Blaises was located in the basement of the Imperial Hotel at 121 Queen’s Gate in Kensington, west London, SW7 (now demolished) and was a magnet for musicians, agents, managers and writers.

Jim Carter-Fea, who later managed the Speakeasy and Revolution, was involved with the club.

The Byrds played here on their debut UK tour in 1965 and many top acts of the day performed on the stage in the mid-late 1960s, most notably Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Yes, to name just a few.

Blaises wasn’t consistently advertised in the music papers throughout the 1960s so it’s been difficult to find gigs.

The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue and posters of advertised gigs as well as band photos (all credited accordingly).

Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at Blaises during 1965-1966:

James Nairn (aka James Royal) says that his groups James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set played at Blaises; the former during 1965-1966 and the latter from 1966-1968.

Drummer/singer Tony Richard says that his band The Fetish Crowd performed at the club during the 1965-1966 period.  

1965

6 August 1965 (Thursday) – The Byrds (Record Mirror)

3 October 1965 (Sunday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

20 October 1965 (Wednesday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

London Life magazine’s 30 October to 5 November 1965 issue notes that there is a live group changing weekly.

1966

London Life magazine notes in its 8-14 January 1966 issue that there is a different live group every night at the club. This is the same for every issue until the final London Life magazine issue is published on 31 December 1966.

4 February 1966 (Friday) – John Lee Hooker (Melody Maker)

24 March 1966 (Thursday) – Wilson Pickett (backed by The Statesiders) (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

6 April 1966 (Wednesday) – Martha & The Vandellas (Melody Maker)

10 May 1966 (Tuesday) – John Lee Hooker (Record Mirror)

Julian Covey & The Machine were probably Hooker’s backing band as they provided support for the blues legends on a tour this month.

Keyboardist Stan Marut, who left just before the tour, says his place was taken by Dave Greenslade, who then joined Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.

30 July 1966 (Saturday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

3 August 1966 (Wednesday) – The Creation (Fabulous 208 and London Life magazine)

22 August 1966 (Monday) – The Artwoods (needs confirmation)

8 September 1966 (Thursday) – The In Crowd (they became Tomorrow in early 1967) (Fabulous 208 and Marmalade Skies website).

9 September 1966 (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

23 September 1966 (Friday) – The Knack (London Life magazine)

Paul Gurvitz went on to The Gun while Graham Clay joined The New York Public Library (see below). Brian Parrish went on to Badger.

27 September 1966 (Tuesday) – She Trinity (Fabulous 208 and London Life magazine)

29 September 1966 (Thursday) – The Brian Auger & The Trinity (Melody Maker)

This is the date that Jimi Hendrix sat in with The Brian Auger Trinity.

According to the Hendrix website  (and Vic Briggs and Kathy Etchingham’s recollections), The Brian Auger Trinity had played at the Scotch of St James the previous night where the waiter told Trinity guitarist Vic Briggs about an amazing black guitarist who had sat in with The VIPs the night before (27 September). 

Chas Chandler and Hendrix walked in shortly afterwards and were introduced to the band who were playing a warm-up gig without singer Julie Driscoll. Brian Auger let Hendrix jam with the group and, impressed, invited the American guitarist to sit in at Blaises the following night.

On 29 September, Chandler and Hendrix arrived at Blaises after drinking at the Kilt Club where they met French singer Johnny Halliday. Auger introduced Hendrix to the crowd for a jam after the interval.

London Life has Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers for this date but it is possible that this was actually Friday, 30 September after a show at the California Ballroom in Dunstable.

3 October 1966 (Monday) – Robert Parker (Melody Maker)

4 October 1966 (Tuesday) – The Artwoods (Fabulous 208)

Future Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord was a member of The Artwoods.

5 October 1966 (Wednesday) – Robert Parker and Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208)

11 October 1966 (Tuesday) – Garnet Mimms (Fabulous 208)

12 October 1966 (Wednesday) – Ike & Tina Turner (London Life magazine)

29 October 1966 (Saturday) – The Hush (London Life magazine)

Keith Fairhurst, singer with The Chosen Few, says the band played this venue about six times after moving down from Manchester and changing their name to The Hush. They also frequented the club on other occasions and he was there on 29 September when Jimi Hendrix sat in with The Brian Auger Trinity (see above).

Fairhurst adds that Blaises was only a small club and was an exclusive venue, which meant that normal club goers that frequented many of the other London clubs would not have attended; it was too expensive and licensed. Management insisted that they set up by 9pm and they never started before 9.30pm.

