Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on.  I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.

I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com 

Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.

TONY RIVERS & THE CASTAWAYS

Tony Rivers – lead vocals

Vic Larkins – lead guitar

Mickey Johnson – rhythm guitar

Ray Brown – bass

Brian Talbot – drums

Formed as The Cutaways in Dagenham, Essex in 1960 without Tony Rivers (real name: Tony Thompson), the band backed singer Bobby Rio before Rivers joined as new lead singer in late 1961. They changed name not long afterwards.

1963

16 January 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

26 January 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

6 February 1963 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey with Shane Fenton & The Fentons (Woking Herald)

16 March 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

6 July 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

Sometime before signing a record deal with EMI, John Lyons (rhythm guitar) and Ricky West (lead guitar) took over from Johnson and Larkins respectively.

West didn’t stay long and joined The Tremeloes. Steve Scott took over lead guitar. The new formation recorded a string of singles, released on Columbia Records.

3 August 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Gene Vincent & The Outlaws (Surrey Advertiser)

18 August 1963 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Stormers (Aldershot News)

23 November 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)

8 December 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Searchers, Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five and Bob Charles Combo (Surrey Advertiser)

1964

4 January 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Strangers Five (Kent Messenger)

11 January 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Le Roys (Woking News & Mail)

17 January 1964 – Cast Off, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Hully-Gullys (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

24 January 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Dinos (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

1 February 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with two supporting groups (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

15 February 1964 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Red and Carolyn Plus Four (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)

22 February 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey with The Hop Mimers (Woking Herald)

25 February 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

29 February 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

11 April 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Beatfinders (East Kent Times)

14 April 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

18 April 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with Ricky Lee & The Hucklebucks (Lynn News)

25 April 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Costers and The Beat Syndicate (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

28 April 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)

1 May 1964 – 03 Beat, Ovaltine Ballroom, Kings Langley, Herts (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

3 May 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Hideaways (Hertfordshire Express)

16 May 1964 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Vincents (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

29 May 1964 – Town Teen, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Forerunners (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

30 May 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

13 June 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Worryin’ Kind (Woking News & Mail)

18 June 1964 – Breaks Youth Club, Hatfield, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

11 July 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Kinks and The Trends (Essex County Standard)

13 September 1964 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Leyton & Leytonstone Guardian/Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)

22 September 1964 – Ilford Town Hall, Ilford, east London with The Concords (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

29 September 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Mike Stevens & The Dolphins (East Kent Times & Mail)

30 September 1964 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)

3 October 1964 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The King Bees (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

17 October 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Candles (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

24 October 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

7 November 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Chuck & The Dyaks (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

21 November 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

During a Scottish tour, drummer Brian Talbot is killed in a road accident on 6 December. Drummer/singer Brian Hudson takes over the drum stool during early 1965

12 December 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Devil’s Coachmen (Lynn News)

1965

1 January 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (website: http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

9 January 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Alexanders (Sussex Evening Express)

10 January 1965 – Sunset Ballroom, The Sandringham, Hunstanton, Norfolk (Lynn News)

17 January 1965 – Cast off, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire with The Hully-Gullys (Berkhamsted Gazette)

1 February 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) According to Griggs’ book, guitarist Steve Scott announced he was leaving and the band offered him the lead guitar position, which he declined. 

13 February 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Emeralds (featuring Daniel Boone) (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

20 March 1965 – Barking Assembly Hall, Barking, east London with The Corsairs and the Galleons (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

21 March 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Medway Folk Trio (Maidstone Gazette)

10 April 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Four Pennies and Cannibals Sollet (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

12 April 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Herts with The Cortinas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

18 April 1965 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

19 April 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (East Kent Times & Mail)

24 April 1965 – Hi Fi Hop, Shepperton Village Hall, Shepperton, Middlesex (Woking Herald)

15 May 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Eccentrics (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

29 May 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Them and The Concords (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

3 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)

10 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Melody Maker)

11 June 1965 – The Avenue R&B Club, Green Pond Road, east London (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian)

