OCEAN

Gigging in West Cumberland 1971-1972

Gig List

DateVenueLocationFee
1970
Band's original name was "Birth" with Kevin Dennis on bass
(and Kev Farish as roadie), but at some point in 1970 was changed to "Ocean".
17 NovBanklands Youth Club (supporting "Judas")Workington£12
27 NovPrincess HallWorkington£14
05 DecZebras RUFCWorkington£14
12 DecDean Street Hall (see photos on the main page)Workington£10
19 DecDungeon ClubPortinscale£10
26 DecDungeon ClubPortinscale£10
31 DecMirehouse Social ClubWhitehaven£16
1971
02 JanDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
15 JanHigh Duty Alloys ClubWorkington£15
16 JanRed's Social ClubWorkington£12
05 FebPrincess HallWorkington£14
06 FebAspatria RUFCAspatria£17
13 FebSun InnAspatria£15
18 FebRed's Social ClubWorkington£14
20 FebCivic HallWhitehaven£15
Now with Kev Farish on bass (after Kevin Dennis quits)
27 FebRed's Social ClubWorkington£14
05 MarThe Coach HouseBrampton£20
06 MarDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
12 MarFrizington Working Men's ClubFrizington£18
19 MarMarket HallWigton£16
27 MarNautical ClubBarrow£16
02 AprPrincess HallWorkington£14
03 AprBritish Legion ClubSeaton£16
10 AprDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
12 AprDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
18 AprMoss Bay Working Men's ClubWorkington£10
23 AprBritish Legion ClubBroughton£16
24 AprLido Club (supporting "Square Apple")Silloth£14
29 AprBR Staff Association ClubGillford Park, Carlisle£16
01 MayPublic Hall (supporting "Merlin")Barrow£18
02 MayGreenbank P&M ClubWhitehaven£16
08 MayTow Bar InnNethertown£16
15 MayDean Street HallWorkington£0
21 MayPrincess HallWorkington£14
27 MaySalterbeck SchoolWorkington£8
29 MayNautical ClubBarrow£18
31 MayPartonParton£18
05 JunLido Club (supporting "Heat")Silloth£14
11 JunPublic HallGosforth£15
20 JunMiner's WelfareSiddick£12
24 JunHigh Duty Alloys ClubWorkington£15
26 JunDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
28 JunDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
03 JulDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
06 JulDungeon ClubPortinscale£12
07 JulGrammar School (see photos on the main page)Workington£10
09 JulDungeon ClubPortinscale£14
12 JulThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
16 JulPrincess HallWorkington£14
17 JulMirehouse Social ClubWhitehaven£16
18 JulSt. Mary's CMSKells, Whitehaven£14
19 JulThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
23 JulEmbassy BallroomWindermere£25
24 JulNautical ClubBarrow£18
26 JulThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
30 JulDungeon ClubPortinscale£14
31 JulLido Club (supporting "Iron Claw")Silloth£14
01 AugVulcans Park (with "Deep Waters")Workington£10
02 AugThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
03 AugDungeon ClubPortinscale£14
06 AugDungeon ClubPortinscale£14
09 AugThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
16 AugThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
18 AugThe Cameo ClubWhitehaven£16
20 AugDungeon ClubPortinscale£14
21 AugNautical ClubBarrow£18
23 AugThe Mermaid PubWorkington£10
03 SepDungeon ClubPortinscale£14
04 SepLido Club (supporting "The Escorts")Silloth£14
01 OctPrincess HallWorkington£14
02 OctLido Club (supporting "Setchfield Browne")Silloth£14
03 Oct1The Mermaid PubWorkington£10
05 NovThe Market HallEgremont£18
06 NovLido Club (supporting "Bilboe Baggins Band")Silloth£17
11 NovRed's Social ClubWorkington£15
12 NovLabour ClubMaryport£18
19 NovWyndham SchoolEgremont£18
20 NovThe Matador PubWorkington£18
21 NovThe Mermaid PubWorkington£12
25 NovThe Welfare ClubClifton£8
04 DecNautical ClubBarrow£18
10 DecThe Welfare ClubClifton£9
11 DecWorking Men's ClubFrizington£16
27 DecLido Club (supporting "The Vybes")Silloth£17
31 DecGreenbank Guest HouseBarrow£20
1972
01 JanGreenbank Guest HouseBarrow£20
The band decided to take a break at this point, as all the members
were studying hard for looming "A-level" exams in the summer.
01 JulBritish Legion ClubLangholm£25
08 JulWyndham Caravan ClubCockermouth£14
09 JulMatador HotelWorkington£18
13 JulWhite Heather Club Talent Contest (we didn't win!)Kirkbrideno fee
29 JulWyndham Caravan ClubCockermouth£14
05 AugConservative ClubBarrow-in-Furness£20
11 AugRitz ClubMillom£25
18 AugWhite Heather Club (with "The Eden Tree")Kirkbride£25
24 AugHilltop HotelCarlisle£20
25 AugTowbar InnNethertown£20
26 AugWyndham Caravan ClubCockermouth£18
27 AugSun InnAspatria£20
03 SepKnights ClubMillom£25
This was the end of "Ocean" until a re-union gig in Feb 2014!

To put how much the band was paid for a gig in context, the average weekly wage in 1971 was around £35. This was a different era for local bands which were in high demand by the local pubs and clubs. Bands could easily play 3,4, or 5 nights a week, revisiting venues quite regularly.

The list of gigs is mostly due to Alex's fabled "exercise book" which, thankfully, he kept for all these years! Almost all of the gig details are contained therein, and I believe Alex's mum was responsible in no small way for the meticulous record keeping! Here's a few sample pages:

 
 
 

Other bands performing in the area at that time included:


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Page updated 04/10/23