January 01 – The Jim Martin Band plus the New Jacobeats
January 10, 12, 13 – Jim Martin Band
February 14, 16, 17 – Renee Barr – Although she was booked, the dates were cancelled due to illness and it seems no replacement was found
March 06, 08, 09 – London’s most exciting exotic dancer – Jill Chatrell
March 09 – Jill Chatrell will not be appearing. In her place will be the speciality and exotic dancer from North Of England Marie
March 22, 23 – The Settlers, Britains foremost vocal trio. Price increase to 7/6-
Come dancing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
May 03, 04 – Margo Delmar. Clubland’s most exciting exotic dancer
May 22, 24, The Allan James duo
May 31/June 01 – Nepenthe. The fabulous coloured American soul singer
June 17 – It’s a real rave-up with The Sponge. Beat at it’s best!
August 23 – Malcolm Clarke And The Cresters with the resident Jim Martin Band
September 18, 21 – For the singer with the way-way out revealing dresses. Meet Dawn Barrie. (Ed: I’m a bit confused by this description. What way-out revealing dresses have to do with singing is anyone’s guess. Was this a way of describing yet another “exotic dancer” or stripper?)
September 27 – The M.D.E. Club’s Sunday Discotheque starts
September 28 – This act is provacative! It’s daring! It’s exciting! You must see Malaika Mandes, clubland’s sensational snake dancer.
October 14 – The M.D.E. Club’s Special Midnight Matinee. K.H.G. Rules plus The Hi-Steppin’ Damson Jam.
October 26 – The fabulous singing trio – The Freemen
November 23 – The top singing pair – The Bernie Tutton Duo
December 07 – The Darren Brothers vocal harmony and instrumental comedy
December 24 – Young Conservatives present Sockittomesanta with Charge Of The Light Brigade plus the Jim Martin Quartet
December 25 – Moray Dance Club presents Xmas Day Carnival with Jim Martin Band plus Soul Purpose
December 27 – Jim Martin Band
December 28 – Jim Martin Band
December 31 – Elgin Jazz Club presents Hogmanay Hop with The T-Set
The contrast between The Two Red Shoes and The Ballerina Ballroom in Nairn is quite shocking. Only two big-name bands played Elgin in 1967 whereas at least 10 played Nairn. Why Bonici’s ballroom in the smaller of the two towns should have proved more successful at this period is a mystery.
What is clear however, is that the Elgin venue had become boring and outdated. There was little change in the resident band although Bonici did have several bands circulating around his other dance halls. No matter how popular The Jimmy Martin Band was, it was crazy to have them play almost every night the venue was open. It seems the glory days were really over for The Two Red Shoes despite Pink Floyd playing on July 19th. I’m assuming their appearance was once again down to the relationship built up with Brian Epstein. It’s possible that Albert was contracually obliged to take them for a set number of dates.
Regular dancing every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday to the Jimmy Martin resident band
January 18, 20, 21 – Julie Grant will be appearing as guest vocalist
Wednesdays – Over 25’s Night 9.30 – 11.45 p.m.
Fridays – Late Night 9.30 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Saturdays – Palais Night 9 – 11.45 p.m.
February 8, 10, 11 – Miss Donna Douglas with Jimmy Martin Dance Band
February 14 – Valentine Dance with The Web from Manchester
March 01 – Dale Adriatico. All the way from the Phillipines. The most up and coming new vocalist with a voice like Sinatra
March 22 – Miss Jackie Day as guest vocalist
March 24 – Miss Jackie Day as guest vocalist
April 19, 21, 22 – Sheena Duff as guest vocalist
May 10, 12, 13 – Jackie Rogers as guest vocalist
May 30 – M.D.E. Queen Heat Two with Haddock’s Rockhouse plus The T-Set
June 27 – They’re back: Scotland’s top group after yet another action-packed German Tour. The scene is set for the fabulous Copycats plus The Dollies and The Mixture
July 12, 14, 15 – Donna Douglas as guest vocalist
July 20 – Pink Floyd plus The Copycats. I’ve been told that only 12 people attended this concert. The advert above is typical of Albert Bonici‘s over the top promotion skills. It turns out that the way-out lighting was provided by Graham Nairn who took charge of the Two Red Shoes Light(s) and tried to add some atmosphere to the event!