18 June 1965 – Guildhall, Axminster, Devon with support (Bridport News)

20 June 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Dagoes (Sussex Evening Express)

11 July 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Aldershot News)

16 July 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Mark Leeman Five and The Dennisons (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

17 July 1965 – Civic Theatre, Bedford with King James, Lloyd Williams, The Triads and The En-Devers (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

25 July 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex with The Web (Mid Sussex Times)

29 July 1965 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

31 July 1965 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Sons of Fred and The Charades (Essex County Standard)

1 August 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

4 August 1965 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (website: http://www.swindonmusicscene.co.uk/swindon_music_scene_gigs_of_note.html)

7 August 1965 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire with The Byrds, Kenny Lynch, Tommy Quickly, Elkie Brook, Boz and The Bozmen, The Remo Four, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers and The Slade Brothers (Staines and Egham News/Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

21 August 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Invaders (Lynn News)

30 August 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Herd (East Kent Times)

5 September 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

12 September 1965 – Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

25 September 1965 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Ends (Cambridgeshire Times)

26 September 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex (Mid Sussex Times)

2 October 1965 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

3 October 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

15 October 1965 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press & Advertiser)

16 October 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Ketas (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

3 November 1965 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex (Littlehampton Gazette)

6 November 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex (Essex County Standard)

7 November 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex (Mid Sussex Times)

13 November 1965 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

14 November 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Mike Stuart Span (Sussex Evening Express)

19 November 1965 – Queen’s Ballroom, Cleveleys, Lancashire plus two supporting groups 6 (Lancashire Evening Post)

26 November 1965 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Titch (Western Scene)

6 December 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Herts (see website above)

12 December 1965 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington with John Lee & The Groundhogs (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

18 December 1965 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Utopians (Lynn News)

19 December 1965 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

24 December 1965 – Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with support (Kent Messenger/Maidstone Gazette)

31 December 1965 – Dill Hall, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Bryan & The Brunelles (Bedfordshire Times)

1966

21 January 1966 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

29 January 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

5 February 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mich and Titch and Brian & The Brunelles (Lincolnshire Standard)

6 February 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London with Ed Williams Sound System (Tottenham Weekly Herald)

19 February 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Cascades (Cambridgeshire Times)

22 February 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks (Bucks Advertiser)

26 February 1966 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Blues Syndicate (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

2 March 1966 – Stonehouse Church Hall, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)

5 March 1966 – Co-Op, Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

18 March 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with support (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

20 March 1966 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

27 March 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

3 April 1966 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Gaylords (East Kent Times) Trend and Boyfriend magazine has this also on 11 April

6 April 1966 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn Advertiser)

15 April 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

22 April 1966 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Angelo Six (Luton News)

23 April 1966 – Farnborough Technical College Students’ Union, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Paramounts (Aldershot News)

Around this time, singer Kenny Rowe who has previously fronted The Fifth Avenue joins on second lead vocals. Tony Harding also takes over lead guitar from Steve Scott.

The band now comprises:

Tony Rivers – lead vocals

Kenny Rowe – lead vocals

Tony Harding – lead guitar

John Lyons – rhythm guitar

Ray Brown – bass

Brian Hudson – drums/vocals

The group records a version of The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”

13 May 1966 – Axminster Guildhall, Axminster, Devon (Bridport News)

14 May 1966 – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset (Bridport News)

27 May 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

28 May 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Sons of Fred, Tom Thumbs and The Omruds (Lincolnshire Standard)

9 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Summer Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

20 June 1966 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

24 June 1966 – Unknown venue, Hastings, East Sussex with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Unit 4 Plus 2 and The Defiants (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

25 June 1966 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

26 June 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News)

2 July 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

3 July 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

7 July 1966 – Thorngate Ballroom, Gosport, Hants (Portsmouth News)

9 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

15 July 1966 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The New Merseys, Dave Berry, The Move, The Montanas and The Californians (Express & Star)

17 July 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

21 July 1966 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire with The Illusions (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

30 July 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with Legay (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

5 August 1966 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Warrington Guardian)

7 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Factotum (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

