Medway scene

Medway scene is a term denoting bands and related cultural activities in the Medway Towns, north Kent, England. Main towns involved (from West to East) are Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Rainham.

History

Of Medway musicians, the best known is Billy Childish[1] (from Chatham) who formed punk band The Pop Rivets in the late 1970s, and later formed Thee Milkshakes, Thee Mighty Caesars, Thee Headcoats, The Buff Medways, The Musicians of the British Empire and The Chatham Singers, among others. His inspiration has led to many other bands forming who now have a worldwide cult following.[2] Other acclaimed bands have included The Prisoners, The Dentists, The Claim and Thee Headcoatees. The music often draws heavily on the tradition of garage/punk/rock'n roll/raw-blues-music from the 1950s and 1960s, hence references to the "Medway Delta".[3] Records have been released on Big Beat, Media Burn and other small indie labels, as well as Childish's own Hangman Records and Hangman's Daughter, and latterly Damaged Goods Records.[4]

There has also been an accompanying, though not so well known, poetry scene, started by The Medway Poets in the late 1970s; Childish was a member of this group. There is also a crossover into art with the Stuckists art group.

Bands

This list is incomplete

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Musicians

This list is incomplete'

See also

Selected discography

References

  1. ↑ webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk Billy Childish and the Medway Scene
  2. ↑ http://www.medway1.com/news/6734/Going-underground
  3. ↑ http://drownedinsound.com/releases/15940/reviews/4141942
  4. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/kent/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8280000/8280988.stm
  5. ↑ http://punkygibbon.co.uk/bands/a/armitageshanks.html
  6. ↑ http://punkygibbon.co.uk/bands/a/accursed.html
  7. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/1220808-Auntie-Vegetable
  8. ↑ http://www.detour-records.co.uk/bresslaws.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/595607-Bristols-The
  10. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/1280720-Chatham-Singers-The
  11. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/3405550-C-T-M-F
  12. ↑ http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/hang4up
  13. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/3806634-Graham-Day-The-Forefathers
  14. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/1026801-Graham-Day-The-Gaolers
  15. ↑ http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/appearances/the-discords
  16. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/2441164-Galileo-7-The
  17. ↑ http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/appearances/jack-ketch-and-the-crowmen
  18. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/986803-Len-Price-3-The
  19. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/1018903-Masonics-The
  20. ↑ http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/appearances/rocking-richard-and-whistling-vic-templar
  21. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/1132647-Singing-Loins-The
  22. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/artist/1291835-Solarflares-The
  23. ↑ http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/hang4up
  24. ↑ http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/hang25up