From: chris_at_kentgigs_dot_com
Sent: 07
November 2006 23:15
Subject: Kent Gig Guide survives the first 25 years
-Press Release-
Kent & E Sussex Gig
Guide Est. 1981
Hi All,
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, 25years 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.
How things have changed. Kent
Gig Guide hit the internet in 1999. We were now able to process our data in
numerous different ways and supply the media and live music fans in whatever
form they need.
We supply Newspapers, TV, Radio, Teletext,
internet providers, people on our mail lists and worthy rival sites with
the bulk of their Kent gig listings. We are very grateful for their
participation over the years and pleased to have helped over 600 venues and
1000's of bands tell music lovers where it is all happening. Our website's
unique visitors read about 40,000 pages a month. You wouldn't believe what
some of them are searching for.
Not forgetting those small music
venues who have sponsored live music over the years, we are reminded
that the Louis Amstrong Pub in Dover is probably the top venue in Kent having
sponsored 2 to 3 music nights for over 40 years and have used our services for
the last 25 years. They are not alone in the quest to provide long term 'away
from the armchair' entertainment. Long may small venues prosper.
Continuing to support live music
is really important now as audiences have decreased due to the net and TV, Radio
overload. We were surprised recently to realise the number of young people that
have not regularly seen live bands in action in their own town and even a few
that had never seen a live band except at school. That is deprivation of
the senses, a serious lack of culture. Why is it that many people in Dover and
Folkestone have never visited Dover Castle? It is all a mystery.
Longest running bands acts still
appearing in Kent?
Bill Barnacle Jazz Band for one, we are
reminded below that English Rogues have been entertaining us for a long time and
so have many others, too many to mention, but just one more - Jack Pound has
continually provided a platform for new artists to have a go at fulfilling their
dreams with his showcases and open stages. Thanks Jack.
Soapbox
Just noticed below that in 1981 the Spitfire
Leisuredrome at Hawkinge was providing leisure space for the youngsters in the
village. Now it is to be sacrificed and the land sold to raise money
to prop up the Parish, Community Centre and the flagging facilities provided,
after spending millions on a new premises that has no sound insulation for music
events and badly planned sport facilities. Where else in the county have the
planners forgotten that young people have needs like indoor sporting
facilities, music based events without alcohol and generally somewhere to
hang out. In 1981 we had it, why are we depriving the new generation of the
the things we valued most when we were their age. ?
If you really want to find the history of our
great bands go to our Kent
MusicBiz site it covers a lot from 1958 to 1990
The future? - More of the same
and whatever is new and worthwhile around the corner - Tell us what you need. We
will have a go.
-------------------------------------------------------
What was happening this week in 1981 - from our
archives
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
ARMST'RONG (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
Additional
venues and programme changes
-
see
Leisure Pages South Kent Gazette (Now Defunct)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks
for your continued support
Chris
and Sandi Ashman
-ends-