Boston’s Gliderdrome dates back to the 1930s when it was nothing more than a roofless roller skating rink. It then gained itself a roof in the early 1940s, at which point dances were introduced after skating sessions and often featuring top artists who were stationed in the area during WW2.
Dances became very popular post war as they were in most towns and cities (think Mansfield Palais in Peterborough) but all was brought to an abrupt end in May 1959 when the original building burnt down. Undeterred, the owners rapidly rebuilt the venue which re-opened just eight months after the fire, this time with a 100% focus on providing a dance venue and business as usual was quickly re-established.
The Gliderdrome saw a slow but steady migration from big band performers to the more in demand rock’n’rollers as was the case across most of the country with the likes of Britain’s Rory “Shakes” Blackwell providing a new form of entertainment by the early 1960s as he did in Peterborough.
In late 1963 with live “beat” bands now being where it was at, the Gliderdrome built an extension known as The Starlight Room which opened in late 1964 and served up a stage, a huge dance floor and multi-level seating all round. In keeping with its name, the new room had a ceiling awash with “star lights” while the stage itself was a revolving stage with a divider that allowed one band to play stage front while another band set up round the back ready to be “rotated” into the show later !
With big crowds and big revenues, the venue became an instant “must visit” for top touring bands. As a result, typical Saturday afternoon’s would see the Market Place in Boston rammed full of coaches as music fans travelled in from all around, including Peterborough where neither the Corn Exchange nor Palais could match the size and pulling power of the Gliderdrome.
Unlike most other venues in the area, the Gliderdrome continued bringing in the top artists throughout the late 1960s and even into the 1970s, playing host to early Glam acts such as T Rex, Slade, Sweet before finally closing in 1973 after repeated issues with damage at and after shows.
The venue has tried many resurrections as a live venue without great success but it still stands today and is starting to pull in the crowds again for tribute bands, many replicating the very acts that starred at the venue in its heyday, and there seems to be a real appetite to relive days gone by !
Below is a reasonably comprehensive list of the A-List bands who played The Starlight Room in the 1960s/1970s and I offer huge thanks and respect to Dave Peatling for his help with this, without which it would have been impossible to include this information on the site. If you are lucky enough to find Dave’s long out of print 2003 book dedicated to the venue, “Goin’ To The Dance” then snap it up …… you may need £100 plus however !
Note: All of the dates below have now been added to our Artist A-Z pages where you can also find plenty of supporting images.
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THE GLIDERDROME
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1960 …..
October 21 Craig Douglas
December 9 Terry Dene
1961 …..
February 25 Dave Clark
March 25 Eden Kane
June 24 Mike Berry
July 1 Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
July 22 Sounds Incorporated
September 28 Karl Denver Trio
October 28 Craig Douglas
November 18 Wee Willie Harris
1962 …..
January 6 Mike Berry
January 13 Karl Denver Trio
January 20 Eden Kane
March 3 Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
March 10 Bert Weedon
April 7 John Barry Seven
July 21 Tommy Bruce and the Bruisers
September 15 Emile Ford and the Checkmates
September 29 Mike Sarne
October 13 Bert Weedon
October 20 John Barry Seven
October 27 The Tornados
November 3 Jet Harris (ex-Shadows)
November 17 Craig Harris
December 8 The Vernons Girls
December 15 Sounds Incorporated
Christmas Eve The Tornados
December 29 Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
1963 …..
January 19 Duke D’mond and the Baron Knights
January 26 Jimmy Justice
February 16 Marty Wilde and the Wildcats
February 23 Tommy Bruce and the Bruisers
March 16 Craig Douglas
March 23 Karl Denver Trio
April 13 Joe Brown and the Bruvvers
May 18 Freddie and the Dreamers
July 5 Duke D’mond and the Baron Knights
August 23 The Baron Knights (featuring Duke D’mond)
October 26 The Caravelles
November 9 The Fortunes
November 16 Johnny Burnette
1964 …..
February 1 Marty Wilde and the Wildcats + The John Barry Seven
February 15 The Undertakers
March 21 John Leyton
March 28 The Liverbirds
April 11 The Undertakers
May 16 Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames
May 23 Tony Orlando
Note: the period between the end of May and November was filled by local groups
November 7 Mike Berry
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THE STARLIGHT ROOM
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November 19 Heinz and the Wildboys
November 21 The Animals
November 28 Brenda Lee
December 5 The Merseybeats
1965 …..
