so it wasn't all big name indie bands playing the Metronome every night as I've been led to believe... here's a fascinating republication of gig listings from 1981, from the good people at kentgigs.com1. Don't forget my Folkestone gig guide though.
We showed in our mailout on Tuesday that we have been supplying the press and music fans with listings for 25 years. It has raised a little interest so we have produced below the gig guide for this week, 25 years ago. Might bring back some memories for some and a chance to air some idle thoughts whilst typing.
Our first Gig Guide actually hit the press on 25th April 1981 in one Folkestone newspaper along with a write up for a band and a photo which was the deal we obtained. This newspaper was the only one who had a gig guide with more than just a couple of lines of information. If hadn't been for the national music press of the time i.e. NME, Sounds and Melody Maker we could have been the inventors of the Gig Guide. We also flyposted throughout the local area in the once many music shops, corner shops and record stores.
There were no computers, email or internet, affordable photocopying or home printers, just handwriting and relying on the local friendly printer who created our masterpieces by a screenprinting process. The newspapers were created by hand-set lead type in wooden blocks. When you went to the local press it was like a factory with clattering typewriters, smoke from the molten lead and guys with dirty hands.
GIG GUIDE A WEEKLY GUIDE TO SOUTH KENT MUSIC VENUES published in 1981
WEDNESDAY 4th NOVEMBER 1981
SPRING FIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - JUNCTION CITY BLUES BAND
LISMORE HOTEL (Folkestone) - CARLOS & HIS FLAMENCO GUITAR
SOUNDHOUSE (Hawkinge) - STEVES STAG NIGHT - Strippers and Comedians
THE DOVER STAGE (Dover) - Country & Western Night with THE RUSTLERS
RED LION INN (St Margarets) - BREAKAWAYS
THE CASTLE (Ashford) TBC
THURSDAY 5th NOVEMBER 1981
SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - RONDO
SPITFIRE LEISUREDROME (Hawkinge) - BONFIRE PARTY - B.B.Q. and DISCO
LOUIS ARMSTRONG (Dover) - INVICTA JAZZ BAND
THE ASH TREE (Gillingham) - BREAKAWAYS
FRIDAY 6th NOVEMBER [1981](/wiki/#1981)SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - THE PETE STACEY JAZZ BAND and FRENDS
ROYAL NORFOLK HOTEL (Sandgate) - DENIGH
LISMORE HOTEL (Folkestone) - SILHOUETI'E DISCO
SOUNDHOUSE (Hawkinge) - DISCO 8 - 1.00 am
NEPTUNE MOTEL (Dymchurch) - BREAKAWAYS and FIFTH QUARTER DISCO
LOUIS ARMSTRONG (Dover) - ENRY
RED LION INN (St Margarets) - CITY BLUES BAND
CANTERBURY TECHNICAL COLLEGE (Canterbury) - THIN MEN + SUPPORT
THE CASTLE (Ashford) - J.C.B.
SATURDAY 7th ,NOVEMBER [1981](/wiki/#1981)ROYAL NORFOLK HOTEL (Sandgate) - ENGLISH ROGUES
SOUNDHOUSE (Hawkinge) - DISCO 8 - 1.00 am
SPITFIRE LEISUREDROME (Hawkinge) - DISCO with T.R. SOUNDS
NEPTUNE MOTEL (Dymchurch) - FIFTH QUARTER DISCO
LOUIS ARMSTBONG (Dover) - SEVEN ACES JAZZ BAND - Trad. Jazz RED LION INN (St Margarets) - ENRY
HIGH & DRY (Waldershare) - LIVE MUSIC - Country & Western - Guest Artiste
ASHFORD BREAKERS KEMPTON MANOR (Hothfield) - BREAKAWAYS
THE CASTLE (Ashford) - SANDY BEACH & THE DECKCHAIRS
SUNDAY 8th NOVEMBER [1981](/wiki/#1981)Lunchtime - SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - TRANSATLANTIC BLUES BAND Evening - SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - FOLK CLUB - Everyone Welcome
THE GOLDEN ARROW ( Cheri ton) - STAIRES
LISMORE HOTEL (Folkestone) - CARLOS AND HIS FLAMENCO GUITAR
BYBROOK TAVERN (Ashford) THE BYBROOK TAVERNERS - Trad. Jazz
THE COLT (Ashford) - HIS & HERS - Country Duo
MONDAY 9th NOVEMBER [1981](/wiki/#1981)SPRINGFIELD HOTEL (Folkestone) - VERNON WOODWARD
TUESDAY 10th NOVEMBER [1981](/wiki/#1981)THE HIGH AND DRY (Waldershare) - KEEN COUNTRY
This is my website The FG that I set up in a fury of excitement when I first came here in approximately 2004. I'd been a frequent visitor for a while before that but I am technically one of those DFLs you get nowadays. The site was updated more frequently with a gig calendar + voting for favourite venues and things, and I know it was a useful reference for those who were thinking of moving here. Now I've moved out of Folkestone again (though just to Hythe) it doesn't get as much attention as it used to. Ironic really as The town is now becoming the exciting place we knew it was about to become. I am not Gerald by the way, this comes from a fake paper in an episode of The Day Today or something, the Portsmouth Gerald, and how there is a local newspaper here called the Folkestone Herald. Puns like this are great aren't they? Do contact me if you have anything to offer, email anythign @ this domain, or try @folkestone or @pauly on Twitter.