8 November 1966 (Tuesday) – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Melody Maker)

9 November 1966 (Wednesday) – Jerry Lee Lewis (Melody Maker)

17 November 1966 (Thursday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Tatler)

21 November 1966 (Monday) – Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208)

22 November 1966 (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Tatler)

30 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Young Rascals (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

Melody Maker also has The Brian Auger Trinity on 30 November (see advert above). The two bands probably used the same equipment.

Guitarist Vic Briggs, who had moved on to join Eric Burdon’s New Animals by this point, says that all of the “in-clubs” were so small that you had to get your gear in before people arrived and wait until they left to move out. Also, they could not afford to pay more than one band per night.  There may have been exceptions but that was the general rule.

1 December 1966 (Thursday) – The In Crowd (became Tomorrow) (London Life magazine) Nick Simper’s website has Bobby Hebb playing from 11.30pm

8 December 1966 (Thursday) – The In Crowd (became Tomorrow) (London Life magazine)

13 December 1966 (Tuesday) – The Farinas (became Family) (Record Mirror)

14 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Little Richard (John Warburg’s research)

20 December 1966 (Tuesday) – The Artwoods (needs confirmation)

21 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Jimi Hendrix Experience (Melody Maker)

23 December 1966 (Friday) – The Iveys (became Badfinger) (Tom Brennan’s research at: http://www.badfingerlibrary.com/)

30 December 1966 (Friday) – Deep Feeling (Melody Maker)

Deep Feeling featured future members of Traffic, Family and Spooky Tooth

1967

Jim Cregan, guitarist with Blossom Toes, says his band played at the club during 1967.

Chris Hunt, drummer with The Good Time Losers, says that his group performed at Blaises during 1967.

Mick Ketley, keyboard player with Bognor Regis version of The Motivation which became The Penny Peep Show in September 1967, says that his group played at Blaises which would have been after May 1967.

Pete Cole, bass player with The Trend, says that he played the venue. The most likely time frame is after September 1967 and may have been when the group backed visiting US soul acts.

Jim Carter-Fae, who managed the club, took over the management of Hull band, The Majority and the group played this venue during 1967.

7 January 1967 (Saturday) – The Knack (Melody Maker)

Paul Gurvitz went on to The Gun while Graham Clay joined The New York Public Library (see below). Brian Parrish went on to Badger.

13 January 1967 (Friday) – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Melody Maker)

17 January 1967 (Tuesday) – Family (Melody Maker)

18 January 1967 (Wednesday) – Wynder K Frog (Fabulous 208 – needs confirmation)

25 January 1967 (Wednesday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Poster on wall in film the Sorcerers)

26 January 1967 (Thursday) – Jimmy McGriff (Disc & Music Echo)

According to Flashback magazine, Keith West and Steve Howe’s band The In Crowd were residents at Blaises around late January/early February and soon changed name to Tomorrow.

8 February 1967 (Wednesday) – Maxine Brown & The Q-Set (Disc & Music Echo)

The Q-Set will link up with Ronnie Jones after its tour with Maxine Brown.

Disc & Music Echo’s 11 February issue notes that Ike & Tina Turner had played at the club recently.

14 February 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Fabulous 208)

According to Melody Maker in April 1967, Herbie Goins had a regular Tuesday night residency at Blaises so there may be more Tuesday dates between this one and the one below that they played. Future Bob Marley guitarist Junior Marvin was the keyboard player with the band at this time when he used the stage name Junior Kerr.

23 February 1967 (Thursday) – Chuck Berry (backed by The Canadians) (Melody Maker)

The Canadians’ keyboard player was future record producer and music executive David Foster.

28 February 1967 (Tuesday) – Pink Floyd and The Majority (Melody Maker)

If both bands indeed played on this evening, it would have been one of the rare occasions when more than one group played.

7 March 1967 (Tuesday) – Keith (Disc & Music Echo and Melody Maker)

18 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Hush (Melody Maker)

Singer Keith Fairhurst says that on one occasion when The Hush played Blaises on a Saturday night, a Canadian television crew filmed them but he’s never seen the footage.

Fairhurst adds that the inside of Blaises appears in the 1967 film The Sorcerers.

17 April 1967 (Monday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)

19 April 1967 (Wednesday) – Bo Diddley (backed by The Canadians) (Melody Maker)

David Foster was the keyboard player in The Canadians (see above).

1 May 1967 (Monday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

9 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers with The Satin Dolls (Melody Maker)

Future Bob Marley guitarist Junior Marvin was the group’s keyboard player at this time (see above).

