We’re going down the Welly…
- david1170
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Packed with gig anecdotes, band riders, and unseen photos, ‘Mrs Wilson's Children - Adventures at The Welly Club, Hull 1979 – 1981’ by Caraline Brown is an interesting insight into the day to day running of one of the UK’s longest surviving music venues.
Ever wonder what it would have been like to promote some of the brightest burning bands of the late ‘70s post-punk era?
This independently produced new book tells the story of a wonderfully unique era of the alternative, through the eyes of Caraline Brown, promoter of the Welly Club for two years during which time she staged gigs from bands such as Teardrop Explodes, Psychedelic Furs, UK Subs, The Specials, Magazine, Girlschool, The Fall, Revillos and a many more...
The Welly Club in Hull was also home to the earliest performances of local bands - Roland Gift, The Housemartins, The Beautiful South and Everything But The Girl.
But not U2. The gig never happened although U2 gigs.com described the non-existent U2 event as:
“11 September - U2’s only performance in Hull. They performed on the second floor of the club as a darts match was occurring on the main floor.”
And will the reader’s memory be as good as the bloke who swears:
“When U2 played, few of us were bored, and heckled ‘em a bit. With hindsight, it was the right thing to do, Bunnymen were far better band.”
Packed full of first-hand memories – some true, some imaginary - as well as photos, mementos and original notes and jottings regarding the booking of the best bands of the post punk era, Mrs Wilson’s Children is a cornucopia of punk deliciousness.
The Welly Club
Founded in 1913, the Welly Club, also known as The Wellington Club, has been a popular live music venue and alternative nightclub in Hull for generations.
Caraline Brown
Caraline founded the UK’s first ever PR company to specialise in internet businesses with nothing but a £2K overdraft and a strong belief that online would grow and flourish. Along the way the company over sixty industry awards, including PR Week’s national Consultancy of the Year. She has featured in many business titles and was named by PR Week as one of the most influential people in PR. Mrs Wilson’s Children has been a labour of love while working on her second novel. Her first, The Candlelit Menagerie, is available from all good booksellers.
@KariBrown @caralinebrownauthor Caraline@karibrown.uk
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