Gigography 1968

== January ==
20 Middle Earth: Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band Peel introduced Beefheart at his historic first UK gig: I started to introduce them at Middle Earth but was so overcome with emotion that I started crying, so I had to abandon my announcement half-way through. I said, "I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to say these words to you." (Quoted in "Captain Beefheart", Mike Barnes, p51, from the author's interview with Peel.) Beefheart also played the Speakeasy the following night, Jan. 21, before returning to Europe. This was presumably also attended by Peel, who commented on the Top Gear of 04 February 1968 that the band had not been welcomed by the "trendies" - a reference to the Speakeasy audience, who saw themselves as the London music business's fashionable in-crowd. Peel famously acted as guide and chauffeur when the band returned to England for further dates.
26 Southampton University, Old Refectory: Pink Floyd, Incredible String Band, Jimmy Cliff (and the Shakedown Sound}, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Chicken Shack, Nelson's Column 
== February ==
3 Bletchley, unknown venue, unknown "dance" event 
23 Middle Earth at the Roundhouse, London: Country Joe and the Fish, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Nick Drake (Drake's first ever live performance - moved from the Covent Garden venue).
29 Royal Albert Hall: Ornette Coleman, Yoko Ono Plastic Band. 
== March ==
9 Leeds University: Rave, Nice, Spencer Davis, Tony Rivers and the Castaways, The Chicken Shack, The Attack 
21 Royal Albert Hall: Imperial College Charity Carnival. Donovan, Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Flame. Compere John Peel 
23 Royal Festival Hall: Indian Music. Ustad Vilayat Khan (sitar), Ustad Imrat Khan (surbahar) 
== April ==
5/13 Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall: Tyrannosaurus Rex (Oak, Ash and Thorn. "Narrating Narrator John Peel") 
14 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Doctor K's Blues Band, Junior's Eyes
29 Nag's Head, 205 York Road, London S.W.11: "The Blue Horizon. Judy Vernon presents John Peel with Neil Slaven and Mike Vernon. ""Discussion on the Blues" - with discs plus Duster Bennett and David Bowie". In the Melody Maker ad for this event, Peel has bigger billing than either Bennett or Bowie.
== May ==
1 University College, Gower Street, London: Tyrannosaurus Rex (see 28 April 1968)
3 
Brighton Arts Festival Ball, Metropole, Brighton: Manfred Mann, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Adge Cutler And The Wurzels, P.P. Arnold, Tony Rivers And The Castaways, Washington D.C's 
4 Loughborough (University?): Tyrannosaurus Rex (see 28 April 1968)
13 Middle Earth: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Junior's Eyes, Beowolf 
18 Southampton University (end of term dance): Captain Beefheart, Chicken Shack, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Tyrannosaurus Rex Barnes, p. 61
19 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Captain Beefheart & Magic Band 
19 Middle Earth "Gandalf's Garden Benefit": Bill includes Tyrannosaurus Rex, Junior's Eyes, Third Ear Band, Edgar Broughton Blues Band, David Bowie(apparently the opening act) - Peel was advertised but cancelled to attend the Beefheart gig above.The report on the event in the magazine itself (issue 2, pg 10) thanks the performers and "Also to Dee-Jay PAT BEE who stepped in to save the day when we discovered that JOHN PEEL had been suddenly called away on tour." Many thanks to Colin Ellis for this information.