11 May 1967 (Thursday) – The Coloured Raisins and Jack Hammer & His Hammer Jammers (Melody Maker)

Future Sweet producer Phil Wainman was the drummer with The Hammer Jammers. If both bands played, this would have been one of the rare occasions when two groups performed. 

16 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers and The Web (Melody Maker)

If both bands played, this would have been one of the rare occasions when two groups performed. 

23 May 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)

30 May 1967 (Tuesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

Record Mirror says Herbie Goins’ band has a Tuesday residency so may have shared the bill. They may also have continued to play more Tuesday nights as they appear again below on 12 September.

5 June 1967 (Monday) – Amen Corner (Melody Maker)

8 June 1967 (Thursday) – The Turtles (Disc & Music Echo, Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

14 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The Cliffons (needs source)

20 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Coloured Raisins, King Ossie, Honey Darling and Earl Green (Melody Maker)

25 June 1967 (Sunday) – Jose Feliciano (Melody Maker)

6 July 1967 (Thursday) – Jefferson Airplane (cancelled) (needs source)

7 July 1967 (Friday) – Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Disc & Music Echo and Fabulous 208)

14 July 1967 (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Fabulous 208)

25 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Amen Corner (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

1 August 1967 (Tuesday) – Donnie Elbert (Melody Maker)

16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Ten Years After (Fabulous 208)

18 August 1967 (Friday) – Granny’s Intentions (needs source)

26 August 1967 (Saturday) – Chicken Shack (Melody Maker)

6 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)

12 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)

14 September 1967 (Thursday) – Big Maybelle & The Majority (Melody Maker)

20 September 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)

26 September 1967 (Tuesday) – Ten Years After (Fabulous 208)

4 October 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)

5 October 1967 (Thursday) – Vanilla Fudge (Melody Maker)

Disc & Music Echo has this gig down for 8 October, not 5 October.

18 October 1967 (Wednesday) – Max Collier’s Rhythm Aces (Melody Maker)

19 October 1967 (Thursday) – Freddie King (Melody Maker)

23 October 1967 (Monday) – Vanilla Fudge (Disc & Music Echo)

24 October 1967 (Tuesday) – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

2 November 1967 (Thursday) – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

3 November 1967 (Friday) – Deuce Coup (Melody Maker)

4 November 1967 (Saturday) – The Mike Stuart Span (Melody Maker)

6 November 1967 (Monday) – The Majority (Melody Maker)

7 November 1967 (Tuesday) – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

8 November 1967 (Wednesday) – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

9 November 1967 (Thursday) – Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)

10 November 1967 (Friday) – The Maze (Melody Maker)

11 November 1967 (Saturday) – Dr K’s Blues Band (Melody Maker)

14 November 1967 (Tuesday) – The Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)

25 November 1967 (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

28 November 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas and Chris Clark (Melody Maker)

1 December 1967 (Friday) – Gladys Knight & The Pips (Melody Maker)

12 December 1967 (Tuesday) – The Vibrations (Melody Maker)

14 December 1967 (Thursday) – Eddie Floyd (Melody Maker)

31 December 1967 (Sunday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

1968

Guitarist Paul Brett says that he played this venue during 1968, which would have been with Tintern Abbey.

4 January 1968 (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

20 January 1968 (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

9 February 1968 (Friday) – Taste (Rory Gallagher’s Fandom site: https://concerts.fandom.com/wiki/Rory_Gallagher)

30 March 1968 (Saturday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)

3 April 1968 (Wednesday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

5 April 1968 (Friday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)

24 April 1968 (Wednesday) – The Warren Davis Monday Band (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

30 April 1968 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

Melody Maker’s 4 May issue notes that a fire gutted the Speakeasy on Saturday night (27 April), causing £20,000 worth of damage. Roy Flynn, co-owner, said that the club couldn’t reopen for about three months (it ended up being mid-December) and that gigs would be transferred to Blaises and billed as ‘Speakeasy at Blaises’. These are noted below.

Ike & Tina Turner were billed to play on Sunday, 28 April and Bill Haley & The Comets on 30 April. These may have been cancelled or transferred to Blaises. I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any further details.

1 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Bobby Goldsboro (Melody Maker)

This was billed to take place at the Speakeasy and may have been transferred to Blaises or alternatively cancelled.

5 May 1968 (Sunday) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (Melody Maker)

Captain Beefheart was originally billed for the Speakeasy so most likely it was transferred to Blaises as the dates match.

8 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

13 May 1968 (Monday) – The Byrds (Melody Maker)

This was originally billed for the Speakeasy so most likely it was transferred to Blaises.

