BANDS - FROM HARTLEPOOL & TEESSIDE IN THE 60'S

How great it is to see, once again, so many talented singers and bands offering their services free of charge to help raise money for a worthy cause. FABULOSA in the Barn is taking place, as you can see on the poster, at Fletcher's Farm in Great Ayton on Tuesday, September 3rd from 6.00pm until 11.00pm. Al proceeds going to the Trinity Holistic Cancer Care Centre at James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. Tickets are £19. Please call Ottie for more details or email Linziv@aol.com

Following on from his superb "The Boys In The Bands” book, local author Chris Scott Wilson has released yet another gem looking back at some great memories of “Redcar Coatham Bowl” which can be seen on his website. For those of us who are old enough or young enough to remember, The Coatham Bowl opened way back in 1965 and became the venue for a grand array of musical talent - local, national and international - as the book’s cover may suggest and of course they are all not mentioned on it! It all came to an end after many wonderful years - finally saying goodbye in February 2014. So why not enjoy those great experiences and memories in this truly excellent 200 page book in glorious colour with some first class photographs and stories. The book offers first class comprehensive coverage of this venue and It certainly is an historic collection!



How it all started: For almost fourteen years I lived on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Following a visit I made to my hometown of Hartlepool in June 2004, it was suggested to me to start a web page featuring some of the old bands, or groups, that graced the pubs and clubs of the area back in the 1960's. The idea started after Billy Crallan, George Hart and Ed Saul all joined forces to play some of the old songs to help celebrate Ron Blair's 60th birthday. Billy Crallan, Ron and I played together in The Trakkers and George, of course, was the original lead guitarist of The Hartbeats. The photograph above shows George Hart, Billy Crallan, Stan Laundon and Ron Blair at Hartlepool Cricket Club. So, what started as an idea has now expanded into many pages and is dedicated to the great bands of that era and the friendship we all enjoyed. Photograph © Marion Crallan.

If you'd like to be kept up to date with any changes we make to our bands pages do drop us a line through our Contact page and your name will be added to a list to receive periodical emails.

.............................................Copyright Stan Laundon