The Witch Doctor in Catford was a notable rock venue in southeast London and was located above the Savoy Rooms. It opened in October 1965 and mainly hosted bands on Saturday nights (the other nights of the week are noted).

I’ve started a list of artists that were advertised to play at the venue. I would welcome any additions and any memories from anyone that attended the club. All of the entries are from the South East London Mercury unless otherwise noted.

The gigs listed below from early August to mid-October were held at the Savoy Rooms before the Witch Doctor opened at the end of October 1965:

7 August 1965 – Johnny Cannon & The Shades with The Lonely Ones

14 August 1965 – The Gobbledegooks with Dave & The Strollers

21 August 1965 – The Trendsetters Ltd with Wainwright’s Gentlemen

28 August 1965 – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich with The Equals

4 September 1965 – The Bo Street Runners

11 September 1965 – The Bretheren

18 September 1965 – Bubbles & Company

25 September 1965 – The Mark Four

2 October 1965 – The Crowd with The Epics

9 October 1965 – Just Four Men

16 October 1965 – The Symbols

23 October 1965 – missing entry

The following gigs were held at the Witch Doctor, above the Savoy Rooms:

31 October 1965 – The Mighty Avengers

6 November 1965 – The Herd

13 November 1965 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

14 November 1965 – The Lonely Ones (says every Sunday night)

20 November 1965 – The Fenmen

21 November 1965 – The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)

27 November 1965 – The Objects

28 November 1965 – Alan Haren with Tony Crombie and The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)

4 December 1965 – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men

5 December 1965 – The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)

11 December 1965 – The Herd

12 December 1965 – The Washington DCs (Sunday night)

19 December 1965 – The Washington DCs (Sunday night)

24 December 1965 – The Lonely Ones, Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men and The Confederates (Friday night)

31 December 1965 – The Majority, The Beat Syndicate and The High Jackers (Friday night)

8 January 1966 – The Mark Four

15 January 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex

22 January 1966 – The Carnaby

29 January 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

5 February 1966 – The Washington DCs

12 February 1966 – The Mark Four (advert says Mark VI’s)

19 February 1966 – The Loose Ends

26 February 1966 – Peter B’s Looners

In March gigs were advertised for Friday. Not sure if that means gigs also happened on Saturdays and they are missing

