This is the start of an entry on a popular music venue located in Torquay’s harbour that hosted many important visiting bands during the 1960s.
The gigs below and images are all from the Herald Express newspaper
For most of the year, gigs are only on Fridays and Saturdays with occasional gigs on other days in the week, such as Mondays and Wednesdays
2 October 1964 – The Secrets
3 October 1964 – The Master Sounds
5 October 1964 – The Dictators
9 October 1964 – The Telstars
10 October 1964 – The Mon-Keys
12 October 1964 – The Hunters
16 October 1964 – The Cyclones featuring Johnny Carne
17 October 1964 – Kevin & The Kinsmen
19 October 1964 – The Townsmen
23 October 1964 – The Fortunes
24 October 1964 – Mike Allard & The Tremors
26 October 1964 – The Buccaneers
30 October 1964 – The Tycoons
31 October 1964 – The 007
1 November 1964 – The Southbeats
2 November 1964 – The Harlequins
6 November 1964 – The Telstars
7 November 1964 – The Avengers
9 November 1964 – The Cossacks
13 November 1964 – The Vikings
14 November 1964 – The Soul Agents
16 November 1964 – The Starfires
20 November 1964 – Steve Bradley & The Sounds Unlimited
21 November 1964 – The Impact
23 November 1964 – Tony Just & The Orbits
27 November 1964 – The Bossmen
28 November 1964 – The Chevrons
30 November 1964 – Bobby & The Blue Diamonds
3 December 1964 – The Buccaneers
4 December 1964 – The Master Sounds
7 December 1964 – The Harlequins
11 December 1964 – The Buccaneers
12 December 1964 – The Initials
14 December 1964 – The Starfires
18 December 1964 – Steve Bradley & Sounds Unlimited
19 December 1964 – The Companions
21 December 1964 – The Harlequins
24 December 1964 – The Jellys
26 December 1964 – The Southbeats
28 December 1964 – The Ebonies
31 December 1964 – Dek Dooley & The Dominators and The Buccaneers
1 January 1965 – The Plymouth Sounds
2 January 1965 – Dek Dooley & The Dynamic Dominators
8 January 1965 – The Merry Knights
9 January 1965 – Four Hits & a Miss
15 January 1965 – The Better Days
16 January 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (future Slade guitarist/singer Noddy Holder was a member until late 1965)
22 January 1965 – The Starfires
23 January 1965 – The Master Sounds (replaced by The Impacts)
29 January 1965 – The Better Days
30 January 1965 – The Strollers
5 February 1965 – The Tycoons
6 February 1965 – The Blues Syndicate (Bass player Geoff Penn says that the group opened for The Yardbirds this evening).
12 February 1965 – The Telstars
13 February 1965 – Les Fleur De Lys
17 February 1965 – The Montanas
19 February 1965 – The Royals
20 February 1965 – The Southbeats
26 February 1965 – The Better Days (replaced by Gary Kane & The Tornados)
27 February 1965 – Ricky Vernon & The Pathfinders
1 March 1965 – The Montanas
5 March 1965 – Four Steps Beyond
6 March 1965 – The Tallmen (replaced by The Dynacords)
8 March 1965 – The Secrets
12 March 1965 – The ‘N Betweens (this band evolved into Slade)
13 March 1965 – The Nite People
15 March 1965 – The Better Days
19 March 1965 – The Better Days
20 March 1965 – The Soul Agents (Rod Stewart was singer at this point)
22 March 1965 – The Better Days
26 March 1965 – The Better Days
27 March 1965 – The 007s
29 March 1965 – The Buccaneers
2 April 1965 – Tony Just & The Orbits
3 April 1965 – The Freebooters (replaced by The Palmer James Group)
5 April 1965 – The Tacits
9 April 1965 – The Emeralds with Daniel Boone
10 April 1965 – The Emeralds with Daniel Boone
12 April 1965 – Clive Richie & The Couriers
17 April 1965 – Zuider Lee (could be Zuyder Zee, a popular Dutch band)
19 April 1965 – The Southbeats
23 April 1965 – The Better Days
24 April 1965 – The Hoboes
26 April 1965 – The Guild
28 April 1965 – The Emeralds
30 April 1965 – The Condors
1 May 1965 – The Big T Show
3 May 1965 – The Better Days
5 May 1965 – The Guild
7 May 1965 – The Tac Tics
8 May 1965 – The Riots
10 May 1965 – The Better Days
12 May 1965 – The Telstars
14 May 1965 – The Undertakers
15 May 1965 – The Primitives
17 May 1965 – The Tic Tacs
19 May 1965 – Peter & The Wolves
21 May 1965 – The Applejacks
22 May 1965 – The Cougars
24 May 1965 – The Hunters
28 May 1965 – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
