The Witch Doctor. 1964-1967

[stuhuggett]

(Research: Roger Bristow)

The Dolphin, Marine Court - opened 17 July 1964
and operated until 7 October 1967.
In 1968 the Club reopened as The Cobweb.

Here is a list of some artistes who were advertised to perform at the Witch Doctor
[this doesn't mean they actually turned up!]

18jul1964 Nashville Teens
plus Buddy Britton and The Regents
19jul1964 4 Plus 1
22jul1964 Troy Dante and the Infernos
1aug1964 The Avengers
and Buddy Britain and The Regents
2aug1964 John Lee's Ground Hogs
3aug1964 Mick Cadillac and The Playboys
5aug1964 Dave Curtis and The Tremors
7aug1964 Mal Ryder and The Spirits
8aug1964 Steve Marriotts Moments
plus Mal Ryder and the Spirits
9aug1964 The Limies [previously Tommy Bruce's Old Bruisers]
12aug1964 The Animals
[admission cost 8/6]
[photo: Hastings Observer 22aug1964 p4]
14aug1964 The Hustlers
15aug1964 Denys Satan and The Sabers
plus The Hustlers
16aug1964 John Best and The Challengers
19aug1964 Grant Tracy and The Sunsets
21aug1964 The Discs
22aug1964 The Habits
and The Mark Four
23aug1964 The Voodoos
26aug1964 Bern Elliott and his Clan
28aug1964 Dave Champion and The Strangers
29aug1964 Neil Landon and The Burnettes
and Dave Champion and The Strangers
30aug1964 Alexis Korner's Rhythym and Blues Inc,
featuring Herby Goins
2sep1964 Peters Faces
4sep1964 Denny Mitchell and The Soundsations
5sep1964 Joey James and the Bandits
plus The Talismen
6sep1964 Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
9sep1964 Steve Marriott's Moments
11sep1964 The Plus 4
with Erky Grant
12sep1964 Steve Marriott's Moment
plus The Alexandras
13sep1964 Victor Brox Blues Train
13sep1964 [Two weeks previously Georgie Fame had been advertised for this date, but not in the newspaper of 12sep]
16sep1964 Christians Crusaders
18sep1964 The Contrasts
19sep1964 The Knives and Forks
plus The Unit Four Plus One
20sep1964 The Knives and Forks
23sep1964 Peters Faces
25sep1964 Dave Dee and the Bostons
26sep1964 The Shamrocks and The Profiles
27sep1964 The Soul Agents
30sep1964 Lee Castle and The Barons
2oct1964 The Beat Merchants
3oct1964 The Voodoos
and The Beat Merchants
4oct1964 The Mark Four
7oct1964 [Little Richard was booked, firstly for 14oct and then for 7oct, but the show was cancelled; apparently he had pneumonia]
9oct1964 The Beat Chicks
10oct1964 The Sheerwoods
and The Talismen
11oct1964 Rhythm & Blues Incorporated
14oct1964 Johnny Mike and The Shades
16oct1964 Little Walter
17oct1964 The 4 Plus 1
plus The Second Thoughts
18oct1964 Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames
21oct1964 ["Top London and local groups."]
23oct1964 Shane and the Shane Gang
24oct1964 The Cresters
plus The Confederates
25oct1964 Victor Brox Blues Train
28oct1964 ["Top London and local groups."]
30oct1964 Dave Curtis and The Tremors
31oct1964 Miss Lorraine Grey
and Tony Dee and The Shakeouts
and Ray Cleveland's
1nov1964 Little Walter (with his own backing group)
plus The Johnny Hudson Four
4nov1964 ["Fab groups!"]
6nov1964 The Habits
7nov1964 G T Phillips and The Stormville Shakers
plus Annette and The Keymen
8nov1964 The Barbarians
with Prince Khan
11nov1964 The Showtimers
13nov1964 The Sinners with Linda Lane
14nov1964 The Wranglers
plus Dave Champion and The Strangers
15nov1964 The Herd
18nov1964 The Migil 5
20nov1964 The Five Embers
21nov1964 Playboys
with The Exblusive Outsiders
22nov1964 Long John Baldry
25nov1964 [Radio Caroline Show, featuring Chris Sandford and Gay Shingleton]
27nov1964 Shorty & Them
28nov1964 Trendsetters Ltd
plus Guy Dowell and the Midnighters
29nov1964 The Micky Finn
2dec1964 Lord Sutch and the Savages
4dec1964 Johnny Mike and The Shades
5dec1964 Brothers Grimm
plus Jonathan Cane & The Freemen
6dec1964 Ray Clevelands
9dec1964 ["First heat of our £300 beat contest. This week four groups competing."]
11dec1964 The Zephyrs
12dec1964 Johnny Mike & The Shades
plus The Outcasts
13dec1964 The Shevelles
