Music of Cambridge

Given the history and importance of the University of Cambridge, the city of Cambridge has been relatively inactive in the development of British music. Prior to the 20th century, a number of important composers and conductors studied at the university, including Robert Fayrfax, Orlando Gibbons, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Charles Villiers Stanford, but most of their contributions occurred after they had left Cambridge. Nonetheless, the university has long been involved in the teaching of music, and probably the world’s first Bachelor of Music degree was awarded in 1464 to Henry Abyngdon, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal to Edward IV. The Cambridge University Music Society (CUMS) was formed in 1843. The study of music as a separate degree was not formalised until just after the Second World War, and the Faculty of Music was formed in 1947.

Outside of the university, things have been slower to develop, but since the Second World War, the city has developed its own music scene and hosts a number of venues and festivals of national importance.

The Cambridge Corn Exchange

The Cambridge Corn Exchange was built in 1874 as a commercial exchange, but its size lent itself as an alternative venue for concerts, including a performance by the London Symphony Orchestra in 1925. After the venue ceased to be used for commerce in 1965, it was converted for use as a venue for performances and has hosted many musical acts in the decades since.

In January 1972 Syd Barrett was in Cambridge jamming with a few friends. They managed to get a gig at the Corn Exchange on 27 January supporting the Pink Fairies and Hawkwind. They called themselves the Last Minute Put-Together Boogie Band. After that night, Syd, Jack Monck and John Alder (known as ‘Twink’ after the sachets of hair-perming lotion of that name thrown at him by girl fans) decided to call their band Stars. They then played at the Corn Exchange, first on 24 February supporting MC5, then on the 26th supporting Nektar. This was Syd’s final gig.

The Masonic Hall

The Masonic Hall, along the road from the Red Cow, was often hired out for private parties. In 1964/5 some friends from the Stretham area, near Ely, hired the hall for a small fee for a 60s-style rave. Those Without – Syd Barrett included – were there to play and the hosts brought with them a large quantity of local strawberries to hand out to whoever turned up to the party. Not surprisingly, a strawberry fight broke out with the result that everyone and everywhere was covered with squashed fruit by the end of the evening. Some believe this was the foundation stone for the Strawberry Fairs that started in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the building, a supporter of charitable causes, was destroyed in favour of a multi-storey car park as part of the Lion Yard redevelopment of the early 1970s. Gone forever were the oak-panelled walls and the spectacular ceiling with its celestial display of moons, stars and planets – a fascinating sight for any acid-tripping art student about to embark on the psychedelic era.

The Red Cow

Across Corn Exchange Street from the Corn Exchange was a pub called the Red Cow (now simply The Cow). The upstairs room was popular for jazz and blues gigs.

Dorothy Ballroom

This was on the site of what is now Waterstones bookshop on Sidney Street. Hosted The Who, The Hollies, Jimi Hendrix and Georgie Fame.

Pink Floyd

Formative members of the band Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gilmour all grew up and were educated in Cambridge. David Gilmour attended the Perse School and Syd Barrett and Roger Waters attended Cambridge High School for boys. Gilmour and Barrett both studied at Cambridge Technical College. Whilst in various bands, they played music together as friends, with Gilmour and Barrett going busking around Spain and France in 1965. Eventually, they moved to London. Roger Waters met Nick Mason at Architectural School, and Syd was hooked into the band, which went through several names until they settled on Pink Floyd – a conjunction of two blues singers, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Eventually, Syd Barrett dropped out of the band and David Gilmour was roped in as a replacement. Barrett continued as a solo artist, before retiring from music and moving back to Cambridge to live with his mother.Early footage can be seen of the band messing around in the Cherry Hinton chalk pit – The song 'Grantchester Meadows' is an explicit reference to the popular river-side fields, where people hang out during warmer months, spanning the distance between the suburb of Newnham and the village of Grantchester.

Strawberry Fair

Strawberry Fair has been held on Midsummer Common since 1974, on the first Saturday of June and is the longest-running free festival in the UK. History of the festival over the past few decades

The Soft Boys

In 1974 Robyn Hitchcock moved to Cambridge, where he did some busking, and joined a series of local bands: B.B. Blackberry and the Swelterettes, the Worst Fears, and Maureen and the Meatpackers. The band formed in 1976 in Cambridge as Dennis and the Experts comprising Robyn Hitchcock (guitar), Rob Lamb (half brother of radio host and author Charlie Gillett) guitar, Andy Metcalfe (bass), and Morris Windsor (drums), went on to become the Soft Boys. Alan Davies replaced Lamb after only four gigs late in 1976, and Kimberley Rew eventually replaced Davies. Matthew Seligman replaced Metcalfe in 1979.

