COVENTRY Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
Knight’s Venue
Located at Stoke, Coventry’s 2-Tone Village on Ball Hill, Knights has been hosting a huge array of events that include the likes of Neville Staple, Jerry Dammers, former Jam drummer Rick Buckler, Reggae legends Stranger Cole, Suggs, Susan Cadogan, Dave and Ansel Collins plus a host of contemporary artists – many who were given their first live break there.
Picture by John Coles Photography. (johncolesphotography.com)
I have personally interviewed Coventry legends Vince Hill, Paul King, Hazel O’Connor and Neol Davies on its stage.
The venue (and 2-Tone Cafe) is run by the super hard-working husband and wife – Alph and Angela Knight.
It has paid dividends as the venue has become something of a ‘must visit’ for Ska and Reggae fans from all over the globe.
Often dubbed ‘a youth club for adults’, the venue does provide an off-street courtyard where patrons can catch some cool air and chat to friends after a session of extending skanking to one of the many bands who play there.
The atmosphere is always friendly and the entertainment always great.
I asked Alph and Angela about the venue.
They said: “Knights has been operating for the past seven years as a live music venue, focusing mainly on Ska/Reggae but not exclusively.
“The village remains the main focal point for all things 2-Tone in the city.
“We run numerous themed events throughout the year including Black History Month, International Women’s Week and we also have an annual fund-raiser for the 2-Tone Village adopted charity in Uganda.
“Whenever possible, we open the venue to be used by local groups annually and host the Christmas party for a group with learning disabilities. We have also been fortunate, thanks to our Patron Christine Sugary Staple, to have had some of the pioneers of Ska.
“People need to leave our venue feeling they have enjoyed great entertainment, in a warm and friendly atmosphere and that they will have left not only having met old friends but more importantly made new friends from across the country and indeed internationally.”
Goodbye by Caitlin McCarthy
Goodbye by Caitlin McCarthy in my humble opinion is definitely a contender for one of the best songs ever to come out of Coventry (and it’s already been featured on BBC Midlands Today).
This is the song that makes grown men cry I’m told.
Well, it’s now even more poignant as Catlin has recorded the song raising and supporting NHS Charities Together, UHCW Charity – University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity and Standing with Giants.
It’s out tomorrow (November 19).
Now many will read this and won’t bother listening to this song, I guarantee that for some of those who do listen it will become their new favourite song.
Caitlin would like to thank the following who made this song happen – Fridays Choir- backing vocals, Luke Targett- Madman Music – production Horus Music Distribution and Mandip Singh from Seehra Photography
Visit ampl.ink/CaitlinMcCarthy for more information.
