A Timeline of Iconic Performances at the Ritz Ballroom, King's Heath - A Historic Music Landmark
- odprew
- Jul 22, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 19
George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney performing at the Ritz Ballroom on 15 February 1963 with Ringo Starr out of shot! Photograph courtesy of Jane Chapman.
Delving into the History of the Ritz Ballroom, a Famed Music Venue that Nurtured Rock and Roll Legends
Located on the south side of Birmingham, the Ritz Ballroom in Kings Heath was an epicentre of musical innovation and raw talent throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Known for hosting bands that went on to reshape the music landscape, this venue, operated by the visionary Ma and Pa Regan, served as an influential launching pad for many iconic bands. This post takes a chronological walk through the notable performances at the Ritz Ballroom, showcasing its impactful legacy in the music world.
Timeline of Notable Performances
24 January 1962: Adam Faith
18 April 1962 Gene Vincent/Sounds Incorporated
4 July 1962 Gene Vincent/Sounds Incorporated
16 January 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
18 January 1963 Johnny and The Hurricanes
15 February 1963: The Beatles Fresh from the release of their second single "Please Please Me," The Beatles are pictured below making their Birmingham debut when they graced the stage of the Ritz driving their screaming fans crazy with their groundbreaking sound. They returned again in a hurriedly re-arranged gig on 5 July 1963. BELOW: Photograph of The Beatles taken at the Ritz Ballroom on 15 February 1963 courtesy of Jane Chapman
BELOW: 4 Autographs that were collected at the Ritz Ballroom on 15 February 1963 and subsequently sold at Christies on 24 June 2010
According to the vendor she was picking up her coat 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 subsquently gave her their autographs too.
13 March 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
18 April 1963 Gene Vincent/Sounds Incorporated
11 May 1963 Jerry Lee Lewis/The Echoes
24 May 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
2 June 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
21 June 1963: Gene Vincent This great American rock and roll artist rocked the venue with his electrifying performances, leaving a lasting impression on the Birmingham audience. He was supported by The Outlaws featuring Ritchie Blackmore.
23 June 1963 Brian Poole and The Tremeloes/Modernaires/Blue Stars (source; Ritz Flyer)
14 July 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
21 August 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
14 September 1963: The Rolling Stones The Ritz had the privilege of hosting the charismatic Rolling Stones at their Birmingham debut, providing a glimpse into the future of rock and roll. The next day they returned to play at the Great Pop Prom at London's Royal Albert Hall pictured below!
10 November 1963: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
24 November 1964: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
8 December 1964: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
15 December 1964: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
22 December 1964: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
29 December 1964: Gerry Levene & The Avengers (including Graham Edge later of The Moody Blues & Roy Wood later of The Move, ELO and Wizzard)
11 January 1964: The Ronettes Be My Baby resonated round The Ritz
14 February 1964 John Barry Seven
18 April 1964 The Vendors (including Dave Hill and Dave Powell later of Slade), The Blue Stars
11 October 1964: Bill Haley & The Comets The Ritz rocked around the clock to the great American group who are pictured below on the Ritz's tiny stage. The Moody Blues were also on the bill
16 October 1964: King Bees (including Carl Palmer later of Emerson, Lake and Palmer)
Sounds Of Blue (including Stan Webb and Christine Perfect later of Chicken Shack)
Telstars
17 October 1964 Frankenstein and The Monsters
18 October 1964 Fairies/Jaymen/Mods/Blue Stars
19 October 1964 Destinies/DJ Tony
21 October 1964 Rhythm & Blues Night to Senators (including John Bonham later of Led Zeppelin)/Charlettes
6 December 1964: Jerry Lee Lewis/The Plebs
Great Balls Of Fire resonated round the Ritz.