January 2 Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas
January 23 Janice Nicholls
February 6 The Zombies
February 13 The Searchers
February 27 Cathy McGowan
March 6 The Merseybeats
March 20 The Kinks
April 3 The Barron Knights
April 10 Zoot Money and his Big Roll Band
April 17 Tom Jones
April 24 Twinkle
May 1 P J Proby
May 22 The Fourmost
May 29 The Hollies
June 5 The Walker Brothers
June 19 The Yardbirds
June 26 Them
July 3 Dave Berry and the Cruisers
July 31 Sugar Pie Desanto and The Chevelles
August 14 Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
August 21 The Walker Brothers
August 28 Lulu and the Luvvers
September 4 Donovan
September 11 The Alan Price Set
September 18 The Nashville Teens
September 25 Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
October 2 Billy Fury
October 9 The Small Faces
October 16 Tom Jones and the Squires
Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers
October 22 Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
October 30 The Kinks
November 6 The Walker Brothers
November 20 The Barron Knights
November 27 Sandie Shaw
December 4 Heinz and the Wild Boys
December 11 The Rockin’ Berries
December 18 Herman’s Hermits
1966 …..
January 1 The Nashville Teens
January 8 Chris Andrews
January 15 Dusty Springfield
February 5 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
February 19 The Fortunes
February 26 The Who
March 5 Dave Berry and the Cruisers
March 19 Freddie and the Dreamers
March 26 The Searchers
April 2 Gerry and the Pacemakers
April 9 Manfred Mann
April 23 Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
April 30 Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours
May 28 Tony Rivers and the Castaways
June 4 Keith Powell and Billie Davis
June 18 The Merseys
June 25 Crispian St Peters
July 2 Roy C + Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
July 9 The Fortunes + Clarence (Frogman) Henry
July 16 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
July 23 Paul and Barry Ryan
July 30 The Troggs
August 6 Joe Tex
August 13 David Bowie & The Buzz
August 27 Small Faces
September 3 The Move
September 10 Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band + The Vibrations (USA)
September 17 Otis Redding and his American Band + Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds
September 24 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds + Tony Rivers and the Castaways + Screamin’ Lord Sutch and the Savages
October 1 Freddie and the Dreamers
October 22 The Merseys + Lee Dorsey
October 29 Alvin Robinson (from America)
November 5 Billy Fury
November 12 The Rockin’ Berries
November 19 Lee Dorsey
November 26 The Original Coasters (from America)
December 3 Nepenthe and the Subterraneans (from America)
December 10 The Orlons (girls’ group from America) + Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
December 31 The Spellbinders (girls’ group from America)
1967 …..
January 7 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds + Soul Sisters (from America)
January 14 Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band
January 28 Small Faces + Edwin Starr
February 11 Spencer Davis Group
February 25 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
March 4 Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds + Edwin Starr and band
March 11 Lee Dorsey
March 25 The Jimi Hendrix Experience
April 1 Ben E King
April 8 Mary Wells and band (from America)
April 15 Soul Sisters and band (from America)
April 22 P P Arnold and band
May 20 Denny Laine (ex-Moody Blues) and his String Band
May 27 Clyde McPhatter (from America)
June 10 Manfred Mann + Edwin Starr
June 17 John Walker (first British solo appearance)
June 24 Alan Price Set
July 1 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
July 8 The Original Drifters (from America)
July 15 Sam and Bill (from America)
July 22 The Jeff Beck Group + The Equals
July 29 Garnett Mimms (from America) + The Clockwork Orange
September 2 The Temptations (from America)
September 9 James and Bobby Purify and band (from America)
September 16 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
September 23 Garnett Mimms – The Marmalade
September 30 The Original Drifters
October 7 The Duane Eddy Show
October 14 The Tages (from Sweden)
October 21 Stevie Wonder
October 28 The Original Drifters + The Ferris Wheel with Diane Ferris
November 11 The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
November 25 Traffic + Diane Ferris
December 2 Joe Tex and his all-American band
December 9 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
December 16 The Foundations
December 23 Diane Ferris
December 30 Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band
1968 …..