West Road concert hall

The West Road concert hall is the venue for the Faculty of Music, Cambridge and hosts a variety of classical concerts by different orchestras, choirs and performers.

The Cambridge rave and techno scene

Meet point at Fountain Inn – 1989 ADI – Alternative Dance Indulgence -Grafton Hotel, Histon Football Club and Quy Mill Hotel Bliss and Protein at Kelsey Kerridge Hyperbolic, Cryptonite and Raindance The Peril Sound System – Davey, Baz, Ted and Paul Mad Al's bunker parties (89) DJ Cherokee Mist Love of Life – Kelsey Kerridge Eclipse – set up by Stuart Banks and his brother dave – Groove 2 promotions – Corn Exchange – May 1990 – June 1993 monthly ‘The Eclipse Outdoor Summer Dance Festival’ near Ely – a couple of events Dreamscape versus Eclipse – last party Kite High – Junction and boat parties Temptation – Kelsey Kerridge Clueless – Dan Gilbert/The Doctor, The Guru, Lulu (Louise...) Junction, house parties Section 47 – Q club, Grantchester Meadows – Ping Pong Chilford Hall – 'Tim's Wibbly Wobbly World' Life for Land – free parties Grantchester Meadows has been used for night-time parties by many different sound-systems over the years. Mr Whippy Po Na Na Uprizing – Trishna, Anna and Tom

Soul and jazz-funk scene in Cambridge

Mind your head

House music scene in Cambridge

Good Times Secret Sundaze – Giles Smith and James Priestley were schooled at the Perse and worked with Kristophe Hofford on promotions in London and elsewhere. Labour of Love – Alex Nichols, Largo Beiak, Le Jockey – Johny Davies Tim 'Love' Lee Groove Armada – Tom Findlay

The Junction venue

The Cambridge Junction was created in response to demonstrations by ravers at a lack of a dance venue in Cambridge and opened in 1990 on the site of the former cattle market. Good Times ran from 199. until 200 with DJs Paul Darking, Patrick Cavaliere, James Barrie and Hoppo. Warning was set up by Pete Edwards in 1995 and is the longest running drum and bass night in East Anglia. Clueless Rob Tinkler biography interview with Rob Junction 2 was added. And then Junction 3.

Drum and bass in Cambridge

Warning – Pete Edwards Run from 1995 onwards

Rock bands in Cambridge

The Bible was formed in 1985 in Cambridge, when former Great Divide frontman Boo Hewerdine teamed up with keyboard player/drummer Tony Shepherd (who'd played with jazz bands and drummed for Cambridge bands The Wobbly Jellies and Somewhere in the Foreign Office, the latter of which had featured future satirist Chris Morris on bass). Keltrix – Keri Kel, Sharon Sullivan Mana Maya – Tim Neate

Singer-songwriters in Cambridge

Ana Silvera went to school in Cambridge and has played gigs at West Road Concert Hall. Others include Will Robert, Sara Mitra, Steph Brown and Alice Walker.

James White (musician), also known for his activism, attended Long Road Sixth Form College before studying archaeology through the Institute of Continuing Education at the University of Cambridge. He now lives in the nearby town of Saffron Walden.

Acoustic Soul Sunday

Acoustic Soul Sunday was run by Sara Mitra, ex-Perse Girl and jazz singer at a couple of different venues – Clowns Cafe

UK hip-hop in Cambridge

Delegates of Culture – Inja (was part of Task Force) and Skuff, Axel Minet. Rawganics ran at the Junction in the 2000s. Word Association Taiko Rolls The Runaways The Nextmen Hip Hop conference in June 2016

Strawberries and Creem festival

In Haggis Farm. In 2015 featuring Skepta, Grandmaster Flash and General Levy. In 2016 on June 11th, featuring Nelly, Kano and David Rodigan

209radio

209radio was set up by Karl Harland at 209 Campkin Road in 2004. It hosted a variety of music shows, initially focusing on electronic music and then expanding. It moved to premises at the Howard Mallet Centre in 2007. It folded in 2009 after a crisis funding and the license was transferred to the Cambridge105 team.

Cambridge105

Cambridge105 broadcasts from a unit in Gwydir Street business park under its station manager Tim Willett.

See also

• Cambridge Corn Exchange

References

• http://www.i-spysydincambridge.com/assets/pdf/booklet-march2011.pdf

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