Always somewhere to head for a good time, 'The Vegas of South London' Tooting SW17 was absolutely the go-to hotspot for live music and top-notch performances over a 25 year period from after the War to the mid-70s. With a host of raucous pubs, some outstanding concert halls and a lively populace, thirsty for entertainment - make no mistake, this was Saturday Night Central. Discover the venues, hear the stories, tread the streets and relive the sounds on this extraordinary Tour as Geoff and Call Me Fred illuminate this glorious period, bringing you a unique party-on-the-street experience that should not be missed!
This corner of Wandsworth has an astonishing musical heritage... Marc Bolan, Sadie Crawford, M.I.A., Dennis Bovell and the reggae superstars at TMC Studios, Girlschool, Harry Lauder, Boney M, Mad Professor, Status Quo, Mud, UK Subs! And then there's the incredible Tooting Granada whose extraordinary roll-call of star performers is surely worthy of a blue plaque! Unbelievably, last year it was 70 years since Frank Sinatra alighted here on the opening date of his first UK Tour! Unbelievably on one night, Little Richard 'The man who invented rock and roll' performed on the same bill as Sam Cooke 'The King of Soul'. But perhaps no story resonates more than 1st June 1963, the night The Beatles accompanied by Roy Orbison and Gerry and The Pacemakers kicked off the swinging sixties when they came to play The Granada and crashed out in Trevelyan Road!
From the Wimpy Bar where Marc Bolan flipped burgers to the TMC recording studio beloved by some of the biggest names in reggae and where Dennis Bovell first heard Janet Kay and the seeds of lovers rock were planted on Mitcham Road. From the salon where Charlie Harper 'The Godfather of Punk' worked as a hairdresser to the pub where Status Quo developed their heads-down stance. Hear about Charlie Watkins, the Tooting Market stall-holder whose ear-splitting amps powered The Stones in Hyde Park. Discover the Tooting Tamil connection to the Grammy-winning soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire!
Geoff Simmons runs a community history project in south west London called Summerstown182 alongside his job as a graphic designer. This involves Guided Walks and Talks, working with schools and putting up plaques. Over the last ten years a trail of these have emerged along the Wandle Valley, shining a light on some of the lesser-known history in this area. They range from the youngest soldier to serve this country in the First World War to a ground-breaking plaque acknowledging Romany Gypsy and Traveller heritage in Wandsworth. 'Planet Tooting' is an ongoing initiative championing the outstanding migrant contribution to our neighbourhood which resulted in a blue plaque on Tooting Market. Have a look on Geoff's blog for more details or follow @summerstown182 on twitter.
