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A huge dance-hall with a sprung-floor, situated on the first floor of the CIS building. Quite atmospheric despite its size. Resident DJ for a time was local favourite Dave Eager, together with Pete Doyle and Peter Lee.
You name the act, they did the NCH - Small Faces, Bee-Gees, Hendrix (a very early Hendrix gig - Hey Joe had just entered the charts and he was top of the bill (only just) over Wrexham-based Opportunity Knocks soul band SILVERSTONE SET (with Andy Scott, later SWEET and Ted Yeadon, later LOVE AFFAIR)).
The venue was run by Kennedy Street, so the booking was always good - top bands on a very regular basis.
In 2004, the New Century Hall is once again the centre of the NW music scene! CLICK HERE for more info
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October, 1964
 30 Jan 1965
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"I can remember seeing queues right outside the building and round the corner to get in to see LIFE 'N' SOUL and, in the days prior to the Weights and Measures people getting involved with the agent London Attractions, seeing three of the FABULOUS TEMPTATIONS reappearing the very next week as THE INCREDIBLE ISLEY BROTHERS.
It was always my ambition to top the bill at the NCH which I first did on the Saturday between a mid-week Christmas and NYE (notoriously a dead night) with thick fog covering the north-west.
It took us over an hour to get four miles to the gig and, needless to say, the place was almost empty. A major disappointment in life.
The advert top left was another disappointment - Phoenix City Smash were double booked with the Staxx Club in Wythenshawe and replaced at NCH by a band called Penny Arcade."
Paul Mlynarz, Phoenix City Smash
"I can recall Lee Dorsey doing a wonderful set as also did Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, The Love Affair and Chuck Berry. The Bay City Rollers did their first ever gig outside Scotland at The New Century Hall."
Dave Eager
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Another great picture update from Graham Pilkington!
The rear of NCH - how many muso's got their gear up those steps?
I remember hanging round the back watching Amen Corner's gear come out. Of all the bands I saw, I wonder why them?
Many female site visitors may also remember this location - it was always busy when a name band was on. |
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"Used to go to the New Century Hall and other clubs between about '67 to '69. NCH mostly frequented by under 16's because it didn't have a drinks licence: the original teeny bopper place. Very much a soul music venue, and with its big floor, a forerunner of the Wigan Casino dance style.
Saw many great soul
acts, but always remember Pink Floyd (It was a big name band, sure it was the Floyd), completely miss booked. All the teeny boppers left the room in boredom and went to the soft drinks bar outside it,. Pink Floyd did the full "Head" performance, with a big drama smashing of the kit as the finale. The venue was full, but no one was interested, so they did all this to about 20 people left in the hall. Then the soul dj started again and everyone came back in. Quite amazing, but absolutely true.
I saw lots of good soul groups at the NCH, definitely the Platters, The Drifters, - I believe at least one of the "Drifters" we saw was genuine; they were our favourite, plus more contemporary soul acts"
David Lees
Used to hold a Monday night session with The Mockingbirds as resident band. Members included Graham Gouldman, who wrote many 60s hits for Manchester bands and formed 10cc.
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18 August 1967
"I was there!"
Although Life 'n' Soul were a local band, the queue to get in was the longest I can remember.
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In the late 1960s I saw Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band perform, on a Saturday evening I think. The times, however were a changin. Geno appeared in almost hippy gear and performed a rendition of John Lennon's Cold Turkey and not a great deal from his Marble Arch heyday. My girlfriend at the time Carol F, had blond feathered short hair. She had this great black PVC coat, pale lipstick, black mascara and wore black baggy trousers.
I think I had a green mohair suit and como plain toe shoes, hair was never that short but everyone looked like the Phoenix City band c1968. However, we were feeling our ages ie late teens as the teenyboppers, some probably 12-13 ages, in the other large disco had taken over, completely ignoring poor Geno, with a preference to theatrics to Funky Street by Arthur Conley etc.
Wonder what happened to Carol.
Warren Taylor |
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