Welcome to NEWPORT Rock Collecting
Newport Rock Collecting is a social history and contemporary collecting project, created by Winding Snake Productions in partnership with Newport Museum & Art Gallery. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and with support from First Campus (University of South Wales).
Starting in 2018 we have been gathering memories and artefacts from gigs and gig-goers relating to events in Newport between 1970 and 2010 for a new audio archive and exhibition, celebrating Newport’s commitment to bands, gigs and rock music! Explore these pages to find out who we spoke to and what we heard.
Videos
PodCast
Special guests join host Richard Parfitt in two 1 hour specials for the archive.
Audio Archive Special 1: Richard Frame and Alan Jones
Audio Archive Special 2: Sam Dabb and Gary Raymond
Spotify Playlists
We have curated a selection of Spotify playlists for Newport Rock Collecting. Just click the playlist previews below to launch Spotify.
Audio Archive
We spoke to people from the Newport music scene about their memories and experiences.
To start listening straight away please visit the full archive at Peoples Collection Wales
For now, here is a sample...
Jon Langford: MAN, 1999
Jan Davies: Van Morrison and Georgie Fame, 1993
Paul Eversley: Reggae in Newport
Chris Harding: Stone Roses, 1995
Sue Jenkins: Hawkwind and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, c.1971
Paul Davies: Ralph and the Ponytails, 1978
Cathy Cooper: Gaydogs and Portsmouth Symphonia, 1974
Exhibition
We've selected a small number of artefacts from the exhibition at Newport museum for you to see here.
Idles Ivor Novello Award (2018)
The Ivor Novello for Best Album awarded to Newport born Joe Talbot in 2018 for Joy as an Act of Resistance. Lent by Joe Talbot
Terris NME Award (2000)
The Philip Hall On Award For Brightest Hope was awarded to Newport band Terris at the NME Awards in 2000. At the time the band, Gavin Goodwin, Alun Bound, Neil Dugmore and Owen Matthews were co-headlining an NME tour with Coldplay who we also nominated alongside Sigur Ros, Doves and Slipknot. Lent by Terris
Dub War Siren
Dub War siren and poster. Lent by Benji Webbe
I RECALL GOING TO SEE THE DARLING BUDS PLAY AT A VENUE ON JOHN FROST SQUARE THAT HAD A BASEMENT ROOM (I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE VENUE), MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE 80S.
WE WENT TO SEE ELTON JOHN AT THE NEWPORT CENTRE ON 21ST NOVEMBER 1985. MY LATE MOTHER-IN-LAW QUEUED FOR THE TICKETS. I REMEMBER THE DATE BECAUSE IT WAS THE DAY THAT OUR NEPHEW WAS BORN; HIS PARENTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE CONCERT, BUT WERE AT THE ROYAL WENT HOSPITAL MATERNITY UNIT INSTEAD!
OTHER BANDS I REMEMBER SEEING AT THE NEWPORT CENTRE WERE DEACON BLUE (STANDING NEAR THE FRONT;
WE STILL GO TO SEE THEM WHEN THEY ARE ON TOUR), THE SPECIALS AND PAUL HEATON AND JACQUI ABBOTT.
CAERLEON ARTS FESTIVAL HAS BEEN COING FOR YEARS NOW, AND THEIR FREE MUSIC WEEKEND IS ALWAYS A GOOD DAY OUT.
R. Weller
Get Involved
We've collected loads of stories, but its not too late to contribute towards this archive. We'd love to hear your memories of gig-going in Newport in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s or 2010s - you can either type your story out, or record yourself, and send it to us using the button below.
Our Supporters
We'd like to thank the following for their support:
