John O’Hara and O’Hara’s Playboys – 28th May 1971 Battle Memorial Hall.

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Mick O’Dowd… Remember O’Haras Playboys. If I remember correctly they came on the back of the Irish Showband craze even though they weren’t considered large enough to be a Showband. The Hucklebuck was one of their near-misses. Quite an accomplished band.

Keith Veness… Remember that night my 18 birthday on the 29th May We had a good time

Krishna Kudu – Battle Memorial Hall – 3rd September 1971

krishna kudu - 3rd sept 1971,

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photo source & info: kentgigs.

left to right – Steve Warner, Brian Shearer,(sitting), Dave Perrins, Kevin Whitehead, (sitting), Dick Budnikas and Peter Dack, (sitting)

Nigel Ford… My favourite band that appeared there over the 4 / 5 or so years that the Battle Dances existed. Maidstone based I believe and two Battle girls dated members.They covered Deep Purple’s “Black Night”, Black Sabbath’s “Evil Woman”, Spooky Tooth’s “Better by you, better than me”, and many more of the time and favourites of mine and others were Rare Bird’s “Flight / As your mind flies by”” & “Hammerhead” plus Heavy Jelly’s ” I keep singing that same old song” (from compilation album “Nice Enough to eat” as others they did) where they used strobe lighting which was new to me then. Great memories, thanks guys wherever you are(?)

Peter Wobbler… Krishna Kudu were my favorite band, I saw them at Battle Memorial Hall when I was 16. I thought they were fantastic. Now 70.

 

Wishful Thinking & Shades Of Innocence – Battle Memorial Hall. 24th April 1970.

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photo source. http://www.wishfulthinkinggroup.co.uk

Robert Searle… They were a pretty good pop harmony group.Two songs they recorded were Clear White Light and Hiroshima .

Andy Knight… So who were Shades of Innocence? Were they local?

Alan Esdaile… Can’t find anything on Shades Of Innocence. Anyone? All I could find was a band called Shades Of Black who came from Ashford, Kent.

Andy Qunta… I remember Wishful Thinking! Really good!

Colin Norton… I remember playing a support gig to Wishful Thinking at the Cobweb. They had their Decca Live album out at the time and a single called “Step By Step”. Nice bunch of guys!

Pete Houghton… Wishful thinking used to be called The Emerald’s in 2005 they reformed with Kevin Finn Brian Allen Terry Collier John Franklin also they had something to do with that’ll be the day soundtrack

Mick O’Dowd… Battle Memorial Hall hosted several interesting gigs.

 

Battle Dance Club – Epiton Entertainments – Battle Memorial Hall 1971

jan 1971 - battle april 1971 - battle may 1971 - battle

june 1971 - battle sept 71 - battle nov:dec 71 - battle

supplied by Nigel Ford

Phil Gill… See, that’s 30p and 40p admission and I notice there’s no banjos. Just sayin’…..

Jan Warren… This has “stirred” some things in my very blurred memory banks??!! ……. and whether its relevant or not, I remember going to gigs somewhere in a village hall near or around Battle, also I recall a band called “Blue Condition” with Dave Gurr and a girl singer, I think they did a version of “Venus” by “Shocking Blue”?! – anyone else?? – yes, of course I remember “Suspect” and Rock Machine …….. well, I still have this album, I know it has nothing to do with the band advertised but its another old classic compilation album of the time.

Lance Collins… Symphonic Crab brings back memories Gerry Fortsch.

Colin Fox… As I recall, O’Hara’s Playboys were a great band, I saw them at the Sundowners Club in Eastbourne.

Andy Qunta… Great to have reminders of some of those names I had forgotten & others I remember really well!

Phil Wade Eyes Of Blond… The January date fills in a blank in our scrapbook – thanks! The April date was shortly after we broke up (March 24th) so we must have had to cancel it  🙁 Great to have this stuff after all this time – thanks again.

Geoff Peckham… I definitely saw your band there, Phil. It was the January date and it was pretty impressive!

Robert Searle… Some really good groups there

Mick O’Dowd… Didn’t The Bedrocks have a cover version of Ob-la-di at the same time as The Marmalade? O’Haras Playboys were also a good little band.

Alan Esdaile… Yes, well remembered Mick.

Keith Veness… Johnnie Johnson and the band wagon played there

Alan Pepper… SUSPECT 4 BARLEY 3

Oonagh Hague… I lived in Sedlescombe and Friday nights were Battle dance nights before we then progressed to The Cobweb happy times

Kevin Burchett… used to love the Battle dances i had some great times there and it was easy to get home to Netherfield then

 

Late Night Love- Battle Memorial Hall and Pandora’s Box Hastings Pier Restaurant 18th April 1969

18th april 1969 - late night love

18th april 1969 - pandora's box

Nigel Ford… Reckon I must have been ill that night as I don’t remember “Late Night Love” band at all. No recollection of the name whatsoever.

Candy Choir and Mood Reaction – June 1969

Mick O’Dowd… It’s that Candy Choir mob again. Keep popping up all over the place. I must say I liked them. They are billed as a “Rye Recording Artists” did they come from there?