16dec1964 The Silhouettes
18dec1964 Linda Lane & The Sinners
19dec1964 Christian's Crusaders
plus The Rockin' Eccentrics
20dec1964 The Meddy Evils
23dec1964 The Confederates
24dec1964 Steve Marriott's Moments
plus The Lonely Ones
26dec1964 [afternoon:] The Outcasts
[evening:] The Unit 4+1
with The Talismen
27dec1964 The Voodoos
30dec1964 The Merseybeats
31dec1964 John L Watson and The Hummelflugs
plus The Blues Creatures
1jan1965 The Migil 5
2jan1965 Shorty & Them
plus The Sapphires
3jan1965 The Mark 4
8jan1965 Dave Dee and The Bostons
9jan1965 The Puppets
plus The Dolphins
10jan1965 The Blues X5
13jan1965 Mr Acker Bilk and His Paramount Jazz Band
15jan1965 Wayne Dene and The Telstars
[Wayne Fontana had been advertised]
16jan1965 The Lancastrians
plus The Classmates
17jan1965 The Authentics
20jan1965 Terry Lightfoot's Jazz Men
22jan1965 John L Watson
and The Hummelflugs
23jan1965 The Wackers
plus Wayne Dene and The Telstars
24jan1965 The Peppermint Men
27jan1965 Alan Elsden's Jazz Band, featuring Mick Emery
29jan1965 The Plus Four
with Erky Grant
30jan1965 The Manish Boys "with Decca recording star Davy Jones"
plus The Classics
31jan1965 Jimmy Powell and the 5 Dimensions
5feb1965 The Denny Mitchell Soundsations
6feb1965 The Twilights
plus The Brothers Grimm
7feb1965 The Echoes ["Dustry Springfield's backing group"]
12feb1965 Kris Ryan and The Questions
13feb1965 The Panthers
plus The Exiles
14feb1965 The Graham Bond Organisation
19feb1965 Brian Poole and The Tremeloes
plus The Clouds
20feb1965 Tony Burns and The Niteshades
plus The Blue Cheaters
21feb1965 Voodoos
26feb1965 Peter's Faces
27feb1965 The Sunspots
and the Gunshots
28feb1965 The Mark 4
5mar1965 Dave Curtis & The Tremors
and The Lonely Ones
and The Talismen
6mar1965 George Bean and the Runners
plus Nature's Boys
7mar1965 Alan Haven and Tony Crombie [together?]
and The Talismen
12mar1965 The Fenmen
13mar1965 Guy Darrell and the Midnighters
with Jon Best and the Challengers
14mar1965 Johnny B Great and the Quotations
19mar1965 Sonny Childe and the Elders Consolidated
20mar1965 Christian's Crusaders
and Steve Marriott's Moments
21mar1965 The Barry Cash 5 + 2
24mar1965 The Humperdincks
26mar1965 John L Watson and the Hummelflugs
27mar1965 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
plus Denny Mitchell Soundsations
28mar1965 Zoot Money's Big Roll Band
2apr1965 Trendsetters Ltd
3apr1965 Unit Four Plus Two
plus The Fitz 'n' Startz
4apr1965 Stormsville Shakers
9apr1965 Boomerangs
10apr1965 John L Watson and the Hummelflugs
plus Dave Lee and The Rebounds
11apr1965 The Falling Leaves
16apr1965 The Echoes
17apr1965 The Washington D.C.'s
and The Shevelles
18apr1965 The Voodoos
19apr1965 John L Watson and the Hummelflugs
23apr1965 The Talismen
24apr1965 The Quiet Five
plus The Diamonds
25apr1965 Mike Cotton Sound
30apr1965 Them
supported by Lonely Ones
1may1965 Christian's Crusaders
plus The Prophets
2mar1965 The Mark Four
7may1965 The Mystics
8may1965 Johnny B Great and the Quotations
with The Equals
9may1965 Johnny B Great and the Quotations
14may1965 The Bad Boys
15may1965 Tony Rivers and The Castaways
plus The Eccentrics
16may1965 The Night-Timers
with Herbie Goins
21may1965 The Equals
22may1965 The Ram Jam Band, featuring Geno Washington
plus The Puppets
23may1965 The Herd
28may1965 The Blues Creatures
29may1965 Neil Langdon
and The Burnetts
plus The Concords
30may1965 The Downliners Sect
4jun1965 The Nashville Teens
and The Lonely Ones
5jun1965 Kris Ryan with the Questions
plus The Confederates
6jun1965 The Crowd
7jun1965 Trendsetters Limited
12jun1965 The Cannon Brothers
with The Shades
and Winston G and the Wicked
13jun1965 Johnny B Great and The Quotations
18jun1965 The Quiet Five
19jun1965 The Preachers
20jun1965 The Ram Jam Band, featuring Geno Washington
25jun1965 The Vultures
26jun1965 The Sons of Man
plus The Lonely Ones
27jun1965 [The Cathy McGowan Show]
2jul1965 The Defenders
3jul1965 The Fitz'n' Startz