23 May 1968 (Thursday) – Spooky Tooth (Marmalade Skies website)

29 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

9 June 1968 (Sunday) – Fairport Convention (Melody Maker)

12 June 1968 (Wednesday) – Reparta & The Delrons (New Musical Express)

15 June 1968 (Saturday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

16 June 1968 (Sunday) – PP Arnold (Melody Maker)

This was billed as ‘Speakeasy at Blaises’.

23 June 1968 (Sunday) – Reparta & The Delrons (Melody Maker – needs confirmation)

30 June 1968 (Sunday) – Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)

The Retaliation gig is another ‘Speakeasy at Blaises’ gig

3 July 1968 (Wednesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

14 July 1968 (Sunday) – Tim Rose (see comments section below regarding this gig)

18 July 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

This was originally booked for the Speakeasy so if it wasn’t cancelled, it was most likely moved to Blaises.

20 July 1968 (Saturday) – The Sweet (the Sweet website: https://sweet.thesweetweb.com/gigs-1968-1981/)

23 July 1968 – The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)

Paul Griggs notes in his diary that Jimi Hendrix and Eric Burdon were in attendance that night. This was a 1 am show so probably early hours of 24 July.

28 July 1968 (Sunday) – Terry Reid & The Fantasy (Melody Maker)

17 August 1968 (Saturday) – Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker)

20 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

21 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Free (Alessandro Borri research – see comments section below)

27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Jethro Tull (Greg Russo’s research)

6 September 1968 (Friday) – Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker – needs confirmation)

8 September 1968 (Sunday) – East of Eden (East of Eden website: www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html)

The website says that Jefferson Airplane sat in with the band at the show.

15 September 1968 (Sunday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

According to Melody Maker and New Musical Express, Sly & The Family Stone were billed to play Blaises on 15 September. Apparently, they didn’t show and Roy Flynn asked The Nice’s manager Tony Stratton-Smith for help and he recommended Yes.

16 September 1968 (Monday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

This performance is unconfirmed and also missing from this site:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Yes_concert_tours_(1960s%E2%80%9370s)

18 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

25 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Glass Menagerie (Fabulous 208 and Time Out)

13 October 1968 (Sunday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

15 October 1968 (Tuesday) – Blue Cheer (Bruno Ceriotti’s research and New Musical Express)

19 October 1968 (Saturday) – Mint Tulip (Melody Maker)

22 October 1968 (Tuesday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

23 October 1968 (Wednesday) – July (Time Out)

30 October 1968 (Wednesday) – Yes with Dream Police (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

5 November 1968 (Tuesday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

11 November 1968 (Monday) – Blonde on Blonde (Time Out)

17 November 1968 (Sunday) – The Show Stoppers (New Musical Express)

24 November 1968 (Sunday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

Yes’ gig on 24 November is unconfirmed

26 November 1968 (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

1 December 1968 (Sunday) – Bandwagon (New Musical Express)

7 December 1968 – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

Yes’ 7 December gig is not listed on the Yes tours wiki site above.

15 December 1968 (Sunday) – The Flame (the South African band plays one week) (Melody Maker)

16 December 1968 (Monday) – The Flame and Mint Tulip (Melody Maker)

17 December 1968 (Tuesday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

18 December 1968 (Wednesday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

19 December 1968 (Thursday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

20 December 1968 (Friday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

21 December 1968 (Saturday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

22 December 1968 (Sunday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

26 December 1968 (Thursday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

1969

23 January 1969 (Thursday) – Yes (Time Out)

24 January 1969 (Friday) – The N’ Betweens (the band became Slade) (Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

25 January 1969 (Saturday) – Clouds (Time Out)

20 February 1969 (Thursday) – Majority Sun (Hounslow Post)

23 February 1969 (Sunday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)

24 February 1969 (Monday) – Pendulum (Hounslow Post)

25 February 1969 (Tuesday) – Cymbaline (Hounslow Post)

26 February 1969 (Wednesday) – The New York Public Library (Hounslow Post)

2 March 1969 (Sunday) – Affinity (Kensington Post)

4 March 1969 (Tuesday) – Sarolta (Kensington Post)

5 March 1969 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Kensington Post)

9 March 1969 (Sunday) – Terry Reid (Melody Maker)

11 March 1969 (Tuesday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)

12 March 1969 (Wednesday) – The Web (Marylebone Mercury)

16 March 1969 (Sunday) – The Pretty Things (Hounslow Post)

17 March 1969 (Monday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post)

In an interview with Stefan Granados for Shindig magazine, guitarist Pete Mizen says that The Majority were playing here when they were approached to move to France and record with the Pink Elephant label.

