Entertainment For Lively Minds
"Goostrey, you're the rock'n'roll capital of the world!"
You probably haven’t heard of Goostrey (pop: 2,000). It’s a decent enough village and an easy twenty minute cycle down country lanes from my house, so I consider it part of my manor. There’s a nice church, a couple of pubs, butchers, chemists, school, half of a rather impressive railway viaduct, but Haight Ashbury it ain’t.
Oh yes, I was forgetting. It’s also got a thumping great radio telescope of global historical significance that can be seen for miles around, and probably from space. Good old Jodrell Bank, gleaming white above the half timbered farmhouses, hedgerows and Friesians chewing the cud. For once, the word ‘iconic’ is appropriate. If one image from the 60s summed up the ‘white heat of technology’ era, it was that quiet dish, patiently eavesdropping on outer space. What a cool place to put your back projections! (See clip from 3:00) And so it came to pass that British Sea Power, The Flaming Lips and, somewhat inevitably, Brian Cox came-a-visiting Goostrey last July – an honour not usually bestowed on the sleepy Cheshire countryside.
Now, Wayne Coyne didn’t actually make the suggested claim made above, but it got me wondering. What other unlikely rural venues have been graced by artists of international standing? (Festivals don’t count. Bands don’t play Weston-under-Lizard, Staffs; they play the V.) So, The Massive, ever caught Jeff Beck jamming during a lock-in at your local? Has Beyonce done a turn after opening your church fete?
Your improbable rock and roll venues, please.
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I don't have a suggestion myself
But have an up for Jodrell Bank. Coolest venue in the country.
I think it's the control room that I love
http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/history/images/Lovcont.jpg
One Paul Roberts
turned up at our local songwriter's night at The Milestone in Ipswich once. One of his bandmates had turned up to support him and was invited onto the stage* and so it was that we were treated to a couple of Stranglers classics, including Golden Brown. There was much muttering at the bar that you were only supposed to play "your own stuff".
*small area they'd cleared some tables from.
I think I have the winner...
Wilbarston village hall in the village of the same name, has hosted numerous big names. How thy works or how it got started I have no idea. The village is home to 767 people and is in the very north if northamptonshire. This is a list of some of those who have played here...
We have had the privilege of presenting the following artists at Wilbarston over the last 21 years
Al Tait All Stars, Amor, Animals, Australian Pink Floyd, Aynsley Lister Band, Albert Lee, Ben Waters, Bernard Allison, Big George and the Business, Blues Band with Paul Jones, Blues 'n Trouble, Blackfoot Sue, Buddy Whittington, The Bohemians, The Buzz, Canned Heat, Chantel McGregor, Chapter24, Chris Farlow, Coco Montoya, Counterfeit Stones, Colin John, Contraband, CBN, Connie Lush, Chantel McGregor, Chiswick Flyovers, Crafty Jack, Credence Clearwater Revived, Coliseum, Dave Hole, Damon McCabe, Deke McGee & the Blue Rockets, Dr. Feelgood, Del Bromham's STRAY, Ezio, The Fabulous Rockin' Blues Pimps, Gary Fletcher, Foghorn Leghorn, Frank White, Georgia Satellites, Glass Onion, Greg Wright's Left Hook, Gwyn Ashton, Hamsters, The Hoax, Hire 'em Fire 'em, Ian Hunter, Ian Parker Band, Ian Siegal, Jackdaw, The Joint, Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Jimmy Dillon, John Fiddler, John Verity, John Wetton, Killer B's, Larry Miller, Little Wing, Little Green Men, Lucky 7even, Maggie Bell, Moody Marsden, Motel Kings, Magnum, Marcus Malone, Mean Red Spiders, Mike Berry, Mick Pini, Michael Katon, Muskey, Nightporters, Nils Lofgren, 9 Below Zero, Out Of The Blue, PSST!!, Pat Travers, Peter Green, Parker's Alibi, Paul Sampson's Metallic Blue, Peer Gynt, Piston Broke, Pump, Raw Deal, Razors, RedEyeBand, Ruthless Blues, Robin Trower, Roger Chapman, Saxon (Oliver/Dawson), The Snakes - A Taste of Whitesnake, Stan Webb, Steve Gibbons, Stumble, Sunset Heights, Sweet Leaf, Ten Years After, The Two Timers, Vincent Flatts Final Drive, Wacky Backy Boogie Band, Walter Trout, White Heat, The White Beards From Tesco's, Will Tang, Wilko Johnson, Winchesters, Wishbone Ash, Wolfen, The Yardbirds
Now blues is really not my thing and I have never been here but a mate of mine has been to see jools holland a couple of times and claims the atmosphere is fantastic.
Goostrey
Along with being the rock n roll capital. I think it's the "rocky road" capital also. Fantastic stuff from the Trading Post shop.
Robert Plant....
Kidderminster Shopping Centre 1989 (supporting the local police charity, I believe...
Worth watching for restrained, slightly silly in the daylight, Golden God moves.
Goostrey
Is the pub there called The Red Lion?
I used to cycle there as a teenager. I went there with my friend, Charlie, who looked young for his age. When the landlord asked him if he was 18, he said "Ah, but I am!" and handed over his passport to prove it!
The Red Lion
is one pub; The Crown Inn being the other.