24 Aston University, Birmingham: Liverpool Scene (IT 31 article on with gig listings for band)
25 London School of Economics: Chicken Shack, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Frank Ricotti Quartet, Eclection 
26 Middle Earth, "Oz Magazine Benefit" Pink Floyd, The Pretty Things, Social Deviants, Blonde On Blonde, Alexis Korner, Miss Kelly, The Flamingoes, Buddy Lloyd Glenn Povey, Echoes: The Complete History Of Pink Floyd, p. 1959, accessed via Google Books
27 Portsmouth Guild Hall "Dance of Words" event, proceeds to Campaign for Advancement of Civil Liberties & Release: (poets), Pete Brown's Poetry Band, Adrian Henri, Adrian Mitchell, Brian Patten, Spike Hawkins; (music) Alexis Korner, Fairport Convention, Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Exploding Galaxy, and JP 
== June ==
3 Royal Festival Hall: Tyrannosaurus Rex and Roy Harper, with Stefan Grossman and David Bowie supporting ("Vibrations by John Peel") IT 31 back cover ad
3 Middle Earth: King Ida's Watch Chain, The Battered Ornaments 
15 Birmingham University: Tyrannosaurus Rex 
17 City Memorial Hall, Sheffield: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Liverpool Scene 
23 Mothers, Birmingham: Tyrannosaurus Rex – advertised, but club didn’t open until 9 Aug [36]
28 Hastings College: "all-nighter": P.P. Arnold, Tim Rose, Skatalites 
29 Hyde Park free concert: Pink Floyd, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Roy Harper, Jethro Tull 
== July ==
5 Railway Institute, York: Benefit for York Minster Fund. Status Quo, Alexis Korner, Fairport Convention, Eclection, Blonde On Blonde, Edison's Phonograph, Angel's Pavement 
7 Melody Maker Woburn Festival (compared by John Peel on Sunday): Donovan, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Champion Jack Dupree, Tim Rose, The Taste, Duster Bennett 
17 Southport Pier: Traffic, Family, Spooky Tooth 
28 Swiss Cottage Odeon: Ustad Vilayat Khan 
== August ==
4 Opposite Lock, Birmingham: Principal Edwards Magic Theatre 
9 Roundhouse, "A Freak Show" in aid of community charities: Family, Action, Deviants, Eclection, East Of Eden 
11 8th National Blues Festival], Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury: Traffic, Spencer Davis, John Mayall, Fairport Convention, Chicken Shack, Jethro Tull, Dynaflow Blues, Tramline 
31 Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds: Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, "Guff" Putkowski - appears to clash with event below
31 to 1 Sept: Isle Of Wight festival, Godshill ("The complete festival will be compered by John Peel"): The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Jefferson Airplane, The Move, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Fairport Convention, Aynsley Dunbar, Retaliation, Pretty Things, Plastic Penny, Orange Bicycle, The Mirage, Blonde On Blonde 
== September ==
1 Isle Of Wight festival continues 
1-2 Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcs.: Bank Holiday Bluesology Festival. [[Geno Washington, John Mayall, Cliff Bennett, Joe Cocker, Duster Bennett, Jasper Stubbs, The Passion Forest, Fleetwood Mac, Move, and others. (Peel billed as "resident DJ" but may only have attended this event on Tuesday 2nd, if at all)
6 ABC Cinema, Edinburgh: "Traffic and John Peel top the package" (seems to conflict with first night of event below)
6-7 Roundhouse: Doors and Jefferson Airplane (JP not listed in ad but said to have compered this legendary event Clive Selwood, All The Moves (But None Of The Kicks) p. 85. A review of one of the concerts in Melody Maker mentions Jeff Dexter and Pete Drummond playing records before the bands appeared.) 
7-8 First National Blues Convention at Conway Hall: Alexis Korner, Champion Jack Dupree, Davy Graham, Dynaflow Blues, Stefan Grossman & others. Recitals by John Peel, Paul Oliver, Albert McCarthy & others 
15 Mothers, Birmingham: Tyrannosaurus Rex ("make it to Mothers!") 
28 Mothers, Birmingham: Keef Hartley, East Of Eden [55](and/or, presumably earlier, Bandstand, Hyde Park, London: Roy Harper, Action, Move, Strawbs, Clouds, Pete Brown ) 
29 Croydon, Fairfield Hall: Jethro Tull, Eclection, David Ackles, Alan Price Set, Spooky Tooth, Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity 
== October ==
2 St. Paul's Cathedral, London; "Pop Experience": Scaffold, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, Grapefruit 
5 Mothers, Birmingham: Eclection, Ron Geesin [57]
6 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Tea & Symphony, Jo-Ann Kelly (see venue page for details)
unknown Moseley and Balsall Heath Institute, Birmingham: Roy Harper, Gods. Benefit for Birmingham Arts Lab; Peel says he attended this gig "earlier this week" on the show of 20 October 1968
16 Union Ballroom, Newcastle University: JP tops billing; "John Peel...who will compere an informal evening with Eclection and Gordon Smith" Mentioned on show of 20 October 1968
18 Lanchester College of Technology, Coventry: Savoy Brown, Alexis Korner, Pete Brown's Battered Ornaments, Jo-Ann Kelly (IT 41, p.20)
20 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Eclection (see venue page for details)
22 Lanchester College, Coventry: Blues with Savoy Brown, Alexis Korner, Pete Brown's Battered Ornaments, John Peel, Jo-Ann Kelly – check against previous listings
25 Great Hall, Aston University, Birmingham: Benefit for the Birmingham Arts Lab, with Joe Cocker, Tim Hollier and the Foresters (Forest?). Mentioned on show of 20 October 1968.
