Silk Disco – The Venues, Part 1

 

Silk Disco – The Venues, Part 1

by Pete Clemons

Punters just turn up and go home. Behind the scenes there has been a lot of organising, humping of equipment, paperwork, travel and phone calls.

And someone who organised, humped and spent a lot of time on the phone was Graham Wood of Silk promotions. I cajoled Graham into plundering the depths of his memories as I felt it was important to attempt to document his and Jim Twynham's achievements with regard to Silk disco. Thanks Graham for your patience.

1969 – Through meeting at the Coventry City fan club Graham Wood, Jim Twynham and Steve Miles decided to 'emulate' Pete Waterman and form Silk Discotheque.

Each partner stumped up £50 in order to purchase: 2 x Garrard SP25 decks, an amplifier, 2 EMI Speakers and a microphone.

Silk's first gig was 20th December 1969 – a Christmas Dinner Dance at Coventry and North Warwick Cricket Club on the Binley Road.

During their heyday work was so plentiful that, at times, venues overlapped. Not only did Silk cover residencies and public dances, they also provided disco's for private celebrations. Weddings, end of season football dances and other events.

Without detailing every event Graham has put together a list and some accompanying notes of the main ventures Silk were involved in. This has been put together as chronologically as possible.

The Plough, London Road - club night February 1970 to January 1972

Whilst Silk was a mobile disco we wanted a venue where we could play our own tastes in music – from folk/blues to rock/progressive rock.

The Plough on London Road, situated opposite a Salvation Army Hostel was not the most salubrious of venues but it had an unused back room and a landlord, Norman Rennison, who was happy for us to install a small stage and decorate to create an intimate space.

Over 2 years we established a regular crowd and developed a stereo sound system, complimented by a light show, including films and cartoons!. We were also allowed the opportunity to present/promote many local Midlands bands.

Sadly the brewery eventually decided to refurbish the pub and Silk were on the move.

In December 1970 Steve Miles left Silk to set up his own disco, 'Smiley' - Now that's a play on words. The split was amicable. Soon after Jim and Graham were joined by illustrator Paul Taylor.

Live at the Plough: Hemisphere, Wandering John, Trad B Jefferson, Asgard, Indian Summer, Tobias Heat, Whistler, April, Children, Rogation Sunday, Dando Shaft, Elf, Mead, Flying Hat Band, Gentle, Lucretia Borgia, Milestones, Modern Idiot Grunt Band, Hackensack, Fang, Barnabas, Vita Brevis, Music Box, Dave Turner, Salamander, Pluto

Circles – July 1971 to December 1972

We had really enjoyed promoting bands at the Plough but had been restricted due to the size of our venues. We soon realised it wasn’t large enough for some of the better known bands and so probably started planning for Circles in late 1970. So we looked for somewhere larger and close to the city centre.

Circles started at the Building Trades Club in July 1971 planning the first four weeks with local bands and then moving on to 'national' bands. In week 5 Stray were our first name band and the club was packed. Unfortunately 350 people leave behind some spilt beer and a few broken glasses. Stray also helped the mess with their exploding dustbin showering confetti everywhere.

The cleaners complained and the committee asked us to leave.

Fortunately the West End Club understood our plight and we were able to resume gigs the following week followed by many more through 1971 and 1972.

Humber hotel, Arthur's 1972

Jan 72 – July 72 Arthurs: Silk moved to the Humber Hotel immediately following 'our eviction' from The Plough and although it was further out of town it was an immediate success.

Possibly a better back room than The Plough. We did not decorate it or attempt to promote any bands as we were soon on the move again.

Chums, Bear Inn 1972 to 1974 (Thursday's)

1972 to September 1974 Chums: Whist Arthurs had been incredibly successful the opportunity to open a venue in the city centre was not to be missed

The upstairs back room was certainly not the largest but the atmosphere was exciting and 'Chums' took off immediately with full houses most Thursday's.

Silk was becoming increasingly busier and resources were being stretched so it was, with regret, that we moved from The Bear in September 1974.

At this time Paul Taylor left Silk due to various commitments. Again, all was amicable. Paul was a graphic artist and was responsible for Arthurs/Chums/Circles logos and associated artwork.

Thursdays, back to Plough this time the Lounge – late 1974 to June 1976

The Plough had always remained a Watering Hole and a chance to meet up with some of our friends who lived locally. But, of course, now the pub had been refurbished.

We were asked if we would like to provide a disco on a Thursday evening and the best way to describe it was like a free and easy disco night. No lights, no backing and we played selective tunes, album tracks and we encouraged people to bring along their own vinyl.

It became a very pleasant, hassle free evening.

Trocadero, Bulkinton June 1972 - April 1976 (Monday and Tuesday)

Silk had been previously hired by a local agency for various functions and one of their clients was the Weston Hall Hotel who wanted to hold disco's in their nightclub.

The club began in 1972 and was very successful considering it was held on Sundays, Monday and Tuesdays. We used our full range of disco and PA equipment and an extensive light show. We did however have to play mainly disco, soul and pop stuff which had been taboo at earlier venues.

We ended our 3 and a half year residency when the agency chose to continue with a more local and cheaper disco, but that was fine!.

Note: During 1975 the name of the disco evening was known as 'Waves Discotheque Club'.