Venues

The Leas Cliff Hall on Folkestone's spectacular cliff top location is the largest hall in the area. In the 60's it held about 1200 standing and 800 seated and has been the main live music venue for decades. Every Saturday night it was the place to be with famous international bands and was nearly always full. It was common to have two local support bands as well, which gave them the "Large Venue" experience and their first dressing room with the band's name on. If only walls could talk!.

The venue used to be owned and run by the Folkestone and District Council, they had their own rules and the manager was not one that you should fall out with if you wanted to gig there again.



Rolling Stone allegedly got £1200 when they appeared here. Support Bands were paid £12 - £15. It seems for ever that bands have complained about the acoustics, but the sound systems have changes drastically over the years. In the 50's and 60's an amp. power elevated through average 15 to 100 Watts and no foldback. The sound just disappeared out into the hall, never to return. If your PA packed up, you wouldn't know. The front stage lighting was on a different phase to the stage power and it was not uncommon for a vocalist to get a belt from the mic. stand if it touched the lighting. To be continued

Nigel Stewart - Former Manager

The best gig ever, at The Leas?

I can remember seeing "Focus" at the Leas Cliff Hall in the mid seventies along with most of the other bands listed. Hocus Pocus and Sylvia chart fame; think they came from Holland or somewhere. Big at the time, strange that it was considered necessary to make it an all seater gig.

Suzie Quattro, Mud, Medicine Head, Rubetts and Hawkwind played too.

Colin Hughes

Ten Years After -  They were excellent, having stood in for Jethro Tull at short notice. 

Nick Ashman

I agree that the best gig at the Leas Cliff Hall was Ten Years After, when they stood in for Jethro Tull at short notice.

Graham Wright

A bit of nostalgia from me, a list of bands I saw over the Leas during the 70's with a couple in the 80's. There are one or two I have probably missed off, but it is the best my old memory banks can do.

• Roy Wood's Wizzard
• Billy Cobham
• Buddy Rich Orchestra (have Buddy's autograph)
• Cozy Powell (have autographs)
• Budgie
• Groundhogs
• Nazareth
• Robin Trower
• Curved Air
• PFM
• Back Door
• A Band Called O (have autographs) (supported by Barnacle)
• Nektar
• Steve Hillage
• Principle Edwards Magic Theatre
• Pink Fairies
• Andy Fairweather-Low
• Hudson-Ford
• Daryl Way's Wolf
• Stomu Yamashta
• Thin Lizzy (4 times! 3 with Eric Bell, 1 with Gary Moore)
• McKendree Spring
• JSD Band (twice)
• Stray (twice, once supported by Barnacle)
• Woody Woodmansey's U-boat
• Gary Glitter
• Marc Bolan
• Medicine Head (have autographs) (supported by the Charlesworth Young Band)
• Merlin (supported by Barnacle)
• Arrow (supported by Barnacle)
• Steve Marriott's Packet of Three
• Soft Machine
• Atomic Rooster
• Steamhammer
• John Hiseman (not sure if this was Tempest or Colosseum II)
• Fleetwood Mac (after Peter Green, but before Nicks/Buckingham)
• Deke Leonard
• Marillion (with Fish)
• Upp
• Sandgate
• Marvin Brett & The Thunderbolts
• Suzi Quatro
• Level 42
• Barnacle/Expedition (Topper before the Clash!)
• Andy Macpherson (good old compere!!!!!!)
• Henry McCulloch Band

Tosh

Just looked at your webpage and it took me back. Just to add a few more names to Tosh’s list appearing at the Leas Cliff Hall 1970-71

• Yes
• Deep Purple
• Idle Race (early Jeff Lynne pre ELO)
• Keef Hartley
• Graham Bond
• Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack
• Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

Plus later in 73 or 74 The New Seekers (had to take my sister) and Ralph McTell and to clarify it was John Hiseman’s Colosseum original line-up playing Valentyne’s Suite. He asked everyone to sit down!

Graham

I'm surprised at you! Did you not see any of:

• Caravan
• Climax Chicago
• Black Widow
• Uriah Heap
• Juicy Lucy
• Foster Bros. (London rock trio, had a No.1 in London at time)
• Trapeze
• Stephane Grappeli
• Genesis
• Jack The Lad
• Lindisfarne

I do not believe it :-)

Tony

• Saturnalia
• Sutherland Brothers
• Quiver

All the best and carry on the good work.

Tony (Germany)

Other bands that played The Leas

• Pink Floyd
• Rolling Stones Apr 4 1964 
• Zombies
• Tremoloes
• Herd
• Alan Price
• Georgie Fame
• Freddie and the Dreamers
• Love Affair
• Barron Knights

Shacks

During the late 80's early 90's I went to probably every 'rock'-type gig at the Leas so will list as many of those as I can remember. However, the best gig ever (in fact out of any venue or band I have ever seen) was Big Country. This was one of the last gigs they ever played and contained the entire original band line up. They had been touring without their drummer Mark but did the Folkestone and Glasgow gigs with him. I also remember seeing a post-gig article in the Herald where they were interviewed and they stated that it was one of the best, and most surprising gigs they had played in many years, apart from their long awaited homecoming gig at Glasgow. I will never forget that night.   Anyway let me try to list as many bands as I can remember.

• Quireboys x 2
• Motorhead
• Wolfsbane
• Goats Dont shave
• Big Country
• Transvision Vamp
• Hawkwind
• The Almighty x 2 (fantastic gig)
• Dogs D'Amour
• Bad News
• Garbage (I think)
  
  There were also a couple of gigs at the Metronome when it was open (for the briefest time). I saw PJ Harvey (superb gig) Zodiac Mindwarp
  
  

Simon Johnson