29 May 1965 – The Diplomats
30 May 1965 – Robin & The Four Hoods
4 June 1965 – The Loose Ends and The Buccaneers
This is roughly the start of the summer season each year (the same applies for subsequent years) when certain artists play the entire the week from Saturday through to Friday. However, it’s not always clear whether they also played the Sunday
5 June 1965 – George Washington & His Congress Men
7-11 June 1965 – George Washington & His Congress Men
12 June 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
14-18 June 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
19 June 1965 – Mike Raynor & The Condors
21-22 June 1965 – Mike Raynor & The Condors
23-25 June 1965 – The Dynamos
26 June 1965 – The Emeralds
28 June-2 July 1965 – The Emeralds
3-9 July 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
10-16 July 1965 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
17 July 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
19-23 July 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
23 July 1965 – The Dowlands and The Sound Tracks
25-30 July 1965 – The Dowlands and The Sound Tracks
31 July 1965 – The Marauders
1-3 August 1965 – The Marauders
4-6 August 1965 – The King Pins with Roy Grant
7 August 1965 – The Spectres (this may be the same group that evolves into Status Quo)
9-13 August 1965 – Plain & Fancy
14-20 August 1965 – The Emeralds
21-27 August 1965 – The Quiet Five
28-31 August 1965 – The Big T Show
1-3 September 1965 – The Big T Show
4-10 September 1965 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Noddy Holder is still a member at this point)
11-12 September 1965 – Bern Elliott & His Clan
13-14 September 1965 – The Emeralds
15-16 September 1965 – The Rock-A-Fellows
18 September 1965 – The Emeralds
20-24 September 1965 – The Emeralds
25 September 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
27-30 September 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
1 October 1965 – The ‘N Betweens
2 October 1965 – Peter Fenton & The Tasty Mob
4-6 October 1965 – The Hi-Jackers
8 October 1965 – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four
9 October 1965 – The Alleycats
11 October 1965 – The Better Days
15 October 1965 – Sounds Incorporated
16 October 1965 – The In-Sect
18 October 1965 – The Cherokees
22 October 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
23 October 1965 – The Condors
25 October 1965 – The Prophets
29 October 1965 – The Checkmates
30 October 1965 – The Kingpins
1 November 1965 – The Telstars
5 November 1965 – The Applejacks
6 November 1965 – The Hellions
8 November 1965 – The Blackjacks
12 November 1965 – The Swinging Blue Jeans
13 November 1965 – The Emeralds
15 November 1965 – Gary Kane & The Tornados
19 November 1965 – Rob Storm & The Whispers
20 November 1965 – The Wheels
22 November 1965 – The Cordettes
26 November 1965 – Eden Kane with supporting group
27 November 1965 – Pete de Witt & The Magic Strangers (Dutch band)
29 November 1965 – The Spartans
3 December 1965 – The Dedicated Men’s Jug Band and support
4 December 1965 – The Montanas
6 December 1965 – The Telstars
10 December 1965 – The Mojos
11 December 1965 – The Montanas (replaced by Trendsetters Limited)
13 December 1965 – The Royals
17 December 1965 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs with support
18 December 1965 – Finders Keepers (replaced by The Candles)
24 December 1965 – The Deltas
27 December 1965 – The Riots
31 December 1965 – Dave & The Diamonds
1 January 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
7 January 1966 – The Power House Six
8 January 1966 – Zuyder Zee (a popular Dutch band)
14 January 1966 – The Emeralds
15 January 1966 – The Symbols
21 January 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
22 January 1966 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
28 January 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks (Noddy Holder had recently left)
29 January 1966 – The Cougars
4 February 1966 – The Nite People
5 February 1966 – The Manchester Playboys
11 February 1966 – The Quiet Five
12 February 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited
18 February 1966 – The Meddyevils
19 February 1966 – The Condors
23 February 1966 – The Maurice Price Seven
25 February 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
26 February 1966 – The Vibros
2 March 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited
4 March 1966 – The Symbols
5 March 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
9 March 1966 – The Trendsetters Limited
11 March 1966 – The Hot Springs (formerly The Riots)
12 March 1966 – The Majority
16 March 1966 – Carnaby 1 Plus 4
18 March 1966 – The Tennessee Teams
19 March 1966 – Ray Anton & The Profoma
23 March 1966 – The Couriers
25 March 1966 – Cops ‘N’ Robbers
26 March 1966 – The Vogue
1 April 1966 – The Alan Bown Set
2 April 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
9 April 1966 – The Bystanders
11 April 1966 – The Emeralds
15 April 1966 – Kris Ryan & The Questions
16 April 1966 – The Big Sound with Karol Keyes
22 April 1966 – The Statesmen
23 April 1966 – The Kingpins
29 April 1966 – The Couriers
30 April 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
6 May 1966 – The First Lites
7 May 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
13 May 1966 – Carnaby 1 Plus 4
14 May 1966 – The Deltas
20 May 1966 – Peter Fenton with Him & The Others
21 May 1966 – George Bean & The Runners
27 May 1966 – The Silhouttes
28 May 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex
30 May 1966 – The Gaylords (this band became Marmalade)
3 June 1966 – The Anzaks
4 June 1966 – The ‘N Betweens (Noddy Holder may have joined by now)
6-10 June 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
11 June 1966 – The Vogue
13-17 June 1966 – The Vogue
18-24 June 1966 – The Bystanders
25-30 June 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
1 July 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
2 July 1966 – John Bull Breed (Bass player John Lodge joined The Moody Blues in October 1966)
4-8 July 1966 – John Bull Breed
9 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
11-15 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
16 July 1966 – The Nite People
18-22 July 1966 – The Nite People
23 July 1966 – Ray Grant & The Kingpins
25-29 July 1966 – Ray Grant & The Kingpins
30 July 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
1-5 August 1966 – The Powerhouse Six
6 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
8-12 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
13 August 1966 – The Noblemen (Guitarist Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull in late 1968)
15-19 August 1966 – The Noblemen
20 August 1966 – Ray Anton & The Proform
21-22 August 1966 – The Symbols
23-24 August 1966 – The Quiet Five
25-26 August 1966 – Trendsetters Limited
27 August 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
29 August-2 September 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
3 September 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
4 September 1966 – Steve Brett & The Mavericks
5-9 September 1966 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
10 September 1966 – Cops ‘n’ Robbers
12-16 September 1966 – Cops ‘n’ Robbers
17 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens (this Wolverhampton band later became Slade)
19-23 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
24 September 1966 – The Beau Oddlot
26-27 September 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
28 September 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
29-30 September 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
1 October 1966 – Giorgio & Mario’s Men
7 October 1966 – Listen (possibly Robert Plant’s band)
8 October 1966 – Blaises
14 October 1966 – The Voids
15 October 1966 – The Combine
21 October 1966 – The Anzaks
22 October 1966 – Mr Hip Soul Band
28 October 1966 – The Onyx Set
29 October 1966 – The Palmer James Group
4 November 1966 – The Rage
5 November 1966 – The Kingpins with Ray Grant
12 November 1966 – The Lonely Ones
19 November 1966 – The Raging Storms
26 November 1966 – The Talismen
2 December 1966 – The Reason Why
3 December 1966 – The Palmer James Group
10 December 1966 – Grand Union
16 December 1966 – Guest Group