plus Phase Five
4jul1965 The Mark Four
9jul1965 The Beat Six
16jul1965 The Moody Blues
plus The Lonely Ones
17jul1965 Davy Jones and The Lower Third
plus The Sultans
18jul1965 The Five of One
23jul1965 George Bean and The Runners
24jul1965 John-Lee and The Ground Hogs
plus The Sons of Fred
25jul1965 The Herd
30jul1965 The Beat Six
31jul1965 Blues + 5
and the Bubbles and Co
1aug1965 The Boomerangs
4aug1965 The Who
plus The Lonely Ones
6aug1965 Trendsetters
7aug1965 Sons of Man
plus Washington D.C.'s
8aug1965 The Ram Jam Band, with Geno Washington
14aug1965 Ray Anton and the Peppermint Men
plus Williams Conquerors
15aug1965 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
20aug1965 Trendsetters Ltd
21aug1965 The Meddy-Evils
plus The Equals
22aug1965 The Herd
27aug1965 The Rising Suns (formerly the Plus Four)
29aug1965 The Mark Four
28aug1965 The Beat Merchants
plus Chapter IV
29aug1965 The Mark Four
4sep1965 The Ides of March
plus The Group Survival
5sep1965 The Shelley
10sep1965 The Confederates
9oct1965 George Bean and The Runners
plus The Disciples
15oct1965 The Symbols
16oct1965 Felders Orioles
with Dave and The Strollers
19oct1965 [The Big Len Show]
22oct1965 Sons of Fred
23oct1965 Meddy Evils
plus Yes /n/ No
29oct1965 [Candleight Dance Time: seven-piece resident band]
30oct1965 The Nite People
and The Blues Syndicate
31oct1965 The Mark Four
5nov1965 [Candlelight Dance Time: Johnny Keene Septet]
6nov1965 Neill Landon and The Burnettes
plus The Sensational Nothings [or the "Nothings" ??]
13nov1965 Davey Sand and The Essex
plus the Defiants
20nov1965 The Herd
plus supporting group
27nov1965 The Lonely Ones
plus The Shelley
28nov1965 The Merseybeats
4dec1965 The Symbols
plus The Disciples
18dec1965 Ray Anton and the Peppermint Men
plus Paul Dean and the Soul Savages
24dec1965 Curtiss and Co
and The End
plus The Humperdinks
27dec1965 The Symbols
plus The Poor Boys
31dec1965 The Lonely Ones
plus Davey Sand and The Essex
plus The Humperdinks
1jan1966 Peter B's Looners
plus The Defiants
8jan1966 The Loose Ends
and The Web
15jan1966 The Mark Four
plus The Poor Boys
22jan1966 The Mirage
and The Chaquitos
29jan1966 All Things Bright
plus The Amboy Dukes
5feb1966 The Objects
and The Brethren
12feb1966 The Washington DC's , featuring Johnny Cannon
plus The Defenders
14feb1966 The Birds
19feb1966 The Anteeeks
with The Cellmates
26feb1966 Tony Rivers and The Castaways
plus The Blues Syndicate
5mar1966 The Symbols
plus The Blue Stars
11mar1966 [Grand Re-opening]
Anteeeks
12mar1966 The Gaylords
plus The Way
18mar1966 The Band of Angels
19mar1966 Davey Sand and The Essex
plus The Original Dyaks
25mar1966 ["Surprise group!"]
26mar1966 Anteeeks
plus The Sonics
1apr1966 Patrick Dane and the Club 69
and The Tony Charles Steel Band
2apr1966 The Herd
plus The Alex Lane Group
8apr1966 The Majority
9apr1966 The Mark Four
plus The Clockwork Oranges
10apr1966 The Loose Edns
15apr1966 The Epics
16apr1966 The Lonley Ones [sic]
22apr1966 Washington DC's
23apr1966 The Fenmen
plus The Web with Sandy Crawford
29apr1966 ["surprise group!"]
30apr1966 The Shelley
and The Defiants
6may1966 The Plain and Fancy
7may1966 The + Four
with Blue Stars
13may1966 Bryan Hug Fraternity
14may1966 Mark Four
plus The Beat Syndicate
20may1966 The Mike Stuart Span
21may1966 The Cops'n Robbers
"with their Accomplices" The Cellmates
27may1966 The Plus Four
28may1966 Washington D.C.s
and The Lonely Ones
29may1966 The 'In' Crowd
3jun1966 The Original Dyaks
4jun1966 The Herd
plus The Clockwork Oranges
6jun1966 Paddy, Klaus & Gibson
11jun1966 The Majority
plus The Nocturnal Soul Group
15jun1966 The Koobas
17jun1966 The End
18jun1966 The Loose Ends
25jun1966 The Riot Squad
plus The Poor Boys
2jul1966 The Quiet Five
plus The Alexanders
6jul1966 [Roy 'C' ??]
9jul1966 The Plain & Fancy
16jul1966 Tony Knight's Chessmen
plus King Bees
18jul1966 The Birds
23jul1966 Dave Anthony's Moods
plus Beat Syndicate
