General Features

Share your memories of the Town Hall. Perhaps you saw the Beatles there, graduated there, or even performed on stage yourself!

Anna Majdanska, Tasmania
I saw some great concerts there in the 1970's - Deep Purple had everyone standing on their seats and jumping up and down, Frank Zappa was deafening and you needed your fingers in your ears to stop the pain, Van Morrison brilliant as usual, and one of my favourites Al Stewart who broke a string on his guitar right at the end of Love Chronicles and had to sing unaccompanied. Also Love I think played there and others. I can't remember which bands I saw there and which at Mothers. Brum was certainly a FAB place in the late 60's and early 70's. Ah, those were the days alright.

Pam Green (nee Taylor)
I'm now in Canada but remember, much to the amazement of my kid's friends, attending Led Zeppelin concerts, Ten Years After concerts and Jethro Tull concerts. The Town Hall REALLY rocked. I was always totally awed by the magnificent organ.

Bicko, Warwick
Great to see it open again. Easily the best venue in the World, far better than the aircraft hangars most bands play in these days. Like Mick Beirne I too saw the late great Rory Gallagher on a foggy December night in 1975 and the free 'proper' gig afterwards. Not forgetting the likes of Deep Purple, Be Bop Deluxe, Alex Harvey, Uriah Heap, Status Quo, The Groundhogs etc etc. Those were the days. Let's hope for many more memorable concerts in the refurbished building. They've done a wonderful job.

Keith Williamson
I sang in the Town Hall with the London Emmanuel Choir when we visited Birmingham for the first time in the early 1960s. Cliff Richard shared the platform with us. It was a memorable first visit to Birmingham for me

Anthony Roberts
My old school, Sir Wilfrid Maartineau used to have an annual speech and awards night at the town hall... I remember a Delaneyand Bonnie concert that featured Eric Clapton, he walked on to stage followed by Dave Mason and then George Harrison! It remains a great memory. It's great to see the Town Hall re-opened. I live in Oregon and the last few visits home she has been covered in scaffold...welcome back!!

Helen Mason
I first started to go to concerts at the Town Hall when I was at Swanshurst Grammar School in the late 50s. We used to sell programmes at the Youth concerts, and went to many events there.I remember singing Hiawatha's wedding feast, conducted by Meredith Davies, and also Mozart's Requiem - both in the Grammar Schools' Festival. So many happy memories of the place. I've lived away from Birmingham for many years, but look forward to coming back over to see the new Town Hall, and hopefully to go to a concert there.

Jenny Ellis
So pleased to see the Town Hall opening it's doors once again,hope they bring the concerts back..in the 60's I saw Brenda Lee,the original little miss dynamite along with Dion,Joe Brown and countless others ,and you actually got to see and meet them through the maize of corridors..Happy Days...

Pauline Marshall nee Howitt
Seeing Johnnie Ray in the late fifties. Exploring the maze of corridors and seeing him through an open door. We were told off for screaming. But he signed his autograph. Many traditional and modern jazz concerts too. Wonderful times. My school was across the road B.S.C. Queens College Chambers. Will be visiting this week from Scotland.

Sylvia Rabbage
Have been to the Town Hall many times,Door O because they were the cheapest seats. Sang in the school choir doing the first part of Bach's"Christmas Oratorio". During the rehearsal, I was in the front row behind the orchestra, and a tall man in a raincoat and a long white silk scarf passed in front of me making his way to the organ loft. It was G.D.Cunningham!

Ann Thomson (then)
Good Luck Town Hall!Bring back school concerts!Our school took part in a competition at the Town Hall when I was in senior school. This was in the early 1950's. We were trained by a wonderful teacher (who was spanish)at Hope Street School, just off the Bristol Road. It was a most exciting experience. This talented teacher wrote and directed us in her version of Joseph and His Coat of Many Colours, (long before it was done by you know who). The second piece was about Moses leading his people to freedom. Guess what! WE WON!

Anne Horsey
My Greatgrandfather Thomas Kenney did the plaster ceiling. My Mother sang in concerts there and had particular memories of Kathleen Ferrier. I saw The Temperence Seven there twice

Mick Beirne
In December 1975, I saw Rory Gallagher play there. It was a filthy night and the rest of his band got stuck on the mitorway and so didn't show up. Rory did a one man show to the delight of everyone. And then announced that we should all come back the next night for the full gig with his band - on the same ticket!!!

Pat
I was once a member of the CBSO Chorus and have taken part in many memorable concerts with Louis Fremaux and Simon Rattle and when the organ played, it made your spine tingle, it was so wonderful

carole whitworth
1958 school leaving concert,sat right of the stage. Still in my teens.I came to a New Years dance,unfortunately cannot remember the year.

