It was an interesting list (deserving a bonus mark for recalling The Boarddraggers), but by no means exhaustive.
Those who frequented town and village 'hops' at weekends in those days might also remember some of the following names: The Trek, Peter's People, The John Lewis Blues Band, Half Breed (all from the Morpeth area), The Discords (Thropton), Crypt Orchid (Alnwick — how many people knew the meaning of Jimmy Lillico's band name?), Wishbone Ash specialists Plynth (Alnwick), Ambrose, Bert's Apple Crumble, Mr Poohbah's Chicago Line, Crusade, Just Bent, Barb Wire, USA, Yellow and The Junco Partners.
Of all the groups mentioned only one is still on the road, so far as I am aware: The Juncos. Clips from their outdoor gig in the 'Placa de Dins' in Alcoy, Alicante, Spain, this summer can be viewed on You Tube.
The bands listed last week and here had their own followers, but in the writer's opinion one was head and shoulders above the rest — so good that it was mentioned twice (accidentally?) in A Allan's letter. That band was The Sect.
The venues usually had their own particular character — and smell — too. Long gone is Red Row's Primrose Hall, where one-hit chart wonders Hedgehoppers Anonymous of 'Good News Week' fame, landed one night. Other chart stars of the day — from Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band to Johnny Johnson and The Bandwagon and home-grown folk-rockers Lindisfarne — played the posher surroundings of The Viking at Seahouses. Lesser names were lucky to fill Alnwick's Birdcage Club, where the box-office was a tiny shed usually occupied by Peter McDermott and his very large Alsatian dog (an extra house point for anyone who can remember its name).
Sadly, the emergence of the mobile disco eventually sealed the fate of the live band scene, with people content to settle for a few flashing lights and a bloke with a moustache playing records and the occasional jingle.
That new music scene featured the likes of Broadway and Raylroad discotheques — but that's another name game altogether.
Soul Survivor,
Name and address supplied