A HEADLINE appearance by blues veterans The Spikedrivers at a social club in Keighley marked the start of a renowned blues scene in the town that’s still thriving a decade later.

On March 11, 2005 The Spikedrivers, and support act Blues Breakdown, became the first bands to play at Keighley’s first dedicated blues club. Back then, the club held its events at St Anne’s Catholic Social Centre under the name of Spectrum Blues Club.

Originally just a punter, John Dunn became involved with running the club as an “emergency substitute” in 2007. “A name change that year to Keighley Blues Club, followed by a necessary move to Cougar Park in January 2009 when we became aware that St Anne’s was about to close, added to the club’s woes,” says John. “With the venue now situated outside the centre of Keighley, a significant number of our regulars decided not to follow us to our new home, citing ‘it’s not in Keighley’ as their reason – somehow, I think Keighley Cougars RLFC would dispute this!

“Fortunately, Stuart Marshall, the club’s sound engineer, joined me in an effort to keep it all going and, together with help from volunteers Patrick and Nancy Hargreaves, Peter Whittaker and David Bosworth, we managed to initially steady the ship then set sail for calmer waters.

“The addition of expert blues photographer Idris Richards to the team ensured top quality photos for the website.”

The club is run by tireless volunteers. “We just do it for the fun of it – although what ‘fun’ can be gleaned from acts cancelling at the last minute, heavy snow resulting in gigs being called off, and worst of all, standing by the stage ten minutes before the headline act is due to begin in front of a full house with no sign of the band anywhere, is anyone’s guess!” laughs John.

“A special mention should be given to the people at Cougars. Despite going through troubling times themselves, they’ve always looked after us extremely well and it is a huge credit to them they make every- one so very welcome at each and every concert.” John also runs the website, prints and sells tickets, deals with publicity, produces flyers and – with Stuart Marshall and Keighley’s Jam On Top, which provides the PA – sets up.

Patrick and Nancy Hargreaves handle membership enquiries and other volunteers help gigs go smoothly. “Special mention also to my wife Kath who answers the phone,” says John.

By 2008 the club’s membership had dropped to 60, but by promoting it as a venue for people “who want to actually listen to the music” they built up to a healthy 179.

“Now, ten years, 133 gigs and 175 acts later, we’re the longest-running club dedicated purely to blues music in Yorkshire. To celebrate we’ve booked arguably the best known blues band in the country – The Blues Band.” has be The gig is moved from Cougars to the larger Pennington’s Octagon in Sandbeds, with 300-plus expected.

The Blues Band will be at Pennington’s Octagon, Bradford Road, Sandbeds, Keighley, April 10. Tickets keighleybluesclub.net.