A blue heritage plaque is to be unveiled next week at the site of a legendary former Newcastle nightclub and music venue.
The Club a'Gogo which operated on the city's Percy Street, in the same building as the now-demolished Handyside Arcade, played host to some of popular music's biggest rising stars in the 1960s. Now, thanks to the efforts of husband and wife team, Paul and Jools Donnelly, the venue which closed its doors more than 50 years ago is to be honoured for its role as a major player in Newcastle's post-war cultural and leisure scene.
The couple, from Gateshead, have kept the Club a'Gogo name alive with events, a dedicated Facebook page, and radio programmes, and have campaigned long and hard for the former club to be awarded blue plaque status. Now, the plaque will be unveiled in a ceremony next week on Thursday, September 8, at 11am.
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Paul says: "The plaque will have a permanent place next to the entrance of Eldon Garden on Percy Street at the site of the original venue. We hope as many people as possible turn up to celebrate what was one of the city's most iconic music venues. Some incredible bands and acts played there and, along with the Handyside Arcade, it played an important role in Newcastle's 1960s history. Our planned Club a'Gogo heritage walks will end at the site of the plaque."
During the heyday of the Swinging Sixties, the Club a’Gogo was part of a thriving Newcastle scene which included La Dolce Vita, the Downbeat, Change Is, the Oxford, the Mayfair and the Cavendish. Situated on the second floor of the Handyside Arcade, it began life as a jazz club in July, 1962.
The new club's owner Mike Jefferey (who would go on to make quite a name for himself as 'Mr Newcastle' and a man with 'connections') told the Chronicle how a "record hostess would play discs" in one room, while the other was "strictly for jazz devotees". Punters could also play roulette and, if they fancied a bite to eat, enjoy "light snacks in the continental fashion, including hamburgers and infra-red steaks" into the early hours. It was all very new and exciting.
But the club soon gravitated from jazz towards newly burgeoning soul, R’n’B and rock music. An exciting Newcastle five-piece outfit, The Animals, became an early Club a’Gogo house band before finding fame and fortune, and the venue would go on to host to some of rock’s biggest emerging names. Pink Floyd, The Who, the Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, The Spencer Davis Group, Long John Baldry (featuring Rod Stewart), Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix, among others, all performed at the Percy Street venue.
The Club a’Gogo burned brightly but relatively briefly, closing its doors after just six years in 1968, before becoming a prize bingo for a while. The whole 1906-built building, including the Handyside Arcade was, to the despair of many, demolished in the late 1980s to make way for the new Eldon Garden shopping mall.
Also at the blue plaque unveiling will be the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Coun Karen Robinson, and two people with close links to the original club - Anne Wilson Cotton who was a keen member in its heyday, and Mike Grehan, son of Ray Grehan, a partner of the venue's owner, Mike Jefferey.
The Percy Street unveiling will be followed by a live event, just around the corner at Newcastle Labour Club on Leazes Park Road. There will food, refreshments, and music from Animals tribute band Animal Tracks. Tickets for the after party are priced £15 from here. Find out more about the Club a'Gogo & The Original 60s Mods on Paul and Jools' Facebook page here.
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