== November ==
2 London School of Economics: Chicken Shack, Blonde On Blonde, John Peel, Occasional Word Ensemble 
3 Mothers, Birmingham: Joe Cocker - note, clashes with well-documented date below. Melody Maker listing of gig has no mention of Peel.
3 Boat Club, Nottingham: Bakerloo Blues Line 
5 Royal Albert Hall: Pentangle 
unknown Loughborough University: Peel says he was there "earlier in the week" on show of 10 November 1968
9 Roundhouse: Deviants, Led Zeppelin 
10 Guildford, Civic Hall: Fairport Convention, Roy Harper, Barclay James Harvest, Bridget St. John, Third Ear Band, Ron Geesin, Tim Hollier, compere John Peel (benefit concert for The Whole, Guildford Arts Lab.) Mentioned on show of 10 November 1968.
15 Liverpool School of Architecture, Liverpool: Skip Bifferty, Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera. Mentioned on show of 10 November 1968. 
17 Mothers, Birmingham: Family [62]
23 Middle Earth presents at the Roundhouse: Juniors Eyes, Writing On The Wall, Arcadium, The Gun, Auriel, Sleepy 10.30-Dawn. Introduced by John Peel. Environment by John Masara. Jeff Dexter. "A night for the groovers" 
24 Mothers, Birmingham: Jethro Tull 
25/26 Royal Albert Hall: Cream (farewell concerts) ("And John Peel was quite comical....") 
== December ==
6 Brunel University, Acton, W.3: John Peel with guests Tea And Symphony 
9 Royal Festival Hall: "The Arts And Censorship - A Gala Evening of Depravity And Corruption". Event presented by National Council For Civil Liberties with help from others including the Beatles' Apple. Peel listed among many actors, writers and musicians; other names from the music scene include Scaffold, George Melly, Cornelius Cardew and the Grateful Dead (who certainly weren't present in person) 
14 Middle Earth presents at the Roundhouse: Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, Uriel, sitar master Pandit Trika, Third Ear Band, Radha Krishna Temple 
15 Mothers, Birmingham: The Nice 
15 All Saints Hall, Powis Gardens, London: "Brave New Departures Revisited", John Peel compering mixed-media event with Alexis Korner, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ron Geesin, Mike Horovitz, Pete Brown, Bruce Lacey, Third Ear Band, Brian Patten, Cornelius Cardew, Richard Neville & others - all-day event, so may not have clashed with date above.
19 Country Club, Haverstock Hill, London "John Peel plus poets, groups, singers" Principal Edwards Magic Theatre and Dogs (ex-Sam Gopal) 
22 Mothers, Birmingham: Ten Years After 
24 Mothers, Birmingham: Family, Action 
26 Mothers, Birmingham: Chicken Shack, Tea & Symphony - not listed in "Mothers, Home Of Good Sounds, 1968-1971 (Kevin Duffy)
27 Middle Earth: Special Christmas show with John Peel 
28 Middle Earth: Special Christmas show with John Peel With Barclay James Harvest, Uriel 
30 Marquee Club, London: Charity function in aid of National Advertising Benevolent Society, with "a host of top deejays and pop attractions", among them JP, Ed Stewart and Dave Cash.
31 Mothers, Birmingham: Jethro Tull, Savoy Brown, Bakerloo Blues Line 
== Notes ==
Category:1968
Category:Gigography