The 1960’s Vibrant Leicester Music Scene Revealed in New Book

The story of the 1960’s arts and music scene in Leicester is being told in a new book by music and social history author and curator, Shaun Knapp. High Flying Around: Memories of the 1960s Leicester Music and Arts Scene (Volume II) reflects on one of the most remarkable decades in Leicester’s history.

The fascinating story of the city’s arts and music scene is told by the most important eyewitnesses social historians can ask for: the people that were there. Memories and reminiscences, most being told publicly for the first time, bring back to life the buildings long since demolished, the groups who packed out the venues and the people who filled the halls and clubs, dancing until the early hours of the morning.

Tony Weston, singer from the hugely popular and respected Leicester band, Hal C Blake, shares his fascinating observations on the decade.

Mick Pini tells us about his life playing the blues and his recollections about growing up in Leicester and the city’s music scene.

John Knapp, Robin Pizer and Kev Brady tell the story of Gypsy, a Leicester band who recorded two albums, appeared on Top of the Pops and supported Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Fleetwood Mac.

In a decade that witnessed so many changes for them, nine Leicester women discuss what life was like for them in the 1960s while Steve Chibnall looks at the impact that the universities and colleges had on the local music scene.

Leicester musician Kenny Wilson recalls Leicester’s underground music, poetry and political scene while Dr Emma Parker looks at the music that inspired playwright Joe Orton, including a fascinating link to the Beatles.

Stuart Langford tells the story of the Leicester Arts Lab and the 1969 free concerts while The White Swan, a pub in the Market Place, is the focus of an incredible chapter that explains how the likes of Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell performed there.

Joe Nixon focuses on the Leicester creatives who featured in his film, Moving in the Shadows, while singer-songwriter, Ryan Dunn, explains why the 1960s music scene is a major influence on his work. Finally, the book looks back at some of Leicester’s most memorable gigs and the incredible first hand stories associated with them.

For the author, the inspiration to write the book was the same as his previous publications. ‘I still find it astounding that some of the biggest names in contemporary music including The Who, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Elton John, all performed in some of Leicester’s smallest venues to audiences of a hundred people or less,’ said Shaun Knapp. ‘But that’s exactly what happened. Those iconic smaller venues though, which once pulsated to the sound of raw, live music are no more. They have either been demolished or been converted into something completely different. Today, people walk past these innocuous looking buildings on a daily basis, completely oblivious to their history and the exciting, positive impact they had on young people’s lives during the 1960s.’

High Flying Around volume II by Shaun Knapp is published by DB Publishing and costs £14.99.

There will be a book launch at the Exchange Bar, 50 Rutland Street, Leicester on Saturday November 8th between 2pm-4pm.

From November 10th, it will be available from the Museum Shop at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, New Walk, and via Amazon.