To give you a taste of what Pink Floyd were like and what their way-out light show should have been like, here they are at the legendary UFO CLub in London from March of this year. The footage is from a German documentary film called Die Jungen Nachtwandler (The Young Nightcrawler), about the British musical scene in the sixties. The director Edmund Wolf also appears on the clip for a short comment. It’s fascinating as it shows how the audience reacted to the music as well as what it was like in a club at this time.
August 03 – Paul And Barry Ryan (seen above with “Have Pity On The Boy”) plus The Copycats
August 29 – Mama’s Little Children
September 05 – The Freddie Mack Show
September 06, 08, 09 – Sheena Duff
The advert above is from the Northern Scot and the listing below is from the Elgin Courant. Why neither contains the others date(s) is anyone’s guess.
September 27, 29, 30 – Judy Cannon presents her own brand of music. Dancing to the music of The Jimmy Martin Band
November 04 – The Jimmy Martin Band with Kathleen Ogg
November 08, 10, 11 – By special request! The return of the irrepressible and vivacious Judy Cannon
November 17 – The Modelles
November 18 – Dancing for all with The Jimmy Martin Band
November 21 – Freddie Mack And His Road Show (all sixteen pieces of it)
November 28 – It’s the new Cash Boutique Queen. Heat 2. Win a fabulous nylon fur coat!
December 06, 08, 09 – Entertainment at its best with the scintillating and vivacious Sheena Duff
Come dancing every Wednesday – Over 25’s Night, Friday – Late Night, Saturday – Palais Night with The Jimmy Martin Band
December 24 – It’s the Midnight Special with Circle. Prizes! hats! Novelties! Streamers! Under the direction of top dee-jay Keith Taylor
December 25 – SJPA present The Jim Martin Band
December 27 – Young Liberals’ Association present The Jim Martin Band
January 11 – Eden Kane (pictured above) with The Jay Walkers
January 13 – Teenage waltz competition
January 18 – The Allisons (seen above with “Are You Sure”, their number 2 hit from last year which came second in 1961’s Eurovision Song Contest)with Dru Harvey and The Jokers
January 25 – Selection of “Miss Fochabers 1961” in the “Miss Bristol” competition
January 26 – Grand finals of the North Of Scotland Jiving Championships for “The Capstan Cup” and selection of “Miss Bristol” 1961
January 27 – Teen attraction – 1st heat of the Elgin jiving competition
February 08 – Dancing to The Alex Sutherland Sextet
February 15 – Jim McHarg and His Scotsville Jazzmen (this line-up is thought to include Jack Bruce)
February 22 – The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
February 23 – The Glasgow J.W. Formation Dancing Team demonstrating The Checker Twist
March 01 – Emile Ford‘s old backing group – The Original Checkmates plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
March 06 – 738 Squadron Dance
March 15 – Emile Ford and The Fordettes (one advert lists them as The New Checkmates)
March 24 – Special Teen Attraction – Second heat of Elgin teen twist contest
March 29 – Florrie Cairns (above) And The Clansmen with Fionna Duncan
March 30 – The Charities Ball
March 31 – The Arts Ball
April 05 – Bob Wallis and Storyville Jazzmen
April 12 – Craig Douglas. Here he is on the BBC’s, “Pops & Lenny” show with, “Lonesome me” from later in the year.
April 19 – Kenny Ball Jazzmen supported by Dean Kerr’s East Coast Jazzmen
April 26 – Danny Williams
April 28 – Special teen attraction Go-Ma-Go Show band star Colin Day with The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
May 03 – Dick Charlesworth and His City Gents
May 10 – The Karl Denver Trio
May 11 – Sounds Incorporated. I’ve mistakenly assumed that Sounds Incorporated were the American band who supported The Beatles on tour in the U.S. but the band of the same name featured above was formed in Kent in 1961 and signed up by Brian Epstein. His links with Albert Bonici make me think this is the band seen at The Two Red Shoes.
