Who played at the Kilburn State?

Although a complete account of all the musicians who played here is not possible, I have complied the most comprehensive list yet to be published. Chronologically, it moves from big bands, jazz, rock, British blues, and Pop, as the popular styles change.

Kilburn State (Dick Weindling, July 2015)

Because of the large seating capacity of 4,004, the Gaumont State in Kilburn High Road was used as a venue for many shows by touring American and British musicians. 

The Gaumont State Cinema was opened on 20 Dec 1937 with a sell-out show, which was also broadcast on the BBC radio.

1937, Dec 20 opening of Gaumont State Cinema
Singer Gracie Fields, Larry Adler harmonica, Henry Hall and his Orchestra, Alfred van Dam and his State Orchestra, and others

Here is a Gaumont Newsreel tour of the building and people arriving at the opening night, with a typical jokey 1937 voiceover

1938, July 23
The Hyams brothers (Phil, Syd and Mick), who ran the State, organised a midnight performance to raise money for Eddie Cantor’s fund for refugee children from Nazi Germany. This was an amazing show with Paul Robeson, Max Miller, George Formby, Gracie Fields, Lupino Lane, Django Reinhardt with the Jazz Hot Club of France, and other stars of the day. Eddie Cantor was the compere; he told jokes, sang songs and even appeared in golden curls and rompers to imitate Shirley Temple singing ‘The Good Ship Lollipop’. The show was a great success.

1938 July, at the start of their first English tour
Django Reinhardt with the Jazz Hot Club of France

1938, Nov 14
Paul Robeson

1939, March 26, The Jazz Jamboree organised by the Hyams Brothers.
This became an annual concert for the Musicians Social and Benevolent Council which supported out of work musicians. All the leading British bands appearing free. These included;
Billy Cotton, Ambrose, Geraldo, Joe Loss, Sydney Lipton, Nat Gonella and Jack Harris (a popular American bandleader who lived in England from 1927 to 1940 and made numerous records).

1939 August 14, two weeks at Kilburn
Django Reinhardt with the Jazz Hot Club of France, and 15 year old singer Beryl Davis

1940, April 14, Jazz Jamboree
Ambrose, Geraldo, Jack Harris, George Melachrino, Oscar Rabin and Ken Johnson. Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson, the first UK black band leader, was tragically killed by a bomb which fell through the Café de Paris where he was appearing on 8 March 1941.

1940 Nov
Mantovani, accompanied by Sidney Torch at the Gaumont State Kilburn Wurlitzer
This is a Decca recording made at the Gaumont State, which was not far from their studios in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead. 

1946, April 28, Jazz Jamboree
Geraldo, Ted Heath, Harry Gold and his ‘Pieces of Eight’, The Skyrockets dance orchestra, The Squadronnaires, and others

1947 April 27, Jazz Jamboree
Ted Heath, Harry Haynes, The Skyrockets, Vic Lewis a British jazz guitarist and band leader, Harry Gold and his ‘Pieces of Eight’, and others

1947, Oct 12, two concerts
The Ink Spots

1948, Feb 8

Danny Kaye

1948, April 25, Jazz Jamboree
Tito Burns, Ray Ellington Quartet, Harry Gold, Vic Lewis, Cyril Stapleton, and others 

1948, Aug 8
The Andrew Sisters, with the Skyrockets

1948, Sept 5
Dinah Shore, presented by Val Parnell

1949 Oct 9, Jazz Jamboree
Eddie Calvert, Humphrey Lyttelton, Steve Race, Vic Lewis, Freddie Randall band, Deep River Boys, and others

1950, Feb 26
Winifred Attwell, 5 Smith Brothers, Cyril Stapelton, and Robinson Cleaver at the organ

1950, Oct 29
Nellie Lutcher, the American singer and pianist

1950, Nov 12
Petula Clark

1951, Feb 4
Freddy Randall band with the singer Donald Peers

1951, April 8
Geraldo

1951 Oct 7, Jazz Jamboree
Ted Heath, Geraldo, Vic Lewis, Kenny Baker, Johnny Dankworth, Deep River Boys, and others

There were more ‘Jazz Jamboree’s in the 1950s with leading musicians such as Tubby Hayes, Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, and Humphrey Lyttelton

1953 Jan 11, The Big Rhythm Show
Cab Calloway, Deep River Boys, Eddie Calvert, and others

Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP)
The first Norman Grantz, JATP European tour of great American musicians occurred in Spring 1952, but they did not play in Britain because of the ban by the Musicians Union. The 18 year ban on American musicians was lifted in 1953.