7 February 1965: The T Bones (source: Midland Beat Advert)
13 February 1965 The Banshees (source: Midland Beat Advert)
14 February 1965 The John Barry Seven (source: Midland Beat Advert)
15 February 1965 The King Bees (source: Midland Beat Advert)
26 February 1965: The Moody Blues Initially a rhythm 'n' blues band before becoming a progressive rock band they took to the stage at the Ritz, further solidifying the venue's reputation for attracting cutting-edge talent. (source: Midland Beat Advert)
27 February 1965 The Gamblers (Billy Fury's Group) (source: Midland Beat Advert)
28 February 1965: Them featuring Van Morrison performed their first single Gloria as part of their set at The Ritz (source: Midland Beat Advert)
5 March 1965 The Merseybeats
6 March 1965 Downliner's Sect
7 March 1965 The Bow Street Runners/The Astecs
12 March 1965 The Ivy League/The King Bees
13 March 1965 Johnny King and The Aces/The Mods/The Olympics
14 March 1965 The Wackers
15 March 1965 The Tennessee Teens
17 March 1965 Special Birthday Dance & St Patricks Night Hooley featuring The Arran Girl Pipers/The Tennessee Teens/The Telstars
19 March 1965 The Originals/The Kingfishers
24 March 1965 The Tennessee Teens
26 March 1965 Goldie and The Gingerbreads
27 March 1965 Just Blues/The Cavelles/The Mods/The Blue Stars
1 May 1965 The Move
3 July 1965 The Ivy League
4 July 1965 The Modernaires
14 July 1965 The Tennessee Teens
14 November 1965: Small Faces and Wilson Picket The up and coming mod band and the great American soul singer were a Double Star Attraction
15 December 1965: Jimmy Cliff Brought over to this country by the founder of Island Records, he made his UK debut at the Ritz and his Birmingham backing band The New Generation included Dave Pegg later of Fairport Convention.
9 January 1966 Dusty Springfield Later frequently voted Britain's best female singer Dusty attracted a packed venue.
4 March 1966, 30 March 1966, 24 April and 20 July 1966 Robert Plant as a member of Listen. The future Led Zeppelin frontman showcased his powerful vocals at the Ritz, giving fans a taste of the legend he would become.
23 April 1966 The Move and The Steam Packet Show featuring Long John Baldry were a fantatic double bill (source: www.garagehangover.com)
1 May 1966 The Move (source: www.garagehangover.com)
11 June 1966: The Kinks With their distinctive British sound, The Kinks brought a unique flavour to the Ritz, enhancing its eclectic repertoire of musical performances.
27 June 1966 Dave Dee Dozy Mick & Tich
16 July 1966 The Spencer Davis Group ( www.garagehangover.com)
The Blues Hounds
17 July 1967 Rufus Thomas
15 February 1967: Family
16 December 1967: Pink Floyd Fronted by the charismatic Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd went to become a cornerstone of psychedelic rock, rounded off the Ritz's phenomenal roster of later to become famous acts marking one of the high points in the venue's illustrious history. The Rare Breed were also on the bill featuring Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne later of Black Sabbath.
Other artists who performed at the Ritz Ballroom
The Animals
Brian Augur Trinity with Julie Driscoll
John Barry Seven
Chicken Shack with Christine Perfect
Joe Brown and The Bruvvers
Spencer Davis Group
Gerry Dorsey (later to be known as Engelbert Humperdinck)
The Drifters
Marianne Faithful
Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders
The Fortunes
The 4 Seasons
Freddie and The Dreamers
Rolf Harris
The Hollies
Johnny Kidd and The Pirates
Kathy Kirby
Jerry Lee Lewis
Brian Poole and The tremeloes
The Righteous Brothers
The Rockin' Berries
The Ronettes
The Searchers
Del Shannon
Helen Shapiro
Sandie Shaw
Small Faces
The Swinging Blue Jeans
Rufus Thomas
The Walker Brothers
Please let us know the exact dates if you know them!
The Unforgotten Legacy of the Ritz Ballroom, Kings Heath
Unfortunately, the Ritz Ballroom's rich musical history came to an abrupt end on 27 March 2013 when an electrical fire destroyed the building. Yet, its influence continues to reverberate through the music world, highlighting the integral role it played in shaping the careers of many iconic bands.
By celebrating these performances, we hope to keep the spirit of the Ritz Ballroom alive and acknowledge its unique contribution to music history.
Your Visit to King's Heath
Today, visitors to Kings Heath can explore the area's vibrant music scene, nurtured by the legacy of the Ritz Ballroom. Check out the various music venues like the Hare & Hounds and Kitchen Garden Cafe on York Road, The Station pub on the High Street and festivals like the Pairc Festival at the New Irish Centre on Wheelers Lane that continue to honour the Ritz's musical heritage and foster a new generation of talent.
In this King's Heath Walk of Fame blog post, we've revisited the rich timeline of the Ritz Ballroom, Kings Heath, shining a spotlight on the musical giants it helped nurture. As we remember its glorious past, we also look forward to the future, excited by the promise of new music that honours its storied legacy.