9 August 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)

13 August 1966 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Symbols (Essex County Standard)

22-24 August 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with support (Birmingham Evening Mail)

27 August 1966 – Mick’s Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express)

30 August 1966 – Flamingo,  Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s diary) The group didn’t turn up so The Fleur De Lys played all evening

Around this time Brian Hudson leaves to form The Parking Lot and former Sugarbeats drummer Geoff Swettenham replaces him

24 September 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Intruders and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)

9 October 1966 – Stoke Hole, Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

14 October 1966 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

22 October 1966 – Disc Club, St Martin’s Centre, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)

28 October 1966 – Conservative Club, Finchley, north London (Fabulous 208)

30 October 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

About now Tony Harding and Kenny Rowe depart and former Sugarbeats lead guitarist John Perry joins. The group also bring in another singer Martin Shaer to replace Rowe

14 November 1966 – Dancing Slipper Ballroom, West Bridgeford, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

23 November 1966 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Montanas and Harvey’s Team (Express & Star)

Geoff brings in his brother Pete on rhythm guitar/vocals from The Sugarbeats

3 December 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Kids, The Defenders, The Twilites, The Tatters and T D Backhus and The Powerhouse (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)

16 December 1966 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with The Heretics (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

17 December 1966 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Section A (Hertfordshire Express)

24 December 1966 – St George’s Hall, Exeter, Devon with The Son Set (Express & Echo)

1967

1 January 1967 – Matrix Hall, Coventry, West Midlands with The Spencer Davis Group, Jigsaw and Lovers Lot (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

3 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

6 February 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

13 February 1967 – The Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Staffords and The Pines (Express and Star)

14 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

18 February 1967 – Baillie Club, Glasgow, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

19 February 1967 – Palais, Dundee, Scotland with Cat Stevens (Fabulous 208)

20 February 1967 – Dhabi Hall, Larbert, Scotland with Cat Stevens, The Pathfinders and The Squad (Fabulous 208)

26 February 1967 – Bluesette Club, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press)

4 March 1967 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Oxfordshire with These They Are (Wiltshire Gazette/Didcot Advertiser)

5 March 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Sound Society (Crewe Chronicle)

7 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 March 1967 – 7 Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Shropshire Star)

17 March 1967 – Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

29 March 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians (Express and Star)

31 March 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

2 April 1967 – Bluesette Club, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press)

13 April 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Time (Essex County Standard)

14 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Time & Motion (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

19 April 1967 – Hull College of Commerce Students’ Union, Skyline Ballroom, Hull with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, The Amboy Dukes, The Locomotion and The Jamm (Hull Daily Mail)

22 April 1967 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Angelo 6 (Bury Free Express)

26 April 1967 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Enders Ltd (Berkhamstead Gazette, Tring & District News)

27 April 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Six Across and Stevenson’s Rockets (Nottingham Evening Post)

13 May 1967 – The Union, Manchester with The Mud (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

14 May 1967 – The Embassy, Colchester, Essex with The Chalfont Movement (Essex County Standard)

16 May 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall (Fabulous 208)

17 May 1967 – Gaerleon College of Education, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)

18 May 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Skewen, Wales (Fabulous 208)

20 May 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Breed (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

22 May 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Maize and The Valets (Express & Star)

25 May 1967 – Elizabeth Hall, Dagenham, east London (Fabulous 208)

28 May 1967 – 76 Club, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

1 June 1967 – Summer House, The Portway, Kingswinford, West Midlands (Express & Star)

4 June 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

5 June 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Roman Empire, Finders Keepers and Sons and Lovers (Express & Star)

8 June 1967 – Youth Centre, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)

9 June 1967 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

10 June 1967 – St Mary’s College, Twickenham, west London (Fabulous 208)

14 June 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (Fabulous 208/West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

21 June 1967 – Cook Elite Hall, Cook, Bishop Auckland, County Durham (Fabulous 208)

22 June 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

25 June 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)

30 June 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

6 July 1967 – Guildford School of Art, Guildford, Surrey with PP Arnold, Whisker Davies Blues Stormers and Tony Bennett (Surrey Advertiser)