The second JATP tour was in March 1953 with only two concerts in the UK; on 8 March they were at the Gaumont State. When Jazz At The Philharmonic played at the Gaumont State, Ronnie Scott met and chatted with the great tenor saxophonist, Lester ‘Pres’ Young, wearing his famed pork pie hat.

1953, March 8, Jazz At The Philharmonic
Ella Fitzgerald, Lester Young, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Lester Young, and others

1953, June 21
Frank Sinatra
Sinatra stayed at the Dorchester and apparently got a taxi to Baker Street where he took the Underground to Kilburn Station. (Ref: Geoff Levene, Call Sign Magazine, July 2014)

1953, Oct 18
Eve Boswell, Ronnie Scott, Ray Ellington, Kenny Baker

1953, Oct 25, Jazz Jamboree
Ted Heath, Geraldo, Syd Millward, and others

1954, July 4
Guy Mitchell, with the Ronnie Scott Orchestra and Kay Cavendish

1954, Nov 28
Gracie Fields

1955, Jan 30
Edmundo Ros Band, Trinidad Steel Band, Lord Kitchener and others

1955, March 13
Frankie Vaughn and Ruby Murray 

1955, April 3
David Whitfield, and the Eric Winstone Orchetra

1955, June 12
Petula Clark

1956, Jan 1
Frankie Vaughn with the Jack Parnell Orchestra

1956, March 11
Stan Kenton and his Orchestra

1956, June 3
Eartha Kitt, Kenny Baker, the Ken Tones, Ronald Chesney

1956, July 29
Mel Torme with the Vic Lewis band

1957, Jan 6
Pat Boone, and Alma Cogan

1957, Feb 24 to 28
Bill Haley and his Comets 

1957, May 19
The Platters, with the Jack Parnell Orchestra

1957, Nov 24
Count Basie and his Orchestra

1957, Dec 8
Paul Anka, John Barry Seven, Bob Cort’s Skiffle Group

1958, March 2 (two shows)
Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Ronnie Keene Orchestra, Tanner Sisters, Montanas
Des O’Conner was the compere

1958, May 2-4, and May 18, Jazz at the Philharmonic
Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, and others

1958 May 25
Jerry Lee Lewis, with the Treniers
Cliff Richard went backstage to meet Jerry at the State

1958, August 10
Harry Belafonte
‘An Evening With Belafonte’. A week of concerts

1958, August 15 and 26 Oct
Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
At the beginning and end of the UK tour

1958, Sept 14
The Hi-Lo’s, American vocal group

1958, Sept 21 Jazz from Carnegie Hall
JJ Johnson, Lee Konitz, Zoot Sims, Red Garland, Kenny Clarke, and others

1958, Oct 23, Jazz Jamboree
Johnny Dankworth, Tony Kinsey, Jazz Couriers with Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott, The Jazzmakers with Ronnie Ross and Alan Ganley, and others

1958, Dec 21, Night of the Stars, to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the State.
A show for Anne Shelton’s hospital charities
Dickie Valentine, Anne Shelton, Vince Eagar, Marty Wilde, Rosmary Squires, Don Lang, Joan Regan, The King Brothers, and others

1959 Feb 8, two shows
Count Basie, presented by Harold Davison

1959, February 28, and March 1
Louis Armstrong (two nights, four shows), presented by Harold Davison

1959, May 3, Jazz at the Philharmonic
Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Eldridge, Gene Krupa Quartet, Oscar Peterson, Sony Stitt and others

