Pool Of Sound - Millenium Renaissance

Tony Butler

The Zanzibar

 

 

 

Opened by Tony Butler and situated at 43 Seel Street, Liverpool, The Zanzibar is is a live music venue and one of the the most influential and important grassroots venues Liverpool has ever known.
Following a music scene that had become far more influenced by post punk, garage and experimental music as a backlash to the regular guitar pop music there came a renaissance that was centred around one venue in particular. 
Together with The Cavern and Eric's, The Zanzibar became the third place where three generations of fans had gathered to propel a local scene onto the national stage. Between 2001 and 2004, The Zanzibar became another catalyst for the 'Pool Of Sound' and, for a brief moment, it really did feel that all eyes were on this glorious out of the way corner of Liverpool's city centre.

It is hard, nigh impossible, to put into words the importance and impact this place, and Tony Butler's involvement, had on Liverpool music. It is quite simply a rite of passage for every musician that has ever wanted to grace a stage.
A place that made dreams come true, and it was Tony to so many young people, who made them come true. Pete Wylie said of it in 2008, "The Zanzibar is the unsung hero of the Liverpool music scene. I think in twenty years time, people will talk about The Zanzibar in the way people talk about The Cavern and Eric's."

Established in 1990, the Club itself holds around 300 people, and is divided into two main areas - a long narrow dance floor which is in front of the stage, and a raised seating area which runs parallel down one side, with the bar flanking the other side of the dance floor.

It is best known for being the home of regular club nights such as 'The Bandwagon' and 'Valhalla' amongst others. Unlike most clubs in Liverpool, the music here was generally rock and alternative and it tended to specialise in showcasing unsigned bands. What the Zanzibar did have was a commitment to supporting local bands and a sound system that belied its size and status. The stage was set for The Bandwagon.
It was 'The Bandits' who made it their duty to provide the night which coalesced the scene and gave these bands somewhere to play. The six musicians began to make real headway alongside their Bandwagon night which saw John Robinson and Gary Murphy promote a monthly event featuring bands, with the band themselves DJ'ing a playlist of tunes ranging from '50s rock 'n' roll via reggae, punk and '60s psychedelia. This club night, held on the first Saturday of every month, ran from 2001 to 2005.
The Bandwagon was seen as a focal point of the local music scene, dubbed the 'Cosmic Scouse Scene' by the NME, which emerged in Liverpool in the early 2000s. 'The Coral', 'The Zutons', 'The Stands', 'Tramp Attack' and 'The Hokum Clones' were all Bandwagon regulars, who forged their reputations at these nights which also played host to 'The Libertines' and Noel Gallagher.
It drew attention from the media, particularly the NME, and was the subject of a feature on Channel Four's 4 music who filmed in the venue on a night when members of 'The Stands', 'The Bandits' and 'The Hokum Clones' joined on stage to play a cover of Bob Dylan's Maggie’s Farm. The Bandwagon also played a guest night at the Knitting Factory in New York in October 2003.
These Bandwagon club nights ended as a regular night in 2005 when 'The Bandits' broke up, and has continued only sporadically since then. A similar night called 'Bandwagonesque', took place in The Metropolitan on Berry Street, some 150 yards (140 m) away from the previous venue.

Howie Payne recalls those times: "There was so much happening in Liverpool at that time, what with 'The Coral', The Zutons', 'The Bandits' and us ( 'The Stands'). Noel Gallagher of 'Oasis' used to come up to The Bandwagon all the time. He never said as much but I know much he was into it all. He seemed to get super-charged with his involvement in the scene."

The Zanzibar today puts a wide variety of shows and genre, from Indie to metal, acoustic to thrash, folk to country and accommodating all age groups from all age to 18+ shows.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2020/04/pool-of-sound-tramp-attack.html