May 12 – The afternoon teen dance will be discontinued after today. Restarting again in the autumn
May 17 – Al Saxon (pictured above)
May 24 – Double attraction – The Mudlarks and Donna Douglas
May 31 – Eurovision Song Contest winner Ronnie Carroll seen above performing “Ring-A-Ding Girl”
June 07 – The Terry Lightfoot Jazz Band
June 08 – The Elgin Dairy Princess in the £ 500 Dairy Queen contest
June 14 – Young Unionists’ Annual Dance
June 21 – Shane Fenton And The Fentones. Here’s Shane with “Magic” from the film, “Play It Cool” which hit cinema screen around now.
June 28 – The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
July 05 – Duke D’Mond And His Baron Knights (sic)
July 12 – The Viscounts. Gordon Mills, in the centre of the picture above, went on to manage Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck.
July 26 – Jimmy Crawford and The Ravens
August 02 – Emile Ford and The Fordettes
August 09 – Rock ‘N’ Trad Night – The Original Checkmates plus Andy Elsdon Jazzband
August 16 – Night Sounds
August 23 – Don Charles
August 30 – Mal Ryder and The Spirits
September 06 – Another double star attraction The Mike Cotton Jazzmen plus The Viscounts
September 13 – Jimmy Justice And The Excheckers. Jimmy (seen above) had two top ten hits earlier in the year and reached number 20 around this time with “Spanish Harlem”. He hit the front page of Melody Maker in July with news that after a season of Sunday concerts in Blackpool ended in the middle of September, he was flying to the States for a number of TV dates.
September 20 – Forrie Cairns And The Clansmen plus Jay and Terry Scott
September 25 – Jet Harris and The Jet Blacks. Here’s Jet with “Main Title Theme (from “Man With The Golden Arm”)” which hit the charts last month and stayed there for 11 weeks.
September 27 – The Springfields, seen above with their hit, “Island Of Dreams”
October 04 – David McBeth
October 18 – Craig Douglas plus Johnny and Mike with The Shades
October 25 – Bobby Angelo with Susan Terry and The Tuxedos
November 01 – The Avons
November 08 – The Baron Knights (sic)
November 15 – Don Charles and Gerry Reno
November 20 – Recomencement of Saturday teen dancing
November 22 – Pop package show with The Charlie Galbraith Jazzmen, Barry James And The Strangers with Garry and Lee
November 29 – Bruce Turner Jump Band
December 06 – Jimmy Crawford And The Ravens plus The Checkmates
December 07 – Semi-finals of “Miss North Of Scotland 1962”
December 13 – Shane Fenton And The Fentones
December 20 – Chance Gordon
December 24 – Elgin Folk Music Club carnival
December 25 – The Aberdeen University Students’ Campaign presents A Christmas Beatnik Ball
July 28 – The Elgin Gala Association. Gala Opening And Carnival Night of the Two Red Shoes Ballroom. Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
Public dancing every Friday and Saturday. Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
August 09 – Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
August 11 – The Sixteen Club Carnival late Night
August 12 – Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
August 25 – Alexander’s Social Club Dance
September 01 – The Moray Rugby Club Dance. The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
September 15 – Sid Phillips And His Orchestra
September 22 – Modern Dancing Enterprises invite you to come and choose “Miss Elgin”. A heat in the contest for “Miss North-East Of Scotland 1960”
October 06 – Humphrey Lyttleton And His Band
October 10 – The Moray Rugby Club Holiday Dance. Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
October 13 – “Miss Hopeman” and “Miss Burghead” will be chosen in the contest for “Miss North-East Of Scotland 1960”. Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
November 02 – Confederation Of Health Service Employees Jubilee Celebration Dance. Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet with vocalist Jean Lambe
November 03 – Elgin Golf Club presents Nat Gonella And His Georgians
November 07 – Scottish Country Dance Rally with Caberfeidh Band
November 18 – Finals of “Miss North-East Of Scotland 1960”. Dancing to the music of The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
November 24 – Special “Over-30s” Night
November 29 – 736 Squadron Annual Dance
December 02 – Heat of “Daily Express” Gaytown “Miss Scotland 1961”
December 05 – Scottish Country Dance Rally with Caberfeidh Band
December 15 – The Pete Ridge Jazzmen with Little Mo plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet
December 22 – Elgin Academy School Dance (Private Function)
Posted by rockmine 
Two Red Shoes Ballroom, Elgin 
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