Music Scene Memories at Torquay Town Hall | timely cultural doc

In those big years of big rock, Wishbone Ash were up there with the best of them. They bagged a number 3 album in 1972 with Argus, which was voted “best rock album of the year” by Sound. Melody Maker called it the Top British Album.

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How quickly memories fade. From The Torinoes, Tanglewood and Empty Vessels, the Torquay band reformed, morphed and moved on to become the global big namers Wishbone Ash. It’s just one of the stories Music Scene Memories at Torquay Town Hall, a documentary from John Tomkins, touches on.

From 1957 to the mid ’80s music promoter Lionel Digby established Torquay on the circuit for big name acts while allowing burgeoning talent to bloom on the same stages as the chart toppers. What developed was a glittering array to touring stars and a healthy local scene under the tutelage of Lionel and driven by his love of the rock and the roll.

After a stint in the army, Lionel returned to Torquay and he wanted to bring some of the London music sensation with him. He’d been inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll magic of the The 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho. And thus began a chunk of rock and roll history that had the whole of the Bay bopping its head and tapping its feet.

Some of the bands that played Torquay Town Hall

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The film is made up of talking heads. Sharp-as-a tac Lionel (he’s around the 80-mark) quizzes bands, band members and musicians about the when, the where and the what of them playing Torquay. Lionel sounds like he’d be able to quote any line-up from any gig, and even give a few notes about the weather as he delves into conversations of back-in-the-day.

Jon Davey, Lionel Digby and Charlie Charlton

It’s not all musicians. Gig goers get their look-in, too. They describe seminal moments of growing up with the music that was on Top Of The Pops being live in the Bay.

In a world before ubiquitous coverage, the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s is remarkably short of moving images. And there’s no grand BBC archive. But the enegetic vibe of the talking is supplemented by some fun animations, along with an archive of posters, photos and tickets stubs: each one holds a key to some magic music memories.

Music Scene Memories at Torquay Town Hall captures the experience of Torquay being a fixture on the national rock'n'roll circuit

The documentary shines with the joy of the reminiscences. This is a record of being part of a cultural landscape – when moments that made lives, shaped experiences and were talking points for years were born and came alive. It’s a sliver of a glimpse into a past. A past that made careers through sharing the stage at Torquay Town Hall. It seems unlikely now that the municipal building of a bygone age should be the setting of such sometimes frenzied activitity. But those performances inspired creativity and connection. What a contrast to a now that sees venues closing from dwindling live music goers, noise abatement orders, gentrification and the cost of living.

Music Scene Memories at Torquay Town Hall importantly captures a scene and a slice of culture that drove the economy and shaped lives. It’s a time that helped create the country’s image of itself, and much like some of the bands, it changed and reformed. It’s not like a scene isn’t there now, you just sometimes need to listen harder for it, and in different places. Which is why it’s so important to capture and listen to these reminscences now, before it’s too late, and when they can still stir and inspire. Music Scene Memories at Torquay Town Hall is an important record, where you can feel the beat of history and culture, and the beating heart of the Bay.