Cosmo Club
Harraby, Carlisle

Huge club that I believe was converted into a furniture warehouse but has now been torn down.

In the late sixties the club was a regular gig for Manchester bands - making their way through the Lake District towns in the days before the M6.

Dodging the caravan set in the summer and battling the snow over the Shap in the winter.

Memories:

Two of the guys in the band were too broke to spend the night in digs and had to spend the night in the van. It gets mighty cold in Carlisle and the van loses its heat in a very short time. Poor buggers had to get up and play football to keep warm. It must have been cold - the Hammond froze up in the van overnight and we couldn't get it started at the gig"

The club had a large stage with a seating area behind it. I split my stage pants and wasn't wearing underpants. I had my bum showing for the rest of the spot.

At the time, the club was still very much into live music. The support band - also from Manchester - hadn't made it so the manager immediately got in a local band - he would have been lynched if he had used a dj.

Paul Mlynarz
Phoenix City Smash

Just to say that we did the gig as postedon the right for "Mud" on the sunday night, it was just before we went on tour with them.

They had this huge pa system that the had just bought off The Nice - which looked like two blocks of flats either side of the stage.

They had just gone to number one with Tiger Feet. What a fantastic night, for they were great entertainers, great memories and nice people to be around,thanks again for all your work paul, its greatly appreciated.

Mick
Pepper Tree

I was the managing director, and did most of the running of the club, including booking all the groups and making them comfortable when they arrived to do their 2x1 or 2x45 spots.

We had great times, we got most groups thu' the Derek Mack Agency in Warrington + Stuart Littlewood - where are those guys now?

I moved to Spain for 10 years and spent acres of time in the States. My body is well retired now, but my mind is still alive with the great sounds of the Cosmo era.

Hoping that some of the boys will touch base with me.

Les Leighton

Derek Mack was actually Derek McCulloch and the agency in Warrington was SLA Enterprises which he ran with Tony Hayes.  Derek now has a bar on Feurto Ventura called "The Rogues Gallery" (there is a website for the bar and a contact email for Derek) Tony is still booking acts from his home in Rochdale.

Alan Mills (Pepper Tree)
18/3/09

I remember the first time we played at the Cosmos ... there was this big handsome guy getting out of a Lotus Europa.

I thought this guy is going to be hard work but Les was exactly the opposite. He was the most amiable character you could wish to meet.  He would bend over backwards to help you out - so long as you didn't take the Mick.

And his Club was quite simply the best venue in the North West. We played on the same stage with some great names - Jnr Walker and the All Stars, Sweet Marriage and even Mud before we started a Nationwide tour with them.

What made it more unique was that part of the audience was behind you and me playing drums, had some quite interesting conversations with the local and sometimes well travelled girls.  And also a bar underneath the stage.

I really hope Les is keeping well and would just like to thank him for some really great times. Les, go to Pepper Tree on Manchester Beat also catch us on Youtube - Pepper Tree AKA Ferret".

Best Wishes

Baz Duckworth
Drums, Pepper Tree
19/3/09

I remember going to the Cosmo Club in 1967 when learning to fly at Carlisle Airport. I was the first club I had ever been to - I was 18 at the time and still at school. On Sunday 2nd April '67 the Moody Blues were on the bill - a great night.

Robert Fisher
28/11/11

Worked behind the bar, behind the stage in 74/75. Saw Smokie, The Drifters & The Bay City Rollers. But the Young Farmers 'Do s' were by far the best!

Maurice Begg
23/3/12