Neil Paynter
Great memories of the Town Hall 'all nighters' in the late 60s. Long John Baldry, Spencer Davis, Julie (oh the drools) Driscol and I think Cream. Certainly I remember a Ginger Baker solo

Lynn
Memories abound.The Town Hall seemed to suit every type of performance - Steel Eye Span, The Troggs, Proms, Don McClane etc. It had an intimacy rarely experienced elsewhere and we loved it! We frequently wilted in the extreme heat on summer evenings (- the 70's were often scorching), making impromptu fans from programmes! It was there I introduced my eight year old sister-in-law to music-making at Atarah Ben Tovin's Saturday morning sessions. These fun packed experiences inspired her to become a very accomplished cellist and she now spreads her love of music in her teaching. The reopening has been such a long time coming, but will be worth the wait I'm sure. Thanks to all those who wouldn't let this treasure be lost! Ordering tickets now!

Linda Middleton
I also saw Elton John and Kiki Dee was the supporting artist! I am glad it's finally reopening and look forward to more great concerts.

Gary Poyner
During the 1970's I watched literally dozens of Rock bands at the Town Hall - my favourite Rock venue. The accoustic was fantastic, the atmosphere always electric, and on many occasions even went back-stage to meet the bands themselves. It wasn't the biggest venue of course, and I remember on one occasion US rocker Ted Nugent couldn't get all his gear in. The support band (Climax Blues Band) were cancelled and Ted came on very late in the evening. On another occasion we made news in the Melody Maker after we collapsed the first five rows of seats (by jumping up and down on them) during Robin Trower's amazing support gig (Nazareth were headlining, but Trower were incredible). I could bore you for ages with Rock stories and the Town Hall! I'm glad it's back, but those fantastic 70's days will never be seen again!

Hannah
I remember arriving to live in Birmingham in 89. It was a grey day and I was thoroughly depressed when I saw the Town Hall I remember thinking that any city that could build that couldnt be all bad. Shame we can't look after all our historic buildings as well and stop throwing modern monstrosities up all over the place. Well done to all involved.

Ronald Shillingford
As a Musician I ve had the pleasure of performing on the fine Hill Organ here on two occasions as well as other performances. But my abiding memory of Town hall will always be of Sir George Thalben Ball who I met on a number of occasions. A true gentleman with an amazing technique and was still playing the Organ well into his early 80's ! I also remember the Hall being packed out when the Choir of Westminster Abbey came here in the late 80's under the direction of Martin Neary. It was a fabulous Xmas Concert. And the other thing to rememeber about the Lunch time Organ Recitals and Concerts was that there were free. U only paid for your programme. Sadly times have change and it is regretful that some ticket prices for the grand re-opening in October 2007 are expensive.

T Williams
My father Patrick Williams played at the Town Hall in the 60's with a band called The Checkers.(skiffel music) I would love to know more information about this band as to date i know very little apart from the fact they came 2nd in competition there.

Joan Berryman
Long time since I was in B'ham, as I have lived in Perth West Australia since 1965.. but remember the TOwn Hall well, and remember going to see Paul Ropson there around 47...such happy memories.. my maden name was Butler,

lyn
last act I saw there was steve gibbons - medicin sans frontieres?!-and he's still playing greatmusic

steve whyte
carl chinn presented an informative and humourous talk on old birmingham a few years ago, and hes still going strong!!

Mr Martyn Tupper L.B.I.P.P
I've attended concerts many many times over the years in this fantastic homely building. But the one I allways talk of was 1976 with Marc Bolan (T.Rex). Because it was the first and last time I met and seen him perform. And it was through him at that concert that I became a Artiste Photographer of now 30+yrs standing.Thanks Marc, and thanks Birmingham Town Hall for a memory that will last my lietime.

carole bagnall
i sang at the town hall when i was young child from st peters school which was just off broad st. as i grew older i went to many shows, eddie cochran, gene vincet, little richard, ray charles, cliff, rolling stones, such happy memeories cannot wait to vist again

paula watkins
saw Elton John .!! 1st concert I ever went to.

Pat Worship/Sutton Coldfield
As a youth and teenager I spent many happy hours at the Town Hall.Going to all night Jazz concerts and going to classical and Modern Jazz.Seeing my son presented with his diploma there and going to see the bands of the Royal Marines.Wonderful! Glad it's back.

