The Runner - A Blues Obituary...
Bands that played The Runner - Barry's List
A battered old pub on the corner of a Nottingham backstreet. Passing through it's doors you were greeted by a tiny low stage in the corner of the room and walls adorned by layer after layer of old torn and peeling gig posters. The names on the posters read like a who's who of the local, national and international Blues scene, not merely memorabilia, they all had something in common, under the words "playing at ... " was the name The Running Horse.
This was the renowned Blues venue, not just in Nottingham, it's reputation for great live music had spread throughout the UK.
My own introduction was back in the early nineties, I'd seen a band called 'Mr Siegal' at Potters in Langley Mill and became instantly hooked on the Blues. After a little research I found that they performed regularly at 'The Runner' thus my initiation began and I became a regular. Always assured of a friendly welcome from Barry the Landlord and entertainment that was the “Dogs B****cks” to coin a much used phrase, I had some great memories and saw some real legends.
One of the most surreal was the night that I stood in the gents and looked up at the guy next me who just happened to be the legendary Hubert Sumlin, he’s probably still puzzled by the inane look on my face.
Sadly in recent years, a change of management and experimentation with the genres of music that they promoted has meant the demise of a great venue and alas The Runner is no more, but as a Phoenix rises from the ashes, the Nottingham Blues Society has been formed to try once again to make Nottingham a centre of top class Blues in the UK.
Tony Winfield
| • Michael Katon USA - • Big Joe Turner USA - • Omar & The Howlers USA - • Bobby Mack’s Night-train USA - • Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges USA • Walter Trout USA - • Kent Duchaine USA - • Dan Baird USA - • Bob Kirkpatrich USA - • Memo Gonzalez USA - • Bob Bingham USA - • Joe D’Urso USA - • Lightning Red USA • Marcus Malone USA - • Preacher Boy USA - • David Bacha USA - • Gregg Wright USA - • Colin John USA - • Honey Boy Edwards USA • Clarence ‘Tex’ Walker USA - • Bill Kirchen USA - • Denise Marie USA - • Delta Moon USA -- • Adam Bomb USA - • Boccigalupe USA - • Doug Jay & The BlueJays USA - • Hubert Sumlin USA • Lightnin' Willie & The Poorboys • Sherman Robertson USA • Joe Bonamassa USA • Hamilton Loomis USA • Russell “Hitman” Alexander USA • Dan Phelps USA • Johnny Mastro & Mammas Boys • Carvin Jones USA • Billy Boy Walton Band USA • Mojo Buford USA • Catfish Kieth USA • Bobby Strange USA • James Wheeler USA • Tea Spain • Family Style Italy - • Alamo Leal Brazil - • Issac Guillory • Pat Travers Canada - • Rob Tognoni Australia - • Dave Hole Australia - • Gwyn Ashton Australia - • Derrin Neuendorf Australia • Steelyard Blues Band Belgium • Old Tennis Shoes Holland -- Split • Vinnies Blues Band Holland • Arthur Ebeling Holland - • The Sean Walsh Band Holland • The Sundowners Holland • The Bluescasters Germany - • Mick Pini Germany • Claude Bourbon France - • Okon Jones France • Little Jenny & The BlueBeans • Loserville Sweden - • Wentus Blues Band Finland • Nine Below Zero London - • Tony McPhee Telford - • Ian Siegal LONDON - • The Nimmo Bros Scotland - • Parkers Alibi WOLVERHAMPTON • Paul Lamb NEWCASTLE - • Connie Lush LIVERPOOL - • Dana Gillespie LONDON - • Ainsley Lister Band LEICESTER - • Ian Hunter BRIGHTON - • Bert Jansch LONDON - • John Renbourne SCOTLAND - • Big George SCOTLAND - Split • Out of the Blue NEWARK - • The Harpbreakers Manchester • The Nightporters TORQUAY • No Money Down ? - • Nigel Grahams Blues Reaction ? - • The Groove Doctors London - | • Wamma Jamma DEVON - • Eddie Martin Bristol - • Eddie & The Hotrods London - • The Hamsters SOUTHEND • The UK Subs LONDON - • Lee Sankey LONDON • Innus Sibbon LONDON - • The Bushbury Mountain Daredevils WOLVERHAMPTON • Four On The Floor BIRMINGHAM • The Razors LEICESTER - Split • Jute RUGBY - Split • The Detonators LONDON - • Dick Wardell WEYMOUTH • Pigmeat Pete Smith LONDON - • Martin Trimble LINCOLN - • Dino