18 March 1969 (Tuesday) – The New York Public Library (Hounslow Post)

19 March 1969 (Wednesday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Hounslow Post)

23 March 1969 (Sunday) – Marv Johnson (Hounslow Post)

24 March 1969 (Monday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)

25 March 1969 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Hounslow Post)

28 March 1969 (Friday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post)

29 March 1969 (Saturday) – Trifle (Hounslow Post)

30 March 1969 (Sunday) – Joynt (Kensington Post)

31 March 1969 (Monday) – The Flames (Hounslow Post)

4 April 1969 (Friday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)

6 April 1969 (Sunday) – Explosive (Watson T Browne?) (Hounslow Post)

7 April 1969 (Monday) – Circus (Hounslow Post)

9 April 1969 (Wednesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)

10 April 1969 (Thursday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)

12 April 1969 (Saturday) – Black Velvet (Hounslow Post)

13 April 1969 (Sunday) – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Hounslow Post)

14 April 1969 (Monday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post)

18 April 1969 (Friday) – Springfield Park (Hounslow Post)

19 April 1969 (Saturday) – Pure Gold (Hounslow Post)

20 April 1969 (Sunday) – The Flames (Hounslow Post)

21 April 1969 (Monday) – Jerome Arnold (Hounslow Post)

22 April 1969 (Tuesday) – The Web (Hounslow Post)

26 April 1969 (Saturday) – Village (Time Out)

28 April 1969 (Monday) – Village (Time Out)

4 May 1969 (Sunday) – King Crimson (Hounslow Post)

5 May 1969 (Monday) – Affinity (Hounslow Post)

6 May 1969 (Tuesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Hounslow Post)

8 May 1969 (Thursday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)

9 May 1969 (Friday) – The Shades (Melody Maker)

10 May 1969 (Sunday) – Bob & Earl (Marylebone Mercury)

11 May 1969 (Sunday) – Black Velvet (Marylebone Mercury)

19 May 1969 (Monday) – Jerome Arnold (Time Out)

20 May 1969 (Tuesday) – The Majority (Time Out)

21 May 1969 (Wednesday) – The Milwaukee Coasters (Time Out)

22 May 1969 (Thursday) – The Committee (Melody Maker)

24 May 1969 (Saturday) – Belle Sebastian (Hounslow Post)

25 May 1969 (Sunday) – The Gods (Hounslow Post and Time Out)

26 May 1969 (Monday) – The Majority (Hounslow Post and Time Out)

27 May 1969 (Tuesday) – The Web (Hounslow Post)

28 May 1969 (Wednesday) – Affinity (Time Out)

1 June 1969 (Sunday) – Sarolta (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

2 June 1969 (Monday) – Methuselah (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

3 June 1969 (Tuesday) – Ambrose Slade (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

4 June 1969 (Wednesday) – The Majority (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

5 June 1969 (Thursday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Although advertised, Jo Jo Gunne didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.

6 June 1969 (Friday) – Blonde on Blonde (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms the Blonde on Blonde gig.

7 June 1969 (Saturday) – Exception (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Time Out has Black Velvet billed for 7 June. Hounslow Post confirms Exception.

8 June 1969 (Sunday) – Root and Jenny Jackson (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

9 June 1969 (Monday) – Entire Sioux Nation (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

10 June 1969 (Tuesday) – The Flames (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

11 June 1969 (Wednesday) – East of Eden (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Time out confirms this gig as does the East of Eden website: www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html

12 June 1969 (Thursday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

13 June 1969 (Friday) – Black Velvet (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

15 June 1969 (Sunday) – Ferris Wheel (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post and Time Out confirm this gig.

16 June 1969 (Monday) – Soul Committee (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

17 June 1969 (Tuesday) – Springfield Park (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

18 June 1969 (Wednesday) – Village (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

19 June 1969 (Thursday) – Samson (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

20 June 1969 (Friday) – The Majority (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

21 June 1969 (Saturday) – Heaven (John Warburg’s research)

22 June 1969 (Sunday) – Ski Boo (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

23 June 1969 (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

24 June 1969 (Tuesday) – Brainbox (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

25 June 1969 (Wednesday) – The Majority (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

26 June 1969 (Thursday) – The Web (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

27 June 1969 (Friday) – Procession (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig. Future Manfred Mann’s Earth Band guitarist Mick Rogers was a member of Procession.

29 June 1969 (Sunday) – The Flames (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Hounslow Post confirms this gig.