4 March 1966 – Big beat group (Friday night)

11 March 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Friday night)

18 March 1966 – The Carnaby (Friday night)

25 March 1966 – The Mark Four (Friday night)

1 April 1966 – The Loose Ends and The Lonely Ones (Friday night)

8 April 1966 – missing entry (if band due to play on Friday night)

9 April 1966 – missing entry (if band due to play on Saturday night)

10 April 1966 – The Loose Ends and The Lonely Ones (Sunday night)

15 April 1966 – The Majority (Friday night)

16 April 1966 – missing entry (if band due to play Saturday night)

23 April 1966 – The Washington DCs

28 April 1966 – The Who (Thursday night)

30 April 1966 – The Mark Four

7 May 1966 – Johnny B Great & The Quotations

14 May 1966 – The Loose Ends

21 May 1966 – The Plus Four

28 May 1966 – The Fenmen

4 June 1966 – The Gaylords

11 June 1966 – Washington DCs

18 June 1966 – The Majority

25 June 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

2 July 1966 – The Riot Squad

7 July 1966 – Guy Darrell (Thursday night)

9 July 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex

16 July 1966 – missing entry

23 July 1966 – missing entry

30 July 1966 – missing entry

6 August 1966 – Tony Knight’s Chessmen (Sunday night) (Fabulous 208)

13 August 1966 – missing entry

20 August 1966 – Dave Anthony’s Moods

27 August 1966 – The Herd

3 September 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex

10 September 1966 – missing entry

17 September 1966 – The Loose Ends

24 September 1966 – The Gaylords (changed name to Marmalade soon after)

1 October 1966 – The Herd

7 October 1966 – The Tea-Set (Friday night)

8 October 1966 – David Bowie

12 October 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Wednesday night)

14 October 1966 – Kenny Everett (Friday night)

15 October 1966 – The Creation

22 October 1966 – The Quiet Five

28 October 1966 – Episode Six (Radio London night) (Brian Long’s research)

29 October 1966 – The Gaylords (aka Marmalade)

4 November 1966 – Pop group (Friday night)

5 November 1966 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations

9 November 1966 – The Clockwork Oranges (Wednesday night)

10 November 1966 – Steve Darbyshire & The Yum Yum Band (Thursday night)

11 November 1966 – Episode Six (Radio London night) (Brian Long’s research)

12 November 1966 – The Epics

19 November 1966 – The Fleur De Lyes with The Clockwork Oranges (Keith Guster’s diary)

23 November 1966 – The Clockwork Oranges (Wednesday night)

26 November 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex

Clive Chase who played bass with Bobby King & The Sabres says that his group played on 26 November 1966 with Marmalade (see comments section below where he also lists Bobby King & The Sabres’ gigs at the Savoy Rooms for the years 1963-1965).

30 November 1966 – The Clockwork Oranges (Wednesday night)

2 December 1966 – Radio London night

3 December 1966 – The Gaylords (aka Marmalade)

10 December 1966 – missing entry

16 December 1966 – Radio London night

17 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary –see comments section below)

23 December 1966 – Radio London night

24 December 1966 – The Mark Barry Groove and The Clockwork Oranges

30 December 1966 – Radio London night

31 December 1966 – Davey Sands & The Essex

The following are all Saturdays, unless otherwise noted. Most of the gigs had support but I did not list who they were.

7 January 1967 – missing entry

14 January 1967 – missing entry

21 January 1967 – The Lonely Ones

28 January 1967 – missing entry

4 February 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers

11 February 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers, The Coloured Raisins and The Heads

18 February 1967 – Guy Darrell and The Gnomes of Zurich

25 February 1967 – Dianne Ferris (aka Ferraz) and Nicky Scott & The New Images

4 March 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex with supporting band

11 March 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex

18 March 1967 – missing entry

25 March 1967 – missing entry

31 March 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Friday night)

1 April 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers

7 April 1967 – The Washington DCs with supporting band (Friday night)

8 April 1967 – The Herd and Bobby King & The Sabres

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, confirms this gig from his diary – see comments section below. 

14 April 1967 – The Symbols and The New Breed (Friday night)

15 April 1967 – The Lonely Ones with supporting band

21 April 1967 – The Creation with supporting band (Friday night)

22 April 1967 – The Flies with supporting band

28 April 1967 – (Simon K &) The Meantimers and The Groove (Friday night)

29 April 1967 – The Smoke with supporting band

5 May 1967 – The Coloured Raisins with King Ossie with supporting band (Friday night)

6 May 1967 – Episode Six with supporting band

12 May 1967 – The Next Issue and The Original Dyaks (Friday night)

13 May 1967 – The Fleur De Lyes with supporting band (Keith Guster’s diary)

19 May 1967 – The Human Instinct and The Jet Set (Friday night)

20 May 1967 – King Ossie and The Coloured Raisins with supporting band

26 May 1967 – John Watson & The Web and The Decision (recently The Showtimers but changed name) (Friday night)

27 May 1967 – The Fancy Bred

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 27 May – see comments section below. 

2 June 1967 – The Attack  with supporting band (Friday night)

3 June 1967 – Just Too Much (ex-members of Davey Sands & The Essex) with supporting band

9 June 1967 – The Knack (Friday night)

10 June 1967 – The H T

16 June 1967 – The Decision (formerly The Showtimers) and The Candy Choir (Friday night)

17 June 1967 – The Original Dyaks with supporting band

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 17 June – see comments section below. 

23 June 1967 – The Fireballs and Jon (Friday night)

24 June 1967 – (Simon K &) The Meantimers with supporting band

30 June 1967 – The Power and The Original Dyaks (Friday night)

1 July 1967 – Episode Six with supporting band

7 July 1967 – The Skatellites and The Guns of Navarone (Friday night)

8 July 1967 – Washington DCs with supporting band

14 July 1967 – Coloured Raisins and King Ossie (Friday night)

15 July 1967 – The Creation and The Poor Boys

21 July 1967 – The Original Dyaks (Friday night)

22 July 1967 – Tony Jackson & The Garden (the ex-Searcher?)

28 July 1967 – The Stax (formerly The Heads) and Ruby James (Friday night)

29 July 1967 – The Robb Storme Group and The Amboy Dukes

4 August 1967 – The Iveys (Friday night)

5 August 1967 – Heinz & The Wild Boys

11 August 1967 – Washington DCs with supporting band  (Friday night)

12 August 1967 – Episode Six with supporting band

18 August 1967 – The Original Dyaks with supporting band (Friday night)

19 August 1967 – The Marmalade with supporting band

25 August 1967 – (Simon K &) The Meantimers (Friday night)

26 August 1967 – Skip Bisserty (Skip Bifferty?)

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 26 August – see comments section below. 