1959, Sept 20
Newport Jazz Festival with Dave Brubeck Quartet, Dizzy Gillespie, and others

1959, Oct (abt 17/18)
Kid Ory and his Jazzmen with Henry ‘Red’ Allen
Also the Terry Lightfoot band

1959 Oct 24, Jazz Jamboree
Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Lane, Humphry Littleton, Acker Bilk, Tubby Hayes, Joe Harriott, and others

1959, Nov 16 to 21, six nights
Cliff Richard and the Shadows, The Dallas Boys, Cherry Wainer, and others

1959, Nov 28
The Modern Jazz Quartet, Ronnie Ross, Joe Harriott

On 1 June 1960, the new Rank ballroom was officially opened in The State. This had been created by removing 2,300 of the 4,004 seats as cinema attendances had been falling for some time. A new dance studio and restaurant were also built at this time. There were adverts for ‘modern dancing nightly’ to Syd Dean and his nine-piece orchestra, and organist Robin Richmond played the Wurlitzer.
The ballroom was used as the venue for several shows by touring musicians.

1960, Jan 31
Adam Faith

1960, March 18
Duane Eddy

1960, March 18
Bobby Darin

1960, May 1
Gene Vincent

1960, Oct 2 and Oct 9
Miles Davis, with Jimmie Cobb (drms), Paul Chambers (bass), Wynton Kelly (piano), and Sonny Stitt (sax) who had replaced John Coltrane after he left and set up his own group

1961, May 7
Thelonious Monk Quartet, and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, with Lee Morgan (trp), Wayne Shorter (sax), Bobby Timmons (piano) and Jamie Merritt (bass)

1961, May 16
Gene Vincent

1961, Oct 21
Helen Shapiro, Danny Williams, and others

1961, Nov 11
John Coltrane Quintet, with Eric Dolphy (sax and flute), McCoy Tyner (piano), Reggie Workman (bass) and Elvin Jones (drms)

1961, Nov 11
Dizzy Gillespie

1961, Nov 21
Gene Vincent

1961, Dec 3
Dave Brubeck Quartet

1962, Feb 19, Larry Parnes ‘Big Star Show of 1962’
Billy Fury, John Leyton, Joe Brown, Karl Denver, Eden Kane, Shane Fenton, Jackie Lynton, Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, and others.
Dion, the American singer may have appeared at this show, but I have not be able to confirm this. The show toured the country.

1962, March 9, Jazz at the Philharmonic
Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, and Roy Eldridge

1962, March 16
The Four Freshmen

1962, March 31
Count Basie and his Orchestra, also Lambert, Hendrick and Ross

1962, April 15
Nina and Frederick

1962, April 29, Jazz Jamboree
Johnny Dankworth, Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Dudley Moore, Joe Harriott, Ronnie Ross, Tony Kinsey, and others

1962, July 10
Gene Vincent

1962, Nov 18
Dave Brubeck Quartet, and Ronnie Scott Quartet

1963 Jan 15
Johnny and The Hurricanes

1963 March 5
Gene Vincent

1963, March
Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan

1963, April 9
The Beatles

1963, May 15
Del Shannon, Four Seasons, Johnny Tillotson, Freddie and the Dreamers

1963, June 11
Freddie and the Dreamers

1963 Oct 15,
The Searchers, and Tommy Roe

1963, Nov 5
Johnny Burnette

1963, Nov 19
The Rolling Stones

1963 Sept 24
Johnny Thunder

1963 Nov 5
Johnny Burnette

1963 Dec 19
Gene Vincent

1964, March 17, St Patrick’s Night
Ruby Murray, and others

1964 Sept 2
Carl Perkins

1964, Oct 5
Bill Haley and The Comets

1964, Oct 5
Manfred Mann

1964, Oct 23 (Two shows)
The Beatles

1964, Nov 2
The Animals, Carl Perkins, Nashville Teens, Elkie Brooks, and others

1964. Nov 25
P.J. Proby, The Pretty Things, the Barron Knights

1964
Dizzy Gillespie

1965, April 19
Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson

1968, May 4
Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

1969, Jan 14
Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem

1971, Feb 26 Two shows - 18:30 & 21:00.
Jethro Tull, and Steeleye Span
The show is on YouTube here