30 June 1969 (Monday) – Clouds (Blaises gig poster at Don Powell’s website: http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)

Time out lists Ambrose Slade for 30 June.

1 July 1969 (Tuesday) – The Majority (Marmalade Skies website)

2 July 1969 (Wednesday) – Babylon (Marmalade Skies website)

3 July 1969 (Thursday) – Eddie Thornton Quartet (Hounslow Post)

4 July 1969 (Friday) – The New York Public Library (Hounslow Post)

5 July 1969 (Saturday) – The Fire (Marmalade Skies website)

6 July 1969 (Sunday) – The Flames (Hounslow Post)

7 July 1969 (Monday) – The Entire Sioux Nation (Marmalade Skies website)

8 July 1969 (Tuesday) – Arcadium (Marmalade Skies website)

10 July 1969 (Thursday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Hounslow Post)

Although advertised, Jo Jo Gunne may not have appeared as they returned from a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas in early-to-mid July.

11 July 1969 (Friday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Hounslow Post)

12 July 1969 (Saturday) – The Majority (Marmalade Skies website)

13 July 1969 (Sunday) – Arrival (Hounslow Post)

John Warburg’s research has Audience for 13 July.

14 July 1969 (Monday) – The New York Public Library (Marmalade Skies website)

15 July 1969 (Tuesday) – Samson (Marmalade Skies website)

17 July 1969 (Thursday) – The Flames (Marylebone Mercury)

18 July 1969 (Friday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Marmalade Skies website)

Confirmed by Marylebone Mercury.

20 July 1969 (Sunday) – Jimmy Ruffin with Sweet Blindness (Marylebone Mercury)

21 July 1969 (Monday) – East of Eden (East of Eden website: www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html)

22 July 1969 (Tuesday) – Circus (Marmalade Skies website)

25 July 1969 (Friday) – The Majority (Marmalade Skies website)

26 July 1969 (Saturday) – Velvet Opera (Marmalade Skies website)

28 July 1969 (Monday) – Shy Limbs (Marmalade Skies website)

29 July 1969 (Tuesday) – Black Velvet (Time Out)

30 July 1969 (Wednesday) – The Nite People (Melody Maker)

1 August 1969 (Friday) – Skin Alley (John Warburg’s research)

5 August 1969 (Tuesday) – Ashton, Gardner and Dyke (needs source)

10 August 1969 (Sunday) – Eire Apparent (Melody Maker)

This may be another Sunday so needs confirmation.

11 August 1969 (Monday) – Audience (John Warburg’s research)

12 August 1969 (Tuesday) – Cuby & The Blizzards (Melody Maker)

This may be another Tuesday so needs confirmation.

15 August 1969 (Thursday) – Demon Fuzz (Kensington Post)

16 August 1969 (Saturday) – Cressida (Kensington Post)

17 August 1969 (Sunday) – Paul Williams Set (Kensington Post)

18 August 1969 (Monday) – Circus (Time Out)

21 August 1969 (Thursday) – Windmill (Marylebone Mercury)

22 August 1969 (Friday) – Freedom (Marylebone Mercury)

24 August 1969 (Sunday) – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)

25 August 1969 (Monday) – Procession (Marylebone Mercury) Unlikely they played this

28 August 1969 (Thursday) – Springfield Park (Marylebone Mercury)

31 August 1969 (Sunday) – Black Velvet (Time Out)

4 September 1969 (Thursday) – Rainbow People (Kensington Post/Marylebone Mercury)

5 September 1969 (Friday) – Rich Grimes & Babylon (Kensington Post)

6 September 1969 (Saturday) – TBC (Marylebone Mercury)

7 September 1969 (Sunday) – Ferris Wheel (Kensington Post)

12 September 1969 (Friday) – The Coloured Raisins (Marylebone Mercury)

13 September 1969 (Saturday) – The Shades (Marylebone Mercury)

14 September 1969 (Sunday) – Ray King Soul Band (Marylebone Mercury)

15 September 1969 (Monday) – Fire (Marylebone Mercury)

18 September 1969 (Thursday) – Skin Alley (Kensington Post)

19 September 1969 (Friday) – Audience (Kensington Post)

20 September 1969 (Saturday) – Fortes Mentum (Kensington Post)

21 September 1969 (Sunday) – The Web (Kensington Post)

25 September 1969 (Thursday) – Black Velvet (Marylebone Mercury)

26 September 1969 (Friday) – Front Line Band (Marylebone Mercury)

28 September 1969 (Sunday) – Prince Buster (Marylebone Mercury)

2 October 1969 (Thursday) – Ruby James (Kensington Post)

3 October 1969 (Friday) – David (Kensington Post)

4 October 1969 (Saturday) – Raw Material (Kensington Post)

5 October 1969 (Sunday) – Bulldog Breed (Kensington Post)

10 October 1969 (Friday) – Hawkwind (Melody Maker)

Time Out has Skin Alley on 10 October. 

