Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey

The Artwoods and John’s Children, December 1966. Photo: Caterham Weekly Post

Originally called the Chuck Wagon and located in a corrugated iron hut at 22a Bridge Street in Leatherhead, Surrey,  this notable music venue was renamed the Bluesette Club around March 1966. John’s Children, the group that once included Marc Bolan, owned the club at one point and performed regularly, initially under the name The Silence.

I’ve started to compile a list of gigs, which are taken from the Caterham Weekly Press unless otherwise noted. There are significant gaps in the listings, so I’d welcome any additions, corrections and memories, including when the venue operated as the Chuck Wagon. Judging by the listings below, shows took place on Fridays and Sundays unless otherwise noted.

1966

25 February 1966 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Boyfriend magazine)

 

1 April 1966 – Too Many Kooks (Poster from John Treais)

3 April 1966 – Sons of Fred (Poster from John Treais)

8 April 1966 – Paddy, Klaus & Gibson (Poster from John Treais)

10 April 1966 – The Ends (aka The End) (Poster from John Treais)

15 April 1966 – The A-Jaes (Poster from John Treais)

17 April 1966 – The (Five) Proud Walkers (Poster from John Treais)

Photo: John Treais

22 April 1966 – Eddie’s Crowd (Poster from John Treais)

24 April 1966 – The Paramounts (Poster from John Treais)

29 April 1966 – The Silence (Poster from John Treais)

 

Bookings for May included The Herd, Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Gary Farr & The T-Bones and The Fenmen (see above)

29 May 1966 – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Poster from John Treais)

 

3 June 1966 – The Silence (Poster from John Treais)

5 June 1966 – The Herd (Poster from John Treais)

10 June 1966 – The Five Proud Walkers (Contract from Colin Forster)

Thanks to Colin Forster

12 June 1966 – The Rockhouse Band (Poster from John Treais)

17 June 1966 – Paddy, Klaus & Gibson (Poster from John Treais)

19 June 1966 – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Poster from John Treais)

24 June 1966 – Eddie’s Crowd (Poster from John Treais)

26 June 1966 – Sons of Fred (Poster from John Treais)

 

3 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton

8 July – Eddie’s Crowd (formerly The Five Aces)

10 July – The Silence

15 July – The Hounds

17 July – The Fadin’ Colours

22 July – The Fadin’ Colours

24 July – The Silence (just back from Nice, France)

29 July – The Worrying Kind

31 July – The Tea-Set

There is no listing for 5 and 7 August

12 August – Heinz & The Wildboys

14 August – The Five Proud Walkers (also confirmed by the Crawley Advertiser)

There is no listing for 19 August and after this but at some point around this time, the club closed and only re-opened in November

20 November – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (paper says club has reopened)

No listing for 25 November

27 November – John’s Children (ex-The Silence)

Photo: Caterham Weekly Post

2 December – The Mojos

4 December – The Iveys

9 December – The Tea-Set

11 December – The Fading Colours

16 December – The Fourmost

19 December – The Bunch

23 December – The Artwoods

24 December – John’s Children (switch from Sunday to Saturday)

30 December – Fading Colours

1967

1 January – Graham Bond Organisation (back to Sundays)

6 January – The Iveys

8 January – Winston’s Fumbs

13 January – Mike Stuart Span

15 January – The Bunch

20 January – The Fading Colours

22 January – The Fleur De Lys

27 January – The Creation

29 January – John’s Children

Photo: Caterham Weekly Post

3 February – Richard Henry & The Timebox

5 February – The Bunch

10 February – The Iveys

12 February – The Fenmen

17 February – Winston’s Fumbs

19 February – Savoy Brown

Photo: Caterham Weekly Press

24 February – Cat Stevens

26 February – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

 

3 March – The (Five) Proud Walkers

5 March – Derek Savage Foundation

10 March – John’s Children with The A-Jaes

12 March – Graham Bond Organisation

17 March – Worrying Kind

19 March – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound

Photo: Caterham Weekly Press

24 March – One In A Million

26 March – Mike Stuart Span

31 March – Heart and Souls

 

2 April – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

7 April – Rosco Brown Combo

9 April – The Night People (aka The Nite People)

Photo: Caterham Weekly Press

14 April – The Tribe

16 April – The Fleur De Lys

21 April – Derek Savage Foundation

23 April – Ray King Soul Band

26 April – John’s Children (Wednesday)

28 April – The Click

30 April – The Bunch

 

3 May – John’s Children (Wednesday)

No more listings in the paper but the club continued as gigs below confirm

18 June – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ research)

 

10 September – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ research)

 

17 December – The Iveys and John’s Children (Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ research)

Photo: Chris Stagg

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.

5 thoughts on “Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey”

  1. Absolutely Brilliant, Nick, I remember that Silence Gig where it says Just back from Nice, was the night Simon Napier Bell, who had recently signed us, came down to the Bluesette Club and played keyboards at the back of the stage. Unfortunately he had drank too many brandies and collapsed half way through the gig, falling backwards into a drop behind the stage. We managed to help into the office behind the bar where there was a mattress. He slept the night there. Andy

  2. We use to go to the Chuck wagon from when it opened till probably May 1966 (I got married in the June!!) I remember Alan Price playing there but unfortunately don’t know when. Many happy memories of going there.

  3. Here’s what I presently have, mainly from attendee’s photos that include posters on the building!
    February 26th(?) 1965(?) = Royd Rivers & Gerry Laughran (Chuck Wagon)
    Friday 4th June 1965 = The Silence
    Sunday 13th March 1966 = The Silence (Bluesette Club)
    Sunday 30th January 1966 = The Herd & The Silence
    Sunday 20th February 1966 = Falling Leaves
    Friday 25th February 1966 = Tony Jackson (ex-Searchers) & The Vibrations
    Sunday 15th May 1966 = Tony Rivers & The Castaways
    March 9th & 12th 1967 = The Graham Bond Organisation
    September 3rd 1967 = a ‘Love In’ feat. The Candy Bus Show (Jonathan Bean and his record machine) – (John’s Childrens Club)

    Others, precise dates n/k
    Dave Dee Dozy Mick & Titch = 1966?
    Gary Farr & The T-Bones = 1966?

    The ‘Talk’ on the club is still on, Friday 18th September, 7.30pm, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall. Part of the area’s Heritage Week.

  4. I was at Epsom Art College with Chris Dorset who played keyboard with the Silence. I was commissioned to paint murals for the Bluesette. John’s Chilren rehearsed as I painted. It was so dark I could hardly see the colours. I used jazz musicians as my theme. I have no photos of the paintings…probably a good thing.

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