1 September 1967 – The Ebony Keys with supporting band (Friday night)

2 September 1967 – The Amboy Dukes with supporting band

8 September 1967 – The Fingers and Bobby King & The Sabres (Friday night)

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 8 September – see comments section below. 

9 September 1967 – Robb Storme Group and The Fireballs

15 September 1967 – The Original Dyaks (Friday night)

16 September 1967 – The Skatallites

22 September 1967 – The Riot Squad and The New Breed (Friday night)

23 September 1967 – The Coloured Raisins

29 September 1967 – Robb Storme Group and Outrage (Friday night)

30 September 1967 – The Stormsville Shakers and The Soul Kings

6 October 1967 – The Love Affair with supporting band(Friday night)

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 6 October – see comments section below. 

7 October 1967 – The Original Dyaks with supporting band

13 October 1967 – missing entry

14 October 1967 – missing entry

20 October 1967 – The Amboy Dukes with supporting band (Friday night)

21 October 1967 – Junior Smith

27 October 1967 – missing entry

28 October 1967 – Episode Six with Bobby King & The Sabres

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 28 October – see comments section below. 

4 November 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways

11 November 1967 – The Gaff and The All Coloured Soul Sensation

18 November 1967 – The Love Affair

25 November 1967 – The Skatallites

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 25 November – see comments section below. 

2 December 1967 – Marmalade

9 December 1967 – missing entry

16 December 1967 – missing entry

23 December 1967 – missing entry

30 December 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)

I am missing most of 1968’s entries so would welcome any additions/corrections

17 February 1968 – Marmalade

24 February 1968 – The Amboy Dukes

1 March 1968 – Coloured Raisins

2 March 1968 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)

16 March 1968 – The Gass

20 April 1968 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)

1 June 1968 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)

29 June 1968 – Sweet Rain

Clive Chase, the bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres, says that his group also played on 29 June – see comments section below. It is the debut gig for the band’s new drummer Geoff Britton who will later go on to join Wings.

6 July 1968 – The Coloured Raisins

17 August 1968 – Funky Fever

14 September 1968 – The Amboy Dukes (Savoy, Catford)

9 November 1968 – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s diary)

7 December 1968 – The Amboy Dukes (Savoy, Catford)

1969

11 January 1969 – The Dream Police (Savoy, Catford) Melody Maker entry says this was formerly the Witch Doctor

25 January 1969 – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and Justin Tyme

1 February 1969 – Amboy Dukes

8 February 1969 – The Skatelites

15 February 1969 – The Coloured Raisins and The Electric Sun

22 February 1969 – Justin Tyme

1 March 1969 – US Flattop with The Cat Road Show (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)

8 March 1969 – The Skatelites

22 March 1969 – Desmond Dekker & The Aces

4 April 1969 – Bandwagon

5 April 1969 –Billie Davis (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)

12 April 1969 – The Carnival

19 April 1969 – The Globe Show

26 April 1969 – Simon K & The Meantimers and Lee Hawkins (Savoy, Catford)

3 May 1969 – Johnny James & The Swamp and Archimede’s Principle (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)

10 May 1969 – The Greatest Show on Earth

17 May 1969 – The Pyramids and The Soft Sensation

31 May 1969 – Prince Buster

7 June 1969 – The Globe Show

14 June 1969 – The Cats

28 June 1969 – Purple Globe and The Skatelites

2 August 1969 – The Pyramids (Savoy, Catford) (Melody Maker)

9 August 1969 – Simon K & The Meantimers (Savoy, Catford)

23 August 1969 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)

30 August 1969 – Purple Globe

6 September 1969 – Dave Amboy Big Band (Amboy Dukes) (Savoy, Catford)

13 September 1969 – The Amboy Dukes (Savoy, Catford)

20 September 1969 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s diary)

4 October 1969 – Simon K & The Meantimers (Savoy, Catford)

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.