1971, Feb 28 Two shows - 16:00 & 19:30.
Jethro Tull, and Steeleye Span

1971, May 7 The Caribeat, The 1971 Calypso Carnival
Direct from the West Indies: The Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Panther, and others

1972, Oct 22
Jimmy Cliff, Chairmen of the Board

1973, March 9
The Supremes (with only Mary Wilson from the originals)

1973, June 13
David Bowie

1973, Nov 30
The Faces

1974, May 22
Deep Purple, and Elf
Recorded live for BBC In Concert. ‘Live in London’

1974, July 13 and 14
Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart and The Faces
The First Barbarians, The Return Of Woody Woodbreaker
Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Ian McLagan, Willie Weeks, Andy Newmark and Rod Stewart
The show was filmed and is on YouTube

1974, Nov 23
Slim Whitman and Springfield Revival

1974, Dec 14
Alvin Lee and Company, and the Peter Frampton band
This was the final date of the European tour. Recorded as the double album ‘In Flight’

1974, Dec 25
The Faces and Rod Stewart, with guest Keith Richards
The show is on YouTube  

1975, Oct 11
David Essex

1975, Oct 24
Showaddywaddy, and Arrows

1975. Oct 26
Cavan O’Connor Show with guest Ruby Murray

1975, Nov 21
Black Sabbath

1976, Jan 4
The Syd Lawrence Orchestra play the music of Glenn Miller

1976, no other major live shows found this year

1977, Sept 14, organised by Paul McCartney to celebrate Buddy Holly
The Crickets, a return visit after almost 20 years
Also Mike Berry and the Outlaws – with Mike Berry (vcls), Chas Hodges (piano), Dave Peacock (bass), Billy Kye (gtr) and Mick Burt (drms). (Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock had formed the duo ‘Chas ‘n’ Dave’).
As well as Paul McCartney, the audience included, Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Denny Laine, and Ronnie Wood.

1977, Dec 15
The Who
Filmed as ‘The Who at Kilburn’.
There are various clips on YouTube

1978, Dec 28
Ian Dury and the Blockheads
His band ‘Kilburn and the High Roads’ formed in 1970/1971, has led many people to believe that Ian was from Kilburn. Although his parents briefly lived at 1b Belsize Road when they married in 1938, they moved to Harrow Weald where Ian was born in May 1942. He never lived in Kilburn but liked the name. In 1970 he and his friend the pianist Russell Hardy, were driving up the High Road when Ian said, ‘I’ve thought of a great name for the band. What about Kilburn and the High Roads’. The Kilburns played their first gig in December 1971 in Croydon.

From 1979 onwards, the Kilburn State continued as a cinema with only a few live stage shows.

On 30 March 1979 the Harrow Observer announced that Borough of Brent in conjunction with Rank Leisure Services was planning to promote a series of live shows at The Kilburn State. The first would be the violinist Stephane Grappelli with the Diz Dizley trio, to be followed by The Chieftans, the Barron Knights, and Burt Ives. 

1979, April 1
Stephane Grappelli with the Diz Dizley trio

1979, May 11
The Chieftains

1979, May 12
Barron Knights

1979, May 27
Burl Ives

1981
Part of the video for Ultravox’s ‘Vienna’ (1981) was filmed inside the State.

I have not included the ballet, classical music, musicals, pantomime, or Billy Smart’s Circus, who performed over the years.

With the decline of The State, the Kilburn National in the old Grange cinema on other side of the High Road became a very popular venue for pop music from 1976 to 1999. See the blog story here.

This amazing list shows how many famous musicians have played at the Kilburn State.

You can watch Anna Bowman's film, The Kilburn State 1937 -2007 on YouTube.