British Blues – Early British Blues Clubs – Club a’Gogo

Club a’Gogo, Newcastle

Here are details of the Club a’Gogo which featured in the early British blues Scene, including the artists and bands that performed there and some details on ‘whatever happened to …’, plus readers memories of attending the club.

Club a’Gogo was a Newcastle upon Tyne nightspot back in the 1960’s. Created by entrepreneur Mike Jeffery (who later managed The Animals) the club was situated in Percy Street, not too far from the famous football ground, St James’ Park. A narrow doorway led you up a couple of flights of stairs (the club was above the Corporation Bus canteen) where there were two rooms. On the left was the Young Set and on the right, the supposedly more sophisticated Jazz Lounge.

Percy Street

History of the Club a’Gogo

During the mid sixties, Newcastle’s Club A’Gogo was one of the top music venues in the North East. The ‘Gogo’ was to Newcastle what the Marquee club was to London. It is fondly remembered by club goers and musicians alike – people like Eric Burdon, Brian Ferry and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson. But unlike the Marquee, there is very little information about the Club A’Gogo on the internet [actually not correct – see Internet links below]. There are, of course, many references to the Animals being the resident band at the club in the early sixties. The Animals also recorded a live album at the Gogo and even wrote a song about the place.

The Club a’Gogo has become an important part of Newcastle’s musical heritage. The club is probably best remembered for the few years between 1964 and 1967 when iconic British and American blues, rock and soul acts regularly appeared there; acts such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, the Rolling Stones, Spencer Davis, Wilson Picket and Ike & Tina Turner.

The Club a’Gogo didn’t start its life as a venue for blues and rock bands. Although it opened up in the early sixties when Rock and Roll was becoming popular in the UK, the first music played there was a rollover from the previous decade – jazz.

Source: Extract from Ready Steady Gone – gigging in the North East 1965-72 (a very detailed history and memories of the club)

Artists and Bands

Names that graced the stage included the Animals, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Rolling Stones, Captain Beefheart, Geno Washington, Alex Harvey, the Who, John Mayall, Cream, Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.

Memorabilia

Memories

See Internet links below.

If you have memories of the Club a’Gogo and would like to share them here, please email alan@earlyblues.com .

Current Initiatives

The Club a’Gogo & Downbeat Club now have a number of intitiatives, here are their details:

Club a’Gogo Events

We run events in the North East based on the most recent music and cultural history of Newcastle. Our Club a’Gogo nights are based on the original 60s Club a’Gogo and our members are original 60s Mod, revival mods and those who love good 60s music. All are welcome and our age range is from 18 to late 70s. There are not many clubs that are cross generational like ours and we feel we provide a venue for all generations to meet up, dance and socialise.

Club a’Gogo Heritage Walks and Plaque

We also run Club a’Gogo heritage walks. The Club a’Gogo walks take visitors around the sites of the 1950s Jazz scene and later the 1960s music scene, where The Animals and Jimi Hendix started their careers. The Club a’Gogo tour ends at the site of the Club a’Gogo where they will see the heritage plaque for the club which we successfully lobbied Newcastle Council for. We feel this is an excellent way to promote Newcastle’s more recent cultural and musical heritage. We also publish our own magazine ‘The Downbeat’ and we are writing a book on the Club a’Gogo which will be published to coincide with the plaque unveiling.

Club a ‘Gogo Exhibition

And finally we are planning a Club a’Gogo exhibition for 2023. If you would like any further information we are happy to provide.

For all the latest information check out The link below.

https://www.clubagogo.co.uk/

Reunions

A reunion took place in 2011.