Live Local Music, Artists & Venues

I went there once in the 60's. It was a gambling club with roulette tables etc. I had never been anywhere like it before.

There used to be a folk club upstairs in the Colin Campbell pub on a Thursday night once upon a time and it was customary to take a tape machine along to tape any bands that appealed. My brother dragged his old 6" spool to spool recorder down there one night on the bus and the next morning told me he had recorded a band on stage the night before who seemed quiet good, he struggled for a while to think of their name then it came to him, Fleetwood Mac! We had the tape floating around the house for many years before it disappeared into the bin during one of mum's spring cleans. I was also lucky to catch David Bowie on stage playing warm up to the Small Faces, Stevie Marriott stormed off stage at one point in a prima donna gesture but it was obvious to everybody there that Bowie was the star that night

Hi, Potters Green Lad. What year/month was that ?

I have seen David Bowie a couple of times and have to agree he was a great performer, I have seen the Small Faces many times at the Rock House and the Jazz club at the Leofric among other venues during the 60's. I have also seen Steve Marriott preform solo a few times as well as with Humble Pie, it's my opinion he was one the greatest vocalists of his time. RIP Steve.

Haven't a clue what year Bowie and the Faces played the Coventry Theatre But it was definitely a magical night, the best are special for a reason, and the very best seem as if they are performing personally for you. A couple of other massively talented artists who I have had the privilege to see perform when they were at the top of their game were Billy Joel and the God that is Meatloaf. My only claim to pop fame is that as a truck mechanic many years ago before I took a desk job I replaced the prop-shaft on Rod Stewarts tour bus one night when it broke down at the NEC I've stopped waiting for the call from Simon Cowell!

Hi, used to play in several Coventry groups - The Stranger, The Darkness, Night Train, etc. Remember going out one evening to see Long John Baldry & The Steam Packet, Brian Auger Trinity, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll, at The Jazz Club at Hotel Leofric. Dave

Morning all you 'boys'. You are all giving your ages away, but you have to agree good music never dies and those names you mention will never be forgotten. My granddaughter plays Fleetwood Mac to this day.

I must have been there the same night as your good self, I too remember seeing the above mentioned at the Jazz club along with many other great bands during the sixties. Regards

Good afternoon Historic Forum members! I wonder if any of you ever went to the Tree Tops Club on Foleshill Road in the 70s, where they had soul nights with Pete Waterman, live bands and discos. Seems like it was a popular place - would love to hear from you if you have any memories! Best wishes, Ruth

Just read that the 'N Betweens, the group that became Slade, played two gigs in Coventry in 1966 - way before they were famous. On 22 November they played at the Casablanca Club, while on 25 November they played at The Sportman's Arms, Birmingham Road, Allesley (now the Quality Hotel). My question is - where was the Casablanca Club? I've lived in Coventry all my life, since 1952, and I haven't got a clue. Mr Google doesn't seem to know either.

Thanks Heathite. Wonder why the website I got my information from listed the two gigs at seemingly different venues? http://www.donpowellofficial.com/dons-gigs-1963---1970.html

Ah, also interesting to notice Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders on the bill. Roy Wood would've been playing & singing with them at that time - then the following year left to join the newly formed Move. Roy's departure left a vacancy that was filled by a very young (17) Jeffrey Lynne, who renamed the band the Idle Race. Five years later Jeff accepted Roy's offer to join The Move, and almost immediately they began working on their next project.... the Electric Light Orchestra.

That does seem strange belushi! I wonder, however.... is it possible that the "Casablanca Club" wasn't actually a venue, but just a "club" that could be held at various venues, and the Sportsman's Arms was just one place it was held on that occasion? Only a thought, and I'm usually wrong!