With the decline in the popularity of trad jazz, Nanda and Ron Lesley made the decision to shut down the Aylesbury Jazz Club and to move toward rhythm and blues. Aylesbury Bluesville bought a different range of artists to Aylesbury – British artists such as The Animals, The Yardbirds, Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame and Long […]
Author: Stephen Daglish
Granada Aylesbury 1964 stage shows
1964 was the last year of the stage shows at the Granada. There were only three – but included probably the most famous of them all, when the Rolling Stones came to town on 21st January. The show was famous because the Stones performed as a four piece that night – Brian Jones got lost […]
1963 rock in Aylesbury – and the opening of the Borough Assembly Hall
1963 saw the closure of the Grosvenor Ballroom for refurbishment, re-opening as the council-owned Borough Assembly Hall. During its closure, the Walton Hall stood in, with weekly rock concerts. The Grosvenor Ballroom closed at the end of April 1963, initially for three months – but the date of the re-opening was put back a number […]
Granada Aylesbury 1963 stage shows
There were just five stage shows held at the Granada during 1963. The first on 23rd January was Jimmy Saville introduces Juke Box Doubles – something like Thank Your Lucky Stars, with the acts impersonating other, better-known artists. There was, for example, Brad Newman as Elvis, Steve Francis as Billy Fury and Dru Harvey as […]
1963 Aylesbury Jazz Club
The Aylesbury Jazz Club started 1963 at Aylesbury Social Club but, after a summer break, moved back to Market Square and the Borough Assembly Hall (being the refurbished Grosvenor Ballroom). Fewer of the established “big names” appeared at the Aylesbury Social Club. Len Baldwin, Micky Ashman, Ed Corrie, Doug Richford and Charles Galbraith were among […]
1962 Rock in Aylesbury – and the Town Hall fire
1962 saw rock shows at three different venues. Eddie Friday continued with his Saturday evenings at the Grosvenor, Wallis & Wyatt (Alan Wallis and Stan Wyatt) at Aylesbury Town Hall until it burnt down in March, and at the Walton Hall. At the Grosvenor, there was a wider range of artists presented. In March Tony […]
Granada Aylesbury 1962 stage shows
1962 saw six more stage shows at the Granada in Aylesbury – and by now these were predominantly music shows, having lost most of the variety acts. The first was on 6th February with Adam Faith supported by the John Barry Seven. Others on the bill included Desmond Lane (The Penny Whistle Man), a novelty […]
1962 Aylesbury Jazz Club
The start of 1962 saw the Aylesbury Jazz Club at the Town Hall, where it had moved to in November 1961 having left the Grosvenor Ballroom. After the catastrophic fire at the Town Hall in March 1962, a further new venue was required – and this was at the Aylesbury Social Club in Park Street; […]
Granada Aylesbury 1961 stage shows
1961 saw seven more stage shows at the Granada Aylesbury. Ticket prices throughout the year were 3/6, 5/6 and 7/6. The first was on 19th January when Max Bygraves headed a bill that also included Cherry Wainer, Laurie Gold and the Pieces of Eight, Peter Dulay and The Raindrops. Gene Vincent was back on February […]
1961 Aylesbury Jazz Club
1961 saw the Aylesbury Jazz Club continue to thrive on Tuesday evenings – but there were some changes. Toward the end of the year it was announced that the jazz club was changing venue, from the Grosvenor Ballroom to the Town Hall. One artist of note to appear during the year was the Temperance Seven. […]