Diane Hopper
Saw a performance by Nigel Kennedy in 199? in which he played an impromptu duet with a double bass player of 'When the Saints Come Marching In' which was not on his programme of classical music but which was magic

Sylvia Jones (nee Bird)
I sang at the Town Hall with the North Birmingham Schools Choir 1964/65 Then the choir went to Switzerland to sing in Lucerne dose anybody remember it August 1965

King halr
S

j thompson
in the 70s i saw b. dickson in concet it was a great night out as was bham at that time i see so many changes now i love the old landmarks then i feel at home eg town hall

James Parsons
I have not only saw the Beatles and many other bands and artists appear on stage and eventually appear on stage as a musician mtself but when I was an apprentice to the Birmingham Public Lighting department I served time at the Town Hall on maintenance with James Turner (head of maintenance)who became one of my oldest and dearest friends. This was probably some of the most happiest and learning years of my life. I knew every crook and crannie of the building. Now it seems a lifetime ago and after travelling the world and visiting many places, experiencing many things, this building I am still in awe of. James ParsonsBath

Matt Clarke
I had the pleasure of working here for a couple of days during its refurbishment. I had been there as a child and I found it very interesting to be working in the bowels of the hall during the work in areas most people will never see, even if it was just running telecoms cables! The hall was completely stripped back to bare walls in most places, and will be very interesting to see the finished hall.

Tim Farley
I played at the town hall many times for my school brass band - Sir Wifred Martineau School -in the 1970s. We had a great time with school brass bands coming from all over England. We even tryed to get a pint from the bar!

Yvonne Haynes
Yes indeed we are thrilled to see the Town Hall restored. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart and Faces, Jethro Tull and yes the amazing night Keith Emerson played America, the organ shivers down the spine, yes he did find the organ locked and yes he did actually play absolutely fab! Around 1965 there were also all nighters there including Spencer Davis. I wasn't allowed to go to those but friends told me great tales.

Polska Kielbasa
Good to see the restoration finally finished and the scaffolding off. I will miss the giant H&M posters though. Nothing cheers you up better than the site of those bikini adverts as you trundle down colmore row on the way to work on another drab day.

geraldine bradley
in 1967 i was adopted in the town hall

Steve Morris
Many a wonderful orchestral concert sitting under the mighty organ - the Symphony Hall organ sounds pretty puny in comparison. OK the acoustics were dreadful for the orchestra but when you had a full choir and extra brass - wow!

John Taylor
I spent some of child years during 2nd world war sat in the front row of the ground floor whilst my father was a musician member of the CBSO.I also recall the impressive sight and sound of the great pipe organ. Which was played for lunch time concerts by George Thalben Ball.

Proud Brummie
A fact that amazed me, was that at one of the entrances to St Philip's Churchyard, (The one at the top of Union Street) there is what appears to be the bottom of a pillar, in the same stone that the Town Hall is built in. Later I found out, that this is in fact a memorial, to two people who were killed in an accident whilst building the Town Hall!

Tom Belte
Excellent building, great to see it back in good condition. I cant wait to have a look at in 2007. Big up everyone involved.

Hazel Carroll.
My father told me that he used to go to the town hall when he was able to afford it to listen to the famous musicians of that era,my father was born in 1877.

gursh singh chana
i love the town hall and al its grandeur - i performed in the schools concert in 1981 and it was a massive space which had an instant impact on my life -later in 94 i hosted an asian talent show and it still had the charm of when i was a 10 year old. welcome back

Lawrence Parkes ex Bounville now Banbury
I saw many rock concerts there during the late sixties and early seveties including one by the Nice, when organist Keith Emerson attempted to play the famous organ only to find it locked...Happy days

liz
what a wastse of money building symphany hall next to it. should have restored town hall in the first place

e bessant frankley
i remember singing with the school choir in the sixties it was an awe inspiring evening for a 8 yr old glad its been brougt back to its former glory

Exiled Brummie
I had no idea the Town Hall had been closed for 10 years! Can't remember the first time I was there - think it was something to do with my junior school and singing. Went to lots of concerts there from Led Zeppelin to Buddy Rich as well as loads of others including ELP (Keith Emmerson played the Town Hall organ for one number!) They never used to have security there so, although you were not supposed to, you could smoke at the gigs! I also used to like sitting in the unreserved seats at the back of the stage, you were closer to the artists and it gave you quite a different perspective. Yes, I loved the old Town Hall!

Cannon Hill Park Friends
Though Cannon Hill Park was created 39 yrs after the Town Hall we have two of the stone capitals left over when it was built. You'll find them by the avenue to the South African War Memorial and sculpture by Albert Toft in 1906.

Simon Lovatt
I remember once going to the town hall as a child. I don't remember what I saw though..! Glad to see it uncovered though. It really is a beautiful building! :)

Fred Greaves
I performed in an Irish dance group in 1957/8(I think date is right!) with Elms Farm Junior School-my family were all there!

carol surtees, solihull
I remember visiting the Town Hall each year from 1968 to about 1974 for our school speech day (King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls' Grammar school) The organ, played by Miss Jackson, was incredible and we struggled to make ourselves heard above the sound!! The Hall's acoustics too were pretty astounding. Looking forward to visiting the Town Hall next year, with luck. Sounds like a fantastic job done by the restorers - well done!