17 December 1966 – The ‘N Betweens
23 December 1966 – The Onyx Set
24 December 1966 – The Mike Stuart Span
30 December 1966 – Lord Caesar Sutch & The Roman Empire
31 December 1966 – Mr Hip Soul Band
7 January 1967 – Trendsetters Limited
14 January 1967 – The Albert Square
20 January 1967 – The Undertakers
21 January 1967 – The Bystanders
27 January 1967 – The Onyx Set
28 January 1967 – The Upliners
4 February 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
10 February 1967 – The Jaguars
11 February 1967 – The Ziggy Turner Combo
18 February 1967 – The Lonely Ones
25 February 1967 – The Raging Storms
4 March 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
11 March 1967 – The Palmer James Group
17 March 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
18 March 1967 – The Shannons
25 March 1967 – Paul Young’s Toggery
27 March 1967 – The Anzaks
31 March 1967 – Johnston McPhilby Five
1 April 1967 – The Measles
7 April 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
8 April 1967 – Heart & Souls
14 April 1967 –The Jaguars
15 April 1967 – The Vogues
21 April 1967 – The Jigsaw
22 April 1967 – The Delroy Good Good Band
28 April 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
29 April 1967 – The Sunspots
5 May 1967 – The Hoboes
6 May 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
12 May 1967 – The Onyx Set
13 May 1967 – The Outer Limits
19 May 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
20 May 1967 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
26 May 1967 – The Jaguars
27 May 1967 – The Lemon Line
2 June 1967 – The Hoboes
3 June 1967 – The Worrying Kynde
9 June 1967 – The Children
10 June 1967 – The Ray King Soul Band
16 June 1967 – The Parchment People
17 June 1967 – The Five Proud Walkers
23 June 1967 – Omega Plus
24 June 1967 – Dual Purpose
30 June 1967 – Pentworth’s People
1-7 July 1967 – The Mike Stuart Span
8 July 1967 – The Raging Storms
10-12 July 1967 – The Raging Storms
15-21 July 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
22-28 July 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
29 July-4 August 1967 – Wellington Kitch Band
5-11 August 1967 – The Heart and Souls
12-18 August 1967 – The Delroy Good Good Band
19-21 August 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
22 August 1967 – The Tremeloes and The ‘N Betweens
23-25 August 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
26 August-1 September 1967 – The Ziggy Turner Combo
2-8 September 1967 – The Real McCoy
9 September 1967 – The Colour Supplement
14 September 1967 – Wynder K Frog
15 September 1967 – The Jaguars
16 September 1967 – The Strange Fruit
23 September 1967 – The Shame (Greg Lake was the band’s bass player)
30 September 1967 – The Workshop
7 October 1967 – Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs
13 October 1967 – Scots of St James (rebooked for 17 November)
14 October 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
21 October 1967 – The Dreaded Spectres
28 October 1967 – The Omega Plus
3 November 1967 – The Last-Tik Band
4 November 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
11 November 1967 – The Vogues
17 November 1967 – The Scots of St James
18 November 1967 – The Shiralee
24 November 1967 – The Cat Soul Packet
25 November 1967 – The Shame
1 December 1967 – The Shell Shock Show
2 December 1967 – The ‘N Betweens
8 December 1967 – The Foundations
9 December 1967 – Robert Plant & The Band of Joy
15 December 1967 – The Lamb Bros & Co
16 December 1967 – Dual Purpose
22 December 1967 – Sounds Incorporated
23-24 December 1967 – The Mike Stuart Span
26 December 1967 – Pinkerton’s Colours
29 December 1967 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
30-31 December 1967 – Mr Hip Soul Band
5 January 1968 – The Calgary Stampede
6 January 1968 – The Maze (singer Rod Evans and drummer Ian Paice co-founded Deep Purple)
12 January 1968 – The Clockwork Orange
13 January 1968 – The Go Show
19 January 1968 – The Tremeloes
20 January 1968 – John Drevar’s Experience
26 January 1968 – The Gods
27 January 1968 – The Purple Dream
2 February 1968 – Purple Art
3 February 1968 – Heart & Souls
9 February 1968 – The Vigilantes