8 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

13 July 1967 – Waggon & Horses, Wall Heath, West Midlands with Pride & Pashion (Express & Star)

15 July 1967 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Cambridge News)

16 July 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

17 July 1967 – Civic Theatre, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Soul Caravan, The En-Devers, King James and Lloyd Williams, The Triads (Bedfordshire Times)

22 July 1967 – Garrison Ballroom, Millport, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

24 July 1967 – Town Hall, Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

26 July 1967 – Pier Bandstand, Weymouth, Dorset (Fabulous 208) Unlikely with Flamingo gig later

26 July 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

4 August 1967 – White Lion Hotel, Edgeware, north London (Fabulous 208)

4 August 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Minor Portions (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

4 August 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Melody Maker)

5 August 1967 – Civic Hall, Corby, Northamptonshire (Fabulous 208)

7 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

9 August 1967 – Vallance Ballroom, Tenby, Wales (Fabulous 208)

10 August 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, Wales (Port Talbot Guardian)

11 August 1967 – Glanmore Club, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)

12 August 1967 – Town Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (Fabulous 208)

17 August 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (Cornish Guardian)

18 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ten Years After (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

29 August 1967 – Lotus Ballroom, Forest Gate, east London (Newham & Stratford Express)

1 September 1967 – Queens Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool, County Durham with The Tony King Sound (Hartlepool Mail)

10 September 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Crawdadds (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

16 September 1967 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)

18 September 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Wanted (Express & Star)

22 September 1967 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Californians, Dual Purpose, The Staffords and The News (Express & Star)

29 September 1967 – Floral Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Cityweek)

30 September 1967 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland (Cityweek)

6 October 1967 – Cragburn Pavilion, Gourock, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

7 October 1967 – Carioca Club, Town Hall, Bearsden, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

8 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Plastic Dream (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

12 October 1967 – Kingfisher Country Club, Wall Heath, West Midlands with The Modernairs and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

13 October 1967 – Birmingham City College, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)

14 October 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Friction (Cambridgeshire Times)

15 October 1967 – Sunday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

16 October 1967 – Top Rank Suite, Cardiff, Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich (Fabulous 208)

21 October 1967 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Jo Jo Gunne (Streatham News)

22 October 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 October 1967 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with People’s People and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

27 October 1967 – Tabernacle Club, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)

30 October 1967 – Lyceum, Strand, central London (Fabulous 208)

4 November 1967 – Witchdoctor, Catford, southeast London (South East London Mercury)

11 November 1967 – Ilford Baths Hall, Ilford, east London with The Aldgate Pump (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

12 November 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Tiles Big Band (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

19 November 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with The Bee Gees, Flowerpot Men and Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Melody Maker)

23 November 1967 – RAF Club, Uxbridge, west London (Fabulous 208)

24 November 1967 – Bradford University, Bradford, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

25 November 1967 – Shaftsbury Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Fabulous 208)

Around this time, the Sweetenham brothers and John Perry leave to form Grapefruit and Martin Shaer also departs. Disc & Music Echo’s 16 December issue confirms the split.

Tony Rivers rebuilds the group, retaining Ray Brown and bringing Tony Harding and Kenny Rowe (who has recently produced The Playground) back

Tony Rivers – lead vocals

Kenny Rowe – lead vocals

Tony Harding – lead guitar

Ray Brown – bass

Bill Castle – drums/vocals

16 December 1967 – Lotus Club, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express)

17 December 1967 – Embassy Suite, Colchester, Essex with The Shell Shock Show and The Martells (Essex County Standard)

30 December 1967 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Evening Sentinel/Crewe Chronicle)

1968

6 January 1968 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Hustling Kind (Hastings & St Leonards Observer)

26 January 1968 – Civic and Wulfrun Halls, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Alan Price Set, The Soul Seekers, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac and Barmy Barry Show (Express & Star)

5 February 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

13 February 1968 – Pyjama Dance, Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, south Wales with Simon Dupree &The Big Sound, The Spencer Davis Group, Fleetwood Mac and The Dream (South Wales Evening Post)

