Nottingham Boat Club

"I should tell you that the Boat Club is located on the banks of the Trent. It's a lovely location. There's a nice pub down the road and apparently a good Indian restaurant round the corner."

John Peel, 30 October 2002

As part of the 2002 One Live In Nottingham week, John Peel presented three shows broadcast live from the city’s Boat Club venue, featuring sets from the likes of the Datsuns, Miss Black America and Echoboy. Back in 1968, the Boat Club had hosted a another gig by Peel, when the Top Gear presenter was on the bill with Bakerloo Blues Line.

In 2002, the Boat Club was celebrating its 40th anniversary as a music venue. Past visitors included Rod Stewart, John Lee Hooker, Def Leppard, Jethro Tull and Robert Plant, as well as Peel.

On 03 November 1968, however, the Boat Club wasn’t Peel’s first choice for a musical evening in Nottingham. On that afternoon’s Top Gear, he enthusiastically looking forward to attending a Duster Bennett gig in the city that night. Only at a late stage did he realize he was actually booked to appear at another Nottingham venue.

Links

 * BBC: Nottingham Boat Club 40th anniversary