Baptiste LONDON - • Vincent Flatts Final Drive • Smokehouse Blues Band • Engine LIVERPLOOL - Split • Stray LONDON - • AB/CD COVENTRY – Split • Floydian Slip MANSFIELD - Split • Carnival of Thieves SHEFFIELD • Chicken Ass Blues Band • The Frank White Band • Fred Zeppelin BHam • Sally Barker & The Rhythm • The Rolling Clones Nottingham - • The Fab Four NOTTINGHAM - • The Stomp Bros NOTTINGHAM - • Steel City Blues Band • Errol Linton Blues Vibe London - • The Band of Gypsies • Limehouse Lizzie ROTHERHAM • The Cool Grey Fives • Ray Stubbs NEWCASTLE - • The Hotlick Cookies • Andy, Boris & Keith • The Hoax SWINDON - Split • Amor SWINDON - • King Rollo GRIMSBY - • Rollo Markee & The Tailshakers • Eddie Martin & The Texas Blues Kings • Shamus O’blivion TAMWORTH - • The Producers • Blind & Dangerouse KIMBERLEY • The Beagles UK - • Adrian Byron Burns LEICESTER - • The Stumble Brothers • Old School MANSFIELD • Borderline NOTTINGHAM • The Longhorns LEICESTER • Winter Wilson RETFORD • The Matt Taylor Band LONDON - • Seven Little Sisters • Larry Miller LONDON - • Eric Bell IRELAND - • Tam White SCOTLAND - • Dave Peabody LONDON • Sonny Black LONDON - • Hershy & The 12 Bars LONDON - • Egypt Norwich _ • The Strats ? - • Corrinna Greyson Band London - • Hucklebuck London - • Texas Thunder London - • The Lloyd Watson Band ? – • Free At Last Walsall - • The Robin Hoare Band Sheffield - • Dr A Blues Band ? - • Green Mac ? - • Blues Devils ? - • Dawson Smith ? - • Blues Basement ? - • Olly Allcock Band ? - • Touch To Much Notts - • The Rockin Armadillo’s London - • The Tracy Hunter Band London - | • Roadhouse London - • The Forster King Band ? - • Soul Kitchen ? - • Crosscut Saw ? - • The Revolutionaires Scotland - • Tne Lyndon Anderson Band ? - • Eddie Tatton Band ? • John Otway London - • Tantrum Lancaster - • Steve Hall Notts - • Badaxe Notts - • Steve Baker Band Notts - • Chicken Legs Weaver Sheffield - • Never The Bride London - • Teddy Fullick (Jazz) Notts - • Steve Gibbons Bham - • Glass Onion ? - • The Melt Skegness - • Dr JJ’s Blues Band London - • Loaded Dice Notts - • Mitch Oldham (Jazz) Notts - • Idle Hands Blues Band ? - • Gin House Lincoln - • Big Girls Blues ? - • Two Timers London - • Trafficker wales - • Will Killeen ? - • Bad Tow Blues ? - • Fade 2 Black Notts - • Giles ? - • Hot Tomalies London - • Andy Cortez London - • Blues & Trouble Scotland - • The Davey Bothers Swindon - • Hardshoulder ? - • Cadillac Kings • John O’Leary London - • MIA Notts - • Simon Hickling & The DT’s • Never The Bride (Nikki) London - • Chris Lomas B’Ham - • Big Blue House Nantwich - • Scott McKeon Band London - • Nu Blues London - • Viva Santana ? - • The Hicksville Bombers Notts - • Otis Grand London - • Micky Kemp London - • Stan Webb Kidderminster - • The Paul Gibbard Band Sheffield - • Motel kings London - • Sack Sabbath ? - • Smokestack Blues ? - • Blues At Ten ? - • Absolute Zero ? • The Radiators ? - • Juke joint ? - • Katy Perreria Bham - • Deliverence Notts - • 3 Above The Shark Notts - • Lights Out By Nine Scotland - • Wilko Johnson London - • The Stumble ? - • Mick Ridgways Mojo Hand Leicester - • Slim Line Papas Lincoln - • Sore Point Notts - • The Numbers Racket Wales - • Chris Hull Notts - • Voodoo Van Boogie ? - • The Blues Burglars ? - • Steve French band Sheffield - • Buster James ? - • The Elements Notts - • Joker Notts - • Juicy Lucy London - • Fab 2 Notts - • Blackfoot Bros ? - • Black Cat Bone ? - • Amy Wadge Wales - • Danny Bryants Redeye Band ? - |
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Comments
Really gutted the 'The Runner' is no more. but some good news... Floydian Slip have not split, we are still alive & gigging!!!
I remember many great times and great gigs at the Runner. I also remember too many pints with Barry. Great host and venue.
Excellent stuff Tony - well done !!
Barry the credit all goes to Tony, I was as surprised as you are to see this! Ah the good old days.
This was a big surprise to open this page and read this account of The Runner times past, and I must say it succeded in bringing a lump to my throat, many thanks Tony & Sue