January 6 The Tremeloes
January 13 Bob Miller and his Millermen
January 27 Procol Harum
February 3 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
February 10 The Freddy Mack Show
February 17 Amen Corner
February 24 The Herd
March 2 The Fantastics (from America)
March 9 Tim Rose and the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
March 16 The Original Drifters
March 23 Simon Dupree and the Big Sound
April 6 Tony Rivers and the Castaways
April 20 The Ike & Tina Turner Show (with 10-piece American band)
June 8 The Equals
June 15 Lee Hawkins Group
June 29 The Platters and band (from America)
August 3 Lee Hawkins Group
August 17 The Ronettes and band (from America)
August 31 Ben E King
September 7 The Nice
September 14 Amen Corner
September 21 The Move
October 5 The Original Drifters
October 12 The Equals
October 19 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
October 26 The Felice Taylor Show
November 2 The Soul Brothers (from America)
November 9 John Lee Hooker and band (from America)
November 23 The Ferris Wheel
November 30 Love Affair
December 7 Amen Corner
December 21 Status Quo
December 28 The Nice
1969 …..
January 4 The Bandwagon
January 18 Billy (‘Fat Boy’) Stewart – from America
February 1 The Nice
February 15 The Smythe Brothers (from America)
April 5 Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
April 12 Chicken Shack
May 10 The Original Drifters
May 17 Cupid’s Inspiration
July 5 The Platters (from America)
July 19 The Marmalade
August 9 The Equals
September 6 The Move
September 13 The Herd
September 20 Desmond Dekker and Band
September 27 The Nice
October 4 Amen Corner – final appearance
October 18 The Original Drifters
October 25 The Lovin’ Spoonful (from America)
November 8 Inez and Charlie Foxx and band (from America)
November 15 The Platters
1970 …..
January 17 The Tremeloes
January 31 Badfinger
February 14 Marmalade
February 28 Carla Thomas (America’s Queen of Soul)
March 7 Edison Lighthouse
March 21 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
March 28 Junior Walker and the All-stars
April 4 The Love Affair
April 11 The Equals
April 25 Bob and Marcia
May 23 Vanity Fair
May 30 Bob and Marcia
June 13 The Tremeloes
June 20 Jimmy Ruffin
June 27 Carla Thomas
July 18 Christie
July 25 Mungo Jerry
August 1 Nicky Thomas
August 15 The Free
August 22 The Equals
August 29 Status Quo + Love Affair
September 26 Emerson, Lake & Palmer
October 10 Ginger Baker’s Airforce
October 17 Family
October 24 Picketywitch
November 7 The Strawbs
November 28 Yes
December 5 Matthews Southern Comfort
1971 …..
January 2 East of Eden
January 9 Strawbs
March 20 Lindisfarne
April 10 Strawbs
April 17 Paper Lace
June 12 Lindisfarne
July 3 T Rex
July 10 Bob and Marcia
August 7 The Sweet
August 21 Supertramp
September 4 The Equals
September 18 Lindisfarne
September 25 Curved Air
October 2 The Elgins (from America)
October 9 Dawn, featuring Tony Orlando (from America)
October 23 Desmond Dekker and the Aces
November 6 Hot Chocolate
November 20 Slade
November 27 Jimmy James and the Vagabonds
December 4 Hawkwind
1972 …..
January 8 Quiver
January 15 T Rex
January 29 Yes
February 5 Curved Air
April 1 Steeleye Span
April 22 Mott The Hoople
June 2 Chicory Tip
June 24 Dave Lee Travis
July 1 Mac & Katie Kissoon (from America)
July 8 The Equals
July 15 Raving Rupert (Britain’s Elvis Presley)
July 29 Flamin’ Groovies (Rock and roll band from San Francisco)
August 12 Screamin’ Lord Sutch and the New Savages
August 19 U F O
August 26 Gary Glitter
September 16 Bruce Ruffin
September 30 Raving Rupert
October 7 The Strawbs
October 21 Blackfoot Sue
December 16 Gary Glitter
1973 …..
February 17 Thin Lizzy
February 24 Elton John
March 3 Wizzard
March 17 Stone The Crows featuring Maggie Bell
March 31 Electric Light Orchestra
April 7 Gary Glitter
April 21 Curved Air
April 28 Johnny Slade Show – last show before dances stopped