARCH 72 BOWIE PLAYED HERE,IT WAS THE FIRST NIGHT HE MET MICK ROCK THE HIGHLY RESPECTED ROCK PHOTOGRAPHER.SO THE FIRST MICK ROCK BOWIE PHOTO’S WERE TAKEN AT THE TOWN HALL.HE WOULD TAKE THOUSANDS MORE DURING THE FOLLOWING YEARS.

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23. John Midwood says:

    January 24, 2012 at 13:47

    “Rory Gallagher playing solo for an hour and a half when the band got stuck in fog on the motorway, and coming back a couple of weeks later with full band for free.” I was at this one – such a true gent and wonderful musician – how many others performers would have done that? Shame that he went so young, one of the best Strat players ever.

    Reply
24. Alan Gough says:

    March 7, 2012 at 14:16

    First live gig I ever saw was here Ten Years After, Supertramp, Keith Christmas.
    Last gig I saw here was Slade when Don Powell collapsed and the gig was cut short
    As it happened I bumped into Don the next day outside Rackhams about 6 pm where I was waiting for the No.12

    Reply
25. Alan Gough says:

    March 7, 2012 at 14:32

    My fondest memory of The Town Hall
    Got backstage to meet The Heavy Metal Kids (I am sill in touch with Ronnie Thomas nad Keith Boyce) The god that was Gary Holton handed me a pint glass and filled it with Champagne and Whisky saying “Get that down your neck”

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26. Bob says:

    March 29, 2012 at 19:04

    Saw Focus 1973 January 8th. at Town Hall

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27. gerard says:

    April 14, 2012 at 23:07

    I was at the Rory Gallagher “solo” gig too.Also saw Dr Feelgood ,Heavy Metal Kids, ELO, Steve Gibbons, Alex Harvey,Ultravox & many more

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    • Moby the Villan says:

      May 9, 2012 at 21:20

      Given the atrocious weather that night (fog everywhere), I’m suprised that the gig had so many people in attendance. Would Rory have gone ahead with his ‘few numbers’ if there wasn’t so many there? Hard to say. I suspect though, he’d have sung and played for half a dozen people, knowing the man he was. It really was a magical night though, given the circumstances. A Great Man, sadly missed too soon….

      Alex Harvey was another one off, a showman supreme with a tight, rockin’ band, theatrorock has not been bettered. Good fun and and well worth watching.

      Simon

      Reply
28. AussieJohn says:

    April 20, 2012 at 10:13

    I’m sure I saw the Flying Burrito Brothers at the Town Hall in the early 70s – anyone else remember seeing them?

    Reply
29. Heather W says:

    May 6, 2012 at 16:42

    Between 1974-1978 sometime, saw ELO, Steve Gibbons, The Spinners, Larry Norman

    Reply
30. Dave Peden says:

    May 9, 2012 at 16:52

    I was at Family’s Farewell Tour concert; Wednesday 06th December 1972. It was a blow away night. Family were incredible. The Town Hall was bursting at the seams. And to add to all that it was my first actual meeting with a girl I’d been writing to for a while. I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that she was the one for me. Unfortunately she wasn’t of the same opinion. But we became really good friends. We led our separate lives but stayed in touch, met up now and then. All very innocent. All very sweet. Dedication on my part and a helping hand from fate got us together almost eight years later. We married in 1980 and are still going strong. Thank you Family! Thank you Town Hall!

    Reply
    • Dave Peden says:

      May 9, 2012 at 16:59

      Mu earlier comment was a bit out.

      The Family Farewell Tour concert we went to was on Wednesday 5th September 1973

      We married in October 1981.

      …Put it down to age and a rubbish memory…

      Reply
31. Dave Peden says:

    May 9, 2012 at 17:01

    Put it down to old age and a rubbish memory.

    The Family Farewell Tour concert we went to was Wednesday 05th September 1973 and we got married in October 1981.

    Reply

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