Come for a once in a lifetime experience and hear ex Kinks members perform all their greatest hits in the intimate atmosphere of the Hare & Hounds on Sunday 8 June

The Kinks were one of the greatest and most influential groups of all time scoring hit after hit from the 1960's onwards until they split up in 1996.

This special concert has been organised by us to jointly celebrate the 48th Anniversary of The Kinks performing next door to the Hare & Hounds at the now sadly burnt down Ritz Ballroom and the debut there on bass guitar of John “Nobby” Dalton who will be returning for the first time to King's Heath as a member of The Kast Off Kinks.

The Kast Off Kinks are not a tribute band but a great line-up of ex-Kinks members:-

Mick Avory on drums and vocals

John Dalton on bass guitar and vocals

Ian Gibbons on keyboards and vocals plus

Dave Clarke on lead guitar and vocals who peviously worked with The Beach Boys.

Formed by Mick Avory in 1994 to keep the music of The Kinks alive,  the Kast Off Kinks regularly perform at Kinks Fan Club events and at major venues throughout Europe.

Expect to hear all The Kinks' hits including “You Really Got Me”, “Dedicated Follower of Fashion”, “Sunny Afternoon”, “Lola”, “Waterloo Sunset”, “Victoria”, “Apeman”, “Days” and “Come Dancing”.

“A full house, and a standing ovation. To anyone wondering about going, do not hesitate”

(The Stables, Milton Keynes)

“Nothing short of superb. From start to finish it was a set filled with hit after hit”

(Mad Ferret, Preston)

“ A great night's entrtainment … made up of both classic hits and album tracks”

(Sussex Express)

This should prove to be one of the great nights to remember in King's Heath!

Tickets cost just £12.50 plus booking fee from

www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

Tickets are also available for £12.50 from the Kitchen Garden Cafe on York Road.

Cash Only - no credit cards.

Doors open at 7 p.m. On stage at 7.45 p.m.

Above: From left to right George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and John Lennon photographed in 1963 outside one of the Regan venues

Our concert to celebrate the 51st. anniversary of the first ever Beatles gig in Birmingham at the Ritz Ballroom on King's Heath's York Road is a sell-out.

Fletchers Bar on York Road directly opposite the former ballroom will be packed to the rafters from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday 16 February.

All tickets were sold within less than 5 days of them going on sale as Beatlemania returns to King's Heath after 51 years.

The Beatles appeared at the Ritz Ballroom - one of 4 venues run in the 1950's and 60's by the legendary Irish couple Ma and Pa Regan - on 15 February 1963 shortly after releasing their second single "Please Please Me". Originally scheduled to appear on 11 January, they had been prevented by blizzard like conditions from making the 11 mile journey to King's Heath from one of the Regans other venues - the Plaza in Old Hill.

When they did eventually make it on 15 February Beatlemania had really started to take off and the Beatles were only able to enter the Ritz by climbing up a ladder from Milford Place. In fact, the Fab Four almost had to appear as the Fab Three after George Harrison arrived late by taxi and was trapped by screaming fans.

"Tell them to turn that racket down" is what Pa Regan is rumoured to have shouted while they were practising! But he was a very happy man really. He had persuaded their manager Brian Epstein to agree to them performing for their previously agreed fee even though they were now No. 1 in the charts! They performed the rescheduled gig at The Ritz during a break from The Helen Shapiro Tour on which they started off as only 4th out of the 11 acts on the bill!

Autographs of the four Beatles signed at the Ritz Ballroom were sold at Christies auction house on 24 June 2010.
According to the vendor she was picking up her coat from the coat room after the concert when she met Paul McCartney coming out of the toilets. After giving her his autograph she followed him into the bar where he called her over to meet the rest of the band who gave her their autographs too. She then took up Paul's kind offer of a lift back into town in their van where she sat on his lip and shared a kiss!!!

Those lucky enough to secure tickets should have a great afternoon's entertainment as we celebrate a landmark event in King's Heath's musical heritage

A great line-up of top local musicians has already been lined up but any other musicians who would like to appear at the anniversary event should contact:                                 

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Clockwise: Autographs of John Lennon, Paut McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison

signed at the Ritz Ballroom that were auctioned at Christies on 24 June 2010.

Get the festive season off to a great start by coming along to our Xmas Xtravaganza at Fletchers on Sunday 1st December featuring some of the most popular musicians from our 2013 Lazy Sunday Afternoon Sessions.

Included in the line-up will be the very young and talented Harriet Harkcom who brought the audience to their feet at our Rolling Stones Fest with her version of "Wild Horses", the sensational SwiftBeat who performed a rousing set at our Rock 'n' Roll Revival event, the amazing 6-5 Specials skiffle band, the great Mr Apollo playing fantastic roots rock and the irrepressible Dave Diz so this should prove to be another really enjoyable afternoon in King's Heath.

The show will start at 3 p.m. and end at 6 p.m.

Advance tickets cost just £2.50 from the Kitchen Garden Cafe or www.wegottickets.com (plus 25p booking fee). Tickets on the door will cost £3.