Blyth Power – Meanwhile Gardens, Westbourne Park, London W11 – 23/06/84

Corialanus / Smoke From Cromwells Time / Chevy Chase / Folsam Prison Blues / Lord Of The Isles / Some Of Shellys Hang Ups / The Rookery / My Lady’s Games / Hurling Time / Dancing

Thirty one years ago, as crumbling canal side terraces were being cleared in Westbourne Park, a local sculptor named Jamie McCullough wondered if some of the derelict wasteland that was left after the demolition could become a community garden. He asked the local authority (Westminster at the time) for permission to turn the rubble into a park. Westminster gave temporary permission – hence the name, Meanwhile. The name stuck and the Gardens prospered. Meanwhile Gardens is still there today and is still a nice day out.

The ‘idiot picnics’ which were held four times a year at Meanwhile Gardens from the summer of 1977 to the last events in 1988 were organised by the Lancaster Music Co Op and the Street Level studios folk (notibly Kif Kif and Grant Showbiz) with the additonal help of Protag. The Meanwhile Gardens events which I attended and jumped around in the sand pit with a bottle of Merrydown cider in hand, were enjoyable affairs with a real mix up bands and performers turning up to play, or to perform for free in the summer sun.

This post showcases the debut Blyth Power performance at this ramshakle temporary venue in June 1984. This performance was also the seventh gig the band had performed.

Original flyer from the collection of Nick Godwin ex of Zounds, the photograph of Blyth Power performing on this day at Meanwhile Gardens from the collection of Mick Lugworm.