SOME of the biggest names in the world of music have played Bournemouth and Poole over the years.

Here we take a look back at some of the memorable moments. How many of these gigs to you attend? 

1. Paul Simon

Paul Simon played the BIC for the first time in November 2006, supporting his acclaimed album Surprise. Simon told the audience that he remembered playing a folk venue in Bournemouth in the 1960s and had gone back to look for it that day but found it gone.

2. Kate Bush

Kate Bush played a warm-up concert for her one and only UK tour on April 2 1979 at Poole Arts Centre. Her number one hit Wuthering Heights was the encore number. But the event was marred by a tragedy, when lighting engineer Bill Duffield fell 20ft to his death while checking the darkened venue after the show. The singer contemplated cancelling the tour.

Bournemouth Echo: The Fab Four backstage at the Winter Gardens, Bournemouth.

3. The Beatles

The Beatles played a six-night engagement at the Gaumont (now the Odeon) in Bournemouth in August 1963, giving the town one of the first live performances of their new single, She Loves You. They were at the Winter Gardens that November and at the Gaumont again the next year, while Paul McCartney played the Winter Gardens with Wings in 1973.

4. Everly Brothers and the Rolling Stones

In October 1963, Bournemouth’s Gaumont hosted a package pop show featuring the Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley, Little Richard and a new London band called the Rolling Stones. It was the first of several Stones appearances in the town.

5. Michael Jackson

The man destined to become the world’s biggest pop star, Michael Jackson, played Poole Arts Centre on February 25 1979 with the Jackson 5. Stage doorman Tony Burns told the Echo about the “polite and friendly” young singer who asked to use the phone and shared a cup of coffee and a chat.

Bournemouth Echo:

6. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd unveiled their new album, The Dark Side of the Moon, when they played the Winter Gardens on January 22 1972.

The venue also played host to a number of other musical greats including:

7. Queen (1974)

8. Jimi Hendrix (1967)

9. Ella Fitzgerald (1975)

10. Emerson, Lake & Palmer (1970)

11. Tom Jones (1968)

12. Black Sabbath (1974)

Bournemouth Echo: Black Sabbath

13. David Bowie

In May 1975, David Bowie performed his fourth and final Ziggy Stardust appearance in Bournemouth. He had played Chelsea Village twice and the Royal Ballrooms in Boscombe the year before. He did two shows at the Winter Gardens and was filmed by BBC Nationwide backstage and at his hotel.

Bournemouth Echo:

14. AC/DC

Australian rockers AC/DC played possibly one of the most random shows to feature in our list in 1975 when they played Bournemouth’s Village Bowl in the midst of major arena tour.

Bournemouth Echo:

15. Oasis

In 1995, Oasis and archrivals Blur both had local shows booked – at the BIC and Showbar respectively – mirroring their contest for the number one singles slot as Oasis Roll With It lost out to Blur’s Country House.

In the end, Oasis postponed their date but went on to play the Lighthouse in 2004, producing a record sell-out for the Poole venue.

The audience included a host of famous faces including Ringo Starr, who was there to watch son Zak Starkey on drums, Jude Law, Sienna Miller and Paul Weller.

16. Brian Wilson

Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson became the first £50 a ticket show in Bournemouth when he played the Pavilion Theatre back in 2004.

Bournemouth Echo:

17. Elton John

In July 2006, Elton John became the hottest ticket in town when the Rocket Man himself played to 18,000 people at AFC Bournemouth’s stadium

Bournemouth Echo:

18. Take That

Take That provoked the kind of hysteria not seen in Bournemouth since the Beatles were in town when they played the BIC in 1993. Scores of fans were pulled from the crowd and one girl was taken to hospital.

Bournemouth Echo:

19. Bon Jovi

The New Jersey-native had King's Park rocking when the Radio 1 roadshow came to town.

We'd love to hear your concert memories. Is there something we've missed? let us know below or email your suggestions to digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk

Your suggestions

  • David Essex at the Winter Gardens 
  • Genesis were at the Winter Gardens in the early seventies as support to Lindisfarne
  • Bob Dylan Never Ending Tour at the BIC
  • U2 October tour at Poole Arts Centre 1983
  • TISWAS at the winter gardens
  • Hollies and the Moody Blues in 1993
  • Cliff Richard at the Winter Gardens