1 - Episode 1 - Keeping Cool With Lemonade

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1 - Episode 1 - Keeping Cool With Lemonade

Episode 1 - Keeping Cool With Lemonade Alan Sytner saw Le Caveau in France and wanted to emulate it in the UK. The Cavern opened on 16 January 1957 but the question as to whom played the first notes at the Cavern is problematic. The White Eagle Jazz Band was taken to see the site before the work took place and had a blow to test it out (12 August 1956); the Merseysippi Jazz Band were starring on the opening night and had had a test run but the first notes in front of an audience were played by the Wall City Jazz Band from Chester who opened with, of all things, ‘The Miller Of The Dee’. Alan Sytner’s real interest was modern jazz but it drew poor audiences. By mid-1957 skiffle bands including the Quarrymen were being used as an interval act. As the skiffle gained momentum, you can sense that rock and roll was on its way. The importance of the Cavern not being licensed was a clever move from the start: it eliminated drunken fights and hence lessened the problems and there were also fewer regulations for non-licensed premises. Besides, the Grapes and the White Star were only a few yards away. On crowded clubs, Bill Heckle says, “People like concerts when it is too jammed and too packed.” (Performance) Fright Train Brendan McCormack (Unissued) It Ain’t What You Do Swinging Bluegenes (Performance) Mean Mistreater Tommy and Hil Hughes

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1 - Episode 1 - Keeping Cool With Lemonade

AP_780-LEI-1-4-1_s1_f01_v1