30jul1966 The Truth
6aug1966 The Gaylords
13aug1966 Davy Sands and The Essex
20aug1966 Felders Orioles
plus Yes 'N' No
27aug1966 Loose Ends
28aug1966 The Herd
3sep1966 Dave Bowie and the Buzz
10sep1966 The Gaylords
17sep1966 Herbies People
24sep1966 The Herd
1oct1966 The Lonely Ones
8oct1966 Loose Ends
15oct1966 The Majority
plus the Coloured Raisins
22oct1966 Paul and Ritchie and the Cryin' Shames
29oct1966 Downliners Sect
5nov1966 The Gaylords
19nov1966 M.I.5.
3dec1966 The Cymbaline
10dec1966 Phillip Goodhand-Tate
and the Stormsville Shakers
7jan1967 Davey Sands and The Essex
plus supporting group
14jan1967 The Herd
11feb1967 The Meantimers
and The Unloved
14feb1967 The Lonely Ones
4mar1967 Marmalade (formerly the Gaylords)
plus The Motion
11mar1967 The Epics
plus The Good Thing
14mar1967 The Fleurs De Lys
18mar1967 Guy Darrell and the Gnomes of Zurich
plus The Kinde
25mar1967 The Coloured Raisins
plus The King Ossie Sound System
26mar1967 The Lemon Line
31mar1967 The Night People
1apr1967 Davey Sands and The Essex
plus The Irvin John Jump Band
7apr1967 Chances "R"
8apr1967 The Stormsville Shakers
plus The Coloured Fireballs
14apr1967 The Martyn James Expression
15apr1967 The Cymbaline
plus The Heads
21apr1967 The Wild Flowers
22apr1967 The Lonely Ones
plus The Unloved
28apr1967 The Age of Consent
29apr1967 The Fleurs De Lys
plus Odds On
5may1967 The Knack
6may1967 The Fancybred
plus The Motion
13may1967 The Epics
plus The Poor Boys Soul Band
14may1967 Tiles Big Band
19may1967 Washington D.C.'s
20may1967 The Original Dyaks
27may1967 Guy Darrell and the Gnomes of Zurich
plus The Showtimers
28may1967 The Motion
29may1967 Johnny Mann [DJ?]
2jun1967 John
3jun1967 The Meantimers
plus The Groove
9jun1967 Felder's Orioles
10jun1967 The Candy Choir
plus Carl 'G' and The Arrows
14jun1967 The Good Thing
16jun1967 The Martyn James Expression
17jun1967 The Stormsville Shakers
and The Showtimers
18jun1967 The South Side Move
21jun1967 The Jet Set
23jun1967 The Fleur de Lys
24jun1967 The Kinsmen
and the Martyn James Expression
25jun1967 The Original Dyaks
28jun1967 The Motion
30jun1967 The Lonely Ones
1jul1967 Lonely Ones
plus The Poor Boys Soul Band
2jul1967 Wild Flowers
5jul1967 The Setbacks
7jul1967 The Age of Consent
8jul1967 The Age of Consent
plus The Motion
9jul1967 The Lee Hawkins Group
12jul1967 Psychedelic In-Formation
14jul1967 [Bastille Ball]
The Poor Boys' Soul Band
15jul1967 The Epics
plus The Jet Set
16jul1967 The Abject Blues
18jul1967 Candy Choir
19jul1967 Candy Choir
21jul1967 The Good Thing
22jul1967 Simon 'K' and the Meantimers
plus Poor Boys' Soul Band
23jul1967 The Showtimers
26jul1967 Carl G and the Arrows
28jul1967 The Kult
29jul1967 Heinz and the Wild Boys
plus The Power
30jul1967 The New Breed
2aug1967 The Setbacks
4aug1967 The New Breed
5aug1967 The Tony Jackson Group
plus Ruby James and The Stax
6aug1967 Si's Reaction
9aug1967 The Abject Blues
11aug1967 Carl 'G' and The Arrows
12aug1967 The Riot Squad
plus The New Breed
13aug1967 Stacey's Circle
16aug1967 The Candy Choir
18aug1967 The Motion
19aug1967 The Kinsmen
plus The Motion
20aug1967 The Hammers
23aug1967 Poor Boys Soul Band
25aug1967 The Candy Choir
26aug1967 The Candy Choir
and The Poor Boys Soul Band
27aug1967 The Motion
28aug1967 ["12 hour non-stop pop marathon]
Ruby James and The Stax
The Quick
The Setbacks
Carl 'G' and The Arrows
30aug1967 Si's Reaction
1sep1967 Stacey's Circle
2sep1967 The Original Dyaks
plus The Motion
9sep1967 Psychedelic In-Formation
plus The Setback
16sep1967 The Riot Squad
plus The Crew
23sep1967 The Playground [drawn from the Fleur De Lys, Davey Sands and The Essex, and Tony Rivers and The Castaways]
plus The New Breed
30sep1967 ["Farewell rave."]
The Blossom (formerly The Epics)
plus The Poor Boys Soul Band
7oct1967 [reprieve - for one week]
Si's Reaction
plus The Coconut Mushroom
[last night of the Witch Doctor]
["the premises will be undergoing extensive redecoration…"]

