An Indie night that last entertained music lovers more than 25 years ago is returning to Blackburn - in the pub next door to where it was originally held.
Thirty-five years ago, two friends, Ronnie Brown and David Hamer, started an Indie music night called C’est La Vie, in a tiny club on Market Street Lane in Blackburn.
Within six months it had become the ‘go to place’ for people who were into music not being played in the charts – and was responsible for the first ever acid house nights in Blackburn.
According to Mr Brown, in the 10 years the club was open, people were seen regularly queueing round the block to get in, with the venue hosting dozens of bands such as the Manic Street Preachers, 808 State, Inspiral Carpets and A Guy Called Gerald.
And now, the famous Indie night held at the venue will be returning to the Dun Horse, on Market Street Lane, on Saturday July 30.
Mr Brown said: “I was approached by the landlady, Chloe, to do something at the Dun Horse, which ironically is next to the old venue.
“She had been getting lots of comments about how the club and the night used to be next door and wished there was something like that now.
“During our time there we were fortunate to work with the owners, who left the music policy to Dave and myself.
“Initially we played soul, funk, and jazz, but that broadened out to be an anything goes policy - as long as the dancefloor was full.
“It would take a monumental effort to compile a playlist, but as is well documented, we did the first ever acid house nights in Blackburn (predating the infamous parties), and were responsible for bringing bands like 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, Inspiral Carpets, the Manic Street Preachers and dozens more to Blackburn.”
Mr Brown said legendary radio DJ, John Peel, even phoned him up one day to ask how he’d managed to get A Guy Called Gerald to play in Blackburn.
Mr Brown continued: “The late John Peel actually rang my house to check how and why Gerald was playing at our place when he had only ever played Manchester and New York, it was bizarre.
“He even name dropped the club in one of his shows, and ID, the original style magazine for youth culture, were aware of us too.
“After we left in 1996, the venue became a rock/metal/emo club but fizzled out shortly after.”
The event at the Dun Horse will be a Ces't La Vie night, with a similar soundtrack, playing music from the likes of Suede, Orange Juice, Pixies, The Fall, Oasis, Rolling Stones, Happy Mondays, Velvet Underground, The Kinks, REM, EMF, James and many, many more.
Mr Brown went on: “We are expecting a lot of old faces, and I know many already who are coming down. It’s a very small venue so we’ll see what happens but if it goes well we are hoping to repeat and hold more in the future.”
Making a very rare appearance at the venue on the night will be one of Blackburn's finest bands, 3 Men Gone Mad, who will be performing their first show in more than 18 years.
C'est La Vie will be held at the Dun Horse on Saturday July 30.
Admission is £5 and starts at 8pm.
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