23 February 1968 – Avery Hill College, Eltham, southeast London with The Information and The Joker 5 (South East London Mercury) This may be a different date

23 February 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Tykes (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

28 February 1968 – Tangerine Club, Forest Gate, east London (Newham, Barking and Stratford Express)

2 March 1968 – Plaza, Handsworth, West Midlands with Terry Reid’s Fantasia (Birmingham Evening Mail)

15 March 1968 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Neat Change and Taste (City Week)

15 March 1968 – Floral Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland (City Week)

29 March 1968 – The Plaza, Bedford with Spell, Acceleration, Spectre Powerhouse, Tribe Five, John Williams and Jackson Mornay (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

30 March 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with Fusion (Somerset County Gazette)

4 April 1968 – Flying Fox Club, RAF Cottesmore, Rutland with Max Baer & The Chicago Setback and Privy Seal (Grantham Journal)

7 April 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex (Evening Argus)

13 April 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Provokers (Cornish Guardian)

15 April 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Happy Magazine and Glass Menagerie (Express & Star)

17 April 1968 – Central Hall, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Marmalade (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

20 April 1968 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with Penny Peeps (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)

29 April 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

The Hillingdon Mirror ran a story and a photo of Tony in its 30 April 1968, page 11. The article mentions the new formation with Kenny Rowe (vocals); Tony Harding (lead guitar/vocals); Tom Marshall (rhythm guitar/vocals); Ray Brown (bass); and Bill Castle (drums/vocals)

3 May 1968 – Brighton Students’ Festival Ball, Hotel Metropole, Exhibition Hall, Brighton, West Sussex with Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, Washington DCs, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Manfred Mann and P P Arnold (West Sussex Gazette)

18 May 1968 – Hoffman Apprentices’ Association, Hoffman Ballroom, Chelmsford, Essex with The Roulettes (Essex Chronicle)

24 May 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Swansea, south Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and The Love Sculpture (South Wales Evening Post)

31 May 1968 – Wellington Manor House, Crowthorne, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

6 June 1968 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

7 June 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

8 June 1968 – Dudley Teachers’ Training College, Dudley, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)

15 June 1968 – Wolverhampton College of Technology Students Union, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Backdenkel Purists (Express & Star)

Around this time Tony Ferguson took over lead guitar from Tony Harding

25 June 1968 – Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (Fabulous 208)

27 June 1968 – Royal College of Art, Chelsea, southwest London (Fabulous 208)

28 June 1968 – Lady Spencer Churchill College of Education, Oxford (Fabulous 208)

29 June 1968 – 76 Club, Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)

6 July 1968 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)

6 July 1968 – Institute Braintree, Braintree, Essex with Purple Haze and Ben Truman (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)

22 July 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Obs-Tweedle (Express & Star)

22 July 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Duster Bennett (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

August 1968 – Scene and Herd Club, St Thomas Hall, Brentwood (Essex Chronicle)

1 August 1968 – Alsagar College, near Crewe, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)

2 August 1968 – RAF Cranwell (Fabulous 208)

22 August 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 August 1968 – Archer Hall, Billericay, Essex (Southend Standard)

28 August 1968 – Redcliffe Hotel, Caswell Bay, south Wales with Yellow featuring Paul Rogers (South Wales Evening Post)

8 September 1968 – Sunday Scene, Silver End, near Witham, Essex (Essex Chronicle)

14 September 1968 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex (Fabulous 208)

21 September 1968 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, West Midlands with Fox & The Vision (Express & Star)

24 September 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)

29 September 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Around this time, the band becomes Harmony Grass, but the gigs below are billed as Tony Rivers & The Castaways

26 October 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

28 October 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

3 November 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Acceleration (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

14 November 1968 – Sloopy’s Scoop, Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

17 November 1968 – Sunday Scene, Silver End, near Witham, Essex (Fabulous 208)

22 November 1968 – Bangor University, Bangor, Wales (Fabulous 208)

23 November 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with supporting groups (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

29 November 1968 – Staines Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex (Staines & Egham News)

30 November 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

6 December 1968 – Club Lafayette, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)

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