Post lock-down Coventry

 Post lock-down Coventry

by Pete Clemons

The easing of lockdown restrictions has seen the very welcome return of live music to the city. And gigs have returned to Coventry incredibly rapidly and with quite a bang. After such a long time away it has felt really good to be able to get out and about once more.

The last time I was in the building, now known as The Empire in Hertford Street, was when it was the ABC theatre back in the late 1970s. Amongst other films I remember seeing the Led Zeppelin documentary 'The Song Remains the Same' and 'Saturday Night Fever' in there. To gain entrance you climbed an outdoor staircase up to where the balcony is now.

Today however, you gain entry via an escalator. Entering the venue you are faced with two stages. Which is quite impressive because, if you have several bands on, it makes changeover between bands a lot slicker and quicker.

Then we have the pop up Assembly Gardens venue. A multi purpose area for socialising and entertainment. The Gardens also boasts a couple of stages. One undercover within a tent and another outdoors.

The magnificent settings of Coventry Cathedral, within both the new and the old ruins, have played host to live music and chat. Being mindful of those who feel that entertainment should not be within these settings it is still a spectacular place to hold such events.

The bands themselves seem to be on fire as well. Rather than sometimes feel as though they are simply going through the motions they do appear to be genuinely enjoying the new found freedom of being able to perform again. It is like they have been straining at the leash and have finally been set free.

Each of the bands I have seen play have come across of really enjoying the experience again. For the musicians involved, at times you could almost feel their joy at being able to do what they love once again.

As appreciative it was for the venues to organise seated and socially distanced gigs in between lock-downs. Special mention must go to places like The Arches Club in Spon End, The Gatehouse Tavern and The Queens Hall in Nuneaton.

Each of those places, along with a few others, managed to keep live music going when they were allowed to between restrictions. Overcoming every obstacle thrown at them. It will be a long time before, those that attended any of the gigs, forget the distantly spaced tables and temperature guns. That said, and despite their valiant efforts in keeping things going, I really hope that all of that is finally behind us.

Finally, CV folk club at the Albany Theatre and both Nuneaton and Bedworth folk clubs are now up and running again after the long lay off.