11 October 1969 (Saturday) – Brain Child (Marylebone Mercury)

12 October 1969 (Sunday) – Lee Dorsey (Time Out)

13 October 1969 (Monday) – Ashton, Gardner and Dyke (Time Out)

14 October 1969 (Tuesday) – Audience (Time Out)

16 October 1969 (Thursday) – Village (Time Out)

17 October 1969 (Friday) – Merlin Q (Hounslow Post)

18 October 1969 (Saturday) – Tekneek (Hounslow Post)

19 October 1969 (Sunday) – Jacky Edwards and The Rainbow People (Hounslow Post)

21 October 1969 (Tuesday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)

24 October 1969 (Friday) – Bulldog Breed (Hounslow Post)

25 October 1969 (Saturday) – Shy Limbs (Hounslow Post)

26 October 1969 (Sunday) – Arrival (Hounslow Post)

31 October 1969 (Friday) – The Elastic Band (Marylebone Mercury)

2 November 1969 (Sunday) – Marv Johnson (Melody Maker)

7 November 1969 (Friday) – Big Movement (Kensington Post)

8 November 1969 (Saturday) – Man (Kensington Post)

9 November 1969 (Sunday) – Black Apple (Kensington Post)

13 November 1969 (Thursday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)

23 November 1969 (Sunday) – John Kramer (Time Out)

24 November 1969 (Monday) – Raw Material (Time Out)

26 November 1969 (Wednesday) – Lucas & The Soul Band (Time Out)

27 November 1969 (Friday) – Fire (Time Out)

4 December 1969 (Thursday) – Arcadium (Time Out)

5 December 1969 (Friday) – Raw Material (Time Out)

7 December 1969 (Sunday) – The Box Tops (Time Out)

According to Bruno Ceriotti The Box Tops tour was cancelled.

8 December 1969 (Monday) – Quatermass (needs source – possibly Melody Maker)

11 December 1969 (Thursday) – Tim Mycroft (Time Out)

12 December 1969 (Friday) – Bulldog Breed (Marylebone Mercury)

13 December 1969 (Saturday) – Brainchild (Marylebone Mercury)

14 December 1969 (Sunday) – Black Apple (Marylebone Mercury)

15 December 1969 (Monday) – The Committee (Marylebone Mercury)

16 December 1969 (Tuesday) – Mud (Marylebone Mercury)

17 December 1969 (Wednesday) – Magic Horse (Marylebone Mercury)

18 December 1969 (Thursday) – The Shades (Time Out)

19 December 1969 (Friday) – The Web (Time Out)

20 December 1969 (Saturday) – Fire (Kensington Post)

22 December 1969 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Time Out)

23 December 1969 (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Band (Time Out)

24 December 1969 (Wednesday) – Imagination (Kensington Post)

27 December 1969 (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Time Out)

28 December 1969 (Sunday) – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)

29 December 1969 (Monday) – The Committee (Time Out)

30 December 1969 (Tuesday) – Hawkwind (Melody Maker)

Time Out has Skin Alley on 30 December.

31 December 1969 (Wednesday) – Bulldog Breed (Time Out)

1970

Guitarist and violinist Mike Piggott says that he played at Blaises with Gass during 1969-1970.