10 February 1968 – Blossom
16 February 1968 – The Albie
17 February 1968 – The ‘N Betweens (the band became Slade)
23 February 1968 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
24 February 1968 – Cat Soul Show
1 March 1968 – The New York Public Library
2 March 1968 – The Firestones
8 March 1968 – The Bunch
9 March 1968 – The Maze
15 March 1968 – Freddie Mack Show
16 March 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co
22 March 1968 – Status Quo
23 March 1968 – The Shell Shock Show
29 March 1968 – The Big T Sound
30 March 1968 – The Vogues
5 April 1968 – The Onyx
6 April 1968 – Wishful Thinking (formerly The Emeralds)
13 April 1968 – The Ebonites (no Friday artist)
15 April 1968 – Locomotive
19 April 1968 – New World
20 April 1968 – John Drevar’s Experience
26 April 1968 – The Shy Limbs (Greg Lake on bass)
27 April 1968 – Delroy Williams & The Sugar Band
3 May 1968 – My Dear Watson
4 May 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
10 May 1968 – The Late
11 May 1968 – Fanny Flickers Rock ‘N’ Roll Band
17 May 1968 – The Firm
18 May 1968 – The Extreme Sound
20 May 1968 – The Mike Westbrook Band
25 May 1968 – Gerry Temple & The Storm (no Friday artist)
31 May 1968 – The Penny Peep Show (Martin Barre joined Jethro Tull)
1 June 1968 – The Epics
3 June 1968 – The Ebonites
8 June 1968 – George Bean & The Runners (no Friday artist) (says they are Lulu’s backing band)
10 June 1968 – Breakthru
14 June 1968 – The Merseys
15 June 1968 – Floribunda Rose (John Kongos was singer)
17 June 1968 – Locomotive
21 June 1968 – Mud
22 June 1968 – Traction
24 June 1968 – Youngblood
25 June 1968 – Marmalade
28 June 1968 – Pepper
29 June 1968 – Cat Road Show starring US Flattop
There may be missing gigs during July as it wasn’t clear if artists played for the entire week
1 July 1968 – The Ebonites
3 July 1968 – The Ebonites
5 July 1968 – The Ebonites
6 July 1968 – The Jasper Stubbs Gloryland Band
8-10 July 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
12 July 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
13 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
15 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
17 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
19 July 1968 – Finders Keepers
20 July 1968 – The Shiralee
22-24 July 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co
26 July 1968 – Lamb Bros & Co
27 July 1968 – Spectrum
29 July 1968 – Spectrum
30 July 1968 – Reperata & The Delrons, Clouds and Spectrum
31 July 1968 – Spectrum
3 August 1968 – The Californians
5-9 August 1968 – The Californians
10 August 1968 – The Light Fantastic (formerly The Vogues)
12-16 August 1968 – The Light Fantastic
17 August 1968 – Wishful Thinking
19 August 1968 – The Onyx
20-23 August 1968 – Wishful Thinking
24 August 1968 – Bubblegum
26-27 August 1968 – Bubblegum
30 August 1968 – Bubblegum
31 August 1968 – The Gods
2 September 1968 – The Gods (they may play all week but it is not clear)
6 September 1968 – The Gods
From this point onwards, it looks like gigs only took place on Saturdays
7 September 1968 – Traction
14 September 1968 – The ‘N Betweens
21 September 1968 – Jason Cord and First Chapter
28 September 1968 – Mike Raynor & The Condors
5 October 1968 – The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet
12 October 1968 – Scrugg (formerly Floribunda Rose)
19 October 1968 – Scrugg
26 October 1968 – Finders Keepers
2 November 1968 – Mud
9 November 1968 – Hopscotch
15 November 1968 – Indiana Highway (Friday)
16 November 1968 – The Swamp with Jon & James
23 November 1968 – Breakthru
30 November 1968 – Ebony Blush
7 December 1968 – Cardboard Replica
14 December 1968 – Palmyra Stock
19 December 1968 – Bandwagon and The Grand Union
21 December 1968 – Bubblegum
24 December 1968 – The Mike Stuart Span
26 December 1968 – Mud
28 December 1968 – The Epics
31 December 1968 – The Ebonites
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author
This is such good work, thank you! So many bands I remember and stuff I didn’t know !
Geoff Penn bass guitar Blues Syndicate
Wonderful info fab times dancing at the 400, bring back 60 ‘s Soul so we can dance again. Lizi Shepheard-Jay.