Live Local Music, Artists & Venues

I used to go every week as a teenager down to the Alvis factory on the Holyhead Road, who used to allow live pop groups to practice in the factory on a Thursday night, as I used to follow a group but can't recall its name in the late 60s, I'm sure it was a Thursday, can anybody else recall any factories or places that used to allow pop groups to practice playing.

... they allowed this in the actual factory?

It was in a part of the factory a large metal building yes, no health and safety then Tony

It wasn't so much a H&S issue, more that they would allow groups access, or even have room for something like this to take place.

Alvis used to have a rifle range under the factory somewhere. I never went there, but others in the Midland Arquebusiers did! But it can't have been as dangerous as having a full bore range in Rotherham's old factory. And at least pop groups couldn't do any harm outside the factory, could they? I don't know if they ever did it - after my time - but GEC Copsewood could have had pop groups in their ballroom, loads of space.

There was loads of room, it could have been a packing place, about allowing it, that's the difference between now and then, bosses gave more leeway, also we knew nothing was perfect and we did have a lot more freedom, not like now. Keith no they couldn't, not like with guns and a full bore but the drummer was as loud as a gun going off Thank you for the GEC ballroom one.

You might be able to find the name of the group from http://broadgategnome.co.uk/

Thank you DiggerDave, I didn't reconise the one I was looking for in the a to z on this link but did find my cousin's band The Cardinals. Keir Godwin, bass, who used to live in Earlsdon Avenue and Arden Street prior to that, he now lives just outside Nuneaton. If you knew the band he was named after Keir Hardy my granddad's dear friend.

This is arguably Coventry's first successful pop group: http://www.youtube.com/v/Y8Ias3gYZv4

Wow dutchman, that's brilliant, haven't seen that video before, I had almost forgotten them!

Thanks for the heads up Diggerdave - This is my website. Always keen to hear from anyone who was in a local band, was a fan of any local bands, promoted nights or anyone with stories, photos, memorobilia about local bands, record shops, music venues or any memories of the Cov & Warwicks music scene 1964 - 74. It's been dormant for a few years, but I plan to revive it this year (new year's resolution !) and add loads of new info I've turned up over the last 5 years - please feel free to contact us, Cheers !

Another a to z pop groups of Coventry - link

Ah yes - Trev Teasdel's excellent site ..includes a reference to my old band 28IF and a photo of Ghengis Smith in his old band 1984

Thanks for the link to HOBO Morgana, found my late husband's group, THE COUNTDOWNS on there. Gary Mayo the drummer was my husband, very happy memories!

It was finding your Broadgate Gnome site that inspired me to dig out a load of old stuff and put together a couple of cds of stuff from old mates and hassle some others to do the same. There's also a podcast somewhere originally inspired by a track from Neil O'Connor, I have a few copies left. For a while there was quite a thing going on Vox with people's memories from around the world. I think Trev tried to save some of it. And of course earlier there was Tim James wonderful site. I did start to put pen to paper properly and cover the 60s. I used to hang around with Paul Connew and got to see a lot of the bands, both visiting and local. I have also been meaning to try and track down Roy Butterfield, we were in aband together in 62. I fear he fell on hard times. Added. I found the url.