1 January 1970 (Thursday) – For Ever More (Marylebone Mercury)

2 January 1970 (Friday) – Noir (Marylebone Mercury)

3 January 1970 (Saturday) – Brain Child (Marylebone Mercury)

4 January 1970 (Sunday) – Roy Young (Marylebone Mercury)

5 January 1970 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Marylebone Mercury)

6 January 1970 (Tuesday) – Black Apple (Marylebone Mercury)

7 January 1970 (Wednesday) – The Committee (Marylebone Mercury)

8 January 1970 (Thursday) – Gentle Strength (Kensington Post)

9 January 1970 (Friday) – Fire (Kensington Post)

10 January 1970 (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Kensington Post)

11 January 1970 (Sunday) – The Wild Angels (Kensington Post)

12 January 1970 (Monday) – The Shy Limbs (Kensington Post)

13 January 1970 (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)

14 January 1970 (Wednesday) – Cressida (Kensington Post)

15 January 1970 (Thursday) – The Web (Time Out)

16 January 1970 (Friday) – Springfield Park (Kensington Post)

17 January 1970 (Saturday) – Shades (Kensington Post)

18 January 1970 (Sunday) – Noir (Kensington Post)

19 January 1970 (Monday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)

20 January 1970 (Tuesday) – Napoleon (Kensington Post)

21 January 1970 (Wednesday) – Stone the Crows (Kensington Post)

22 January 1970 (Thursday) – Committee (Marylebone Mercury)

23 January 1970 (Friday) – David (Marylebone Mercury)

25 January 1970 (Sunday) – Tim Mycroft (Marylebone Mercury)

26 January 1970 (Monday) – Hawkwind (Time Out)

27 January 1970 (Tuesday) – Animal Farm (Marylebone Mercury)

28 January 1970 (Wednesday) – Windmill (Marylebone Mercury)

29 January 1970 (Thursday) – Raw Material (Marylebone Mercury)

30 January 1970 (Friday) – Shades (Marylebone Mercury)

31 January 1970 (Saturday) – TBC (Marylebone Mercury)

1 February 1970 (Sunday) – Edwin Starr (Marylebone Mercury)

2 February 1970 (Monday) – Warm Dust (Marylebone Mercury)

3 February 1970 (Tuesday) – Shy Limbs (Marylebone Mercury)

4 February 1970 (Wednesday) – Mud (Marylebone Mercury)

5 February 1970 (Thursday) – Windmill (Marylebone Mercury)

6 February 1970 (Friday) – Cressida (Marylebone Mercury)

7 February 1970 (Saturday) – Forevermore (Marylebone Mercury)

8 February 1970 (Sunday) – Focus (Marylebone Mercury)

9 February 1970 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Marylebone Mercury)

10 February 1970 (Tuesday) – Skin Alley (Marylebone Mercury)

11 February 1970 (Wednesday) – Black Apple (Marylebone Mercury)

19 February 1970 (Thursday) – Majority (Kensington Post)

20 February 1970 (Friday) – Fire (Kensington Post)

22 February 1970 (Sunday) – This Year’s Girl (Kensington Post)

23 February 1970 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Kensington Post)

24 February 1970 (Tuesday) – Black Apple (Kensington Post)

25 February 1970 (Wednesday) – The Majority (Kensington Post)

26 February 1970 (Thursday) – Genesis (Melody Maker and Time Out)

5 March 1970 (Thursday) – David (Kensington Post)

6 March 1970 (Friday) – Business (Kensington Post)

7 March 1970 (Saturday) – Cochise (Kensington Post)

8 March 1970 (Sunday) – Sam Gopal (Kensington Post)

9 March 1970 (Monday) – Pacific Drift (Kensington Post)

10 March 1970 (Tuesday) – Raw Material (Kensington Post)

11 March 1970 (Wednesday) – The Majority (Kensington Post)

12 March 1970 (Thursday) – Genesis (Kensington Post)

13 March 1970 (Friday) – Fire (Kensington Post)

14 March 1970 (Saturday) – Gorman Ghast (Kensington Post)

15 March 1970 (Sunday) – Jackie Edwards (Kensington Post)

16 March 1970 (Monday) – New Arrivals (Kensington Post)

17 March 1970 (Tuesday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Kensington Post)

19 March 1970 (Thursday) – Rainbow People (Kensington Post)

20 March 1970 (Friday) – Cardboard Orchestra (Kensington Post)

21 March 1970 (Saturday) – Mud (Kensington Post)

22 March 1970 (Sunday) – Wild Angels (Kensington Post)

24 March 1970 (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sound (Kensington Post)

25 March 1970 (Wednesday) – Cressida (Kensington Post)

12 May 1970 (Tuesday) – Gin House (Time Out)

25 June 1970 (Thursday) – Mirrors (Melody Maker)

8 August 1970 (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)

10 August 1970 (Monday) – David (Time Out)

12 August 1970 (Wednesday) – Pure Wings (Time Out)

13 August 1970 (Thursday) – Osibisa (Time Out)

14 August 1970 (Friday) – Flare (Time Out)

15 August 1970 (Saturday) – Satisfaction (Time Out)

16 August 1970 (Sunday) – Raw Material (Time Out)

17 August 1970 (Monday) – Camelot (Time Out)

21 August 1970 (Friday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)

24 August 1970 (Monday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)

26 August 1970 (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Time Out)

29 August 1970 (Saturday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)

20 September 1970 (Sunday) – Mirrors (Time Out)

29 November 1970 (Sunday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)

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.