[Martin Page]

Our band, Parker's Mood were the support band to Loose Ends on 27th August 1966. I also played at the Witch Doctor with Tony Burns and The Niteshades on 20th February 1965 (as noted by you).

Regards Martin Page (lead guitar).

[john warner]

Well done a very comprehensive list. I was manager of the witch doctor back in the early sixties before moving to mr smith's in manchester.

[Maria Rogers]

My partner, Chris Sausman, was the keyboard player in the band Davey Sands and The Essex. I'm delighted to see them listed on your archive. I've read out to him the dates they appeared. Thank you.

[Noel Burns]

Hi, I was the bass player in Johnny, Mike & The Shades. Brings back lots of memories. Noel Burns

[Daniel Wright]

I used to go there , I was a part time Roadie for the Mark Four.... Great Club, great times..

[Susan Watts nee Hambrook]

Sept 7, 2015 19:57:18 GMT 1 john warner said:

Well done a very comprehensive list. I was manager of the witch doctor back in the early sixties before moving to mr smith's in manchester.

I was briefly married to John (Johnny) Warner when he was manager. I remember the opening night when the Nashville Teens played and met many of the other acts when they used to visit the GRENADIER club which was underneath the Witch Doctor in Marine Court where I worked and my Mother, Doreen Hambrook, was manageress. I have some happy memories and souveniers of that time! I would love to get in touch with John to reminisce over old times.

[Robert Lamb]

I was the drummer of The Poor Boys Soul Band. As you can see from the list we were a regular support and feature band at the Witch Doctor. It was probably the best venue we played in for atmosphere and closeness to the audience. If I remember correctly Steve Maxted was the DJ there. He was also resident DJ at The Witch Doctor in Catford SE London where we also played regularly. We also played at Marine Court when it became The Cobweb. Well done Roger Bristol for compiling the list. It brought back good memories.

[John Bachini]

Nov 10, 2015 15:18:13 GMT 1 Maria Rogers said:

  My partner, Chris Sausman, was the keyboard player in the band Davey Sands and The Essex. I'm delighted to see them listed on your archive. I've read out to him the dates they appeared. Thank you.

Give Chris my regards. John Bachini.

[John Warner]

Jun 16, 2016 14:54:16 GMT 1 Noel Burns said:

Hi, I was the bass player in Johnny, Mike & The Shades. Brings back lots of memories. Noel Burns

I remember Johnny Canon and Mike Wayne well!