Just down the road from me was another great venue called the Astoria Ballroom, in Rawtenstall.

This was owned and managed by John Myerscough who then got his header bands from a agent in Southport called  Lewis Buckley, and the support bands John booked himself.

Regular top of the billers where The Who & Yardbirds (whom seem to be regular favourites) and there where many others: Sounds Incorporated, Honeycombs, Rockin Berries, Small Faces, Unit 4 plus 2, Brian Auger, Merseybeats, Maurauders, The Moody Blues (31.12.64 for the fee of £85), David John & The Mood,  and lots lots more – but he never got the Beatles or the Stones. 

Support bands included: Wynder K Frog (Mick Weaver) – never away from the place- Darwen Nr. Blackburn, Avalons (Colne), Warriors (Accrington and Jon Anderson of Yes fame – and the drummer of this band went on to play with Bob Dylan), The Electones (Blackburn), The Dappers (Accrington), The Swinging Hangmen (Haslingden), The Imps. 

The Astoria sadly was knocked down to make way for a close by dual carriageway, although there now a beautiful little park area on that very spot where Clapton and many others got their trade together (the park and plaque is quite close to the now Asda Supermarket store.

Great memories of The Astoria -- 'The Vincents' played the 'Astoria' on several occasions in the mid-'60s.

The venue attracted many of the headline acts of the period (see ads and flyers on the Rawtenstall blog) and 'The Vincents' played supporting major groups such as 'The Spencer Davis Group'(March 27th 1965) and others around this time.

Wonderful days and great memories.

Peter Royle
11/3/10