Current Exhibition:
As Milton Keynes entered its teenage years, the eighties became the decade for live music. The City blossomed with new bands along with an array of music venues to host them. The punk ethic of “anyone can be in a band” spilled over from the 1970s and youth clubs in particular became a breeding ground for young musical talent.
This wasn’t an entirely new phenomenon. There had always been a music scene in the surrounding towns and villages before Milton Keynes was even conceived. Stony Stratford had its Folk scene and Bletchley its Rock ‘n’ Roll – even the likes of the Rolling Stones and Gene Vincent performed at Wilton Hall and The Walker Brothers at The Palace in Wolverton in the 1960s.
The eighties also saw Milton Keynes put on the map by the biggest acts in the world visiting the National Bowl. David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Queen – to name but a few – brought a buzz to the City that inspired local bands to raise their game and shoot for the stars.
The explosion of live music in the 1980s was to last well into the 1990s. A combination of factors led to its demise including new licensing laws along with the closure of the ‘breeding ground’ youth clubs and venues. Culturally, there was also a huge shift from bands to DJs with the advent of the ‘superstar DJ’ – resulting in nightclubs and raves becoming more popular than gigs.
Today Milton Keynes continues to have a strong live music scene with venues such as The Craufurd Arms, MK11 and Unit 9 all hosting regular gigs, along with many other pubs and clubs in the area. The sheer volume of bands and venues of the 1980s might not be with us anymore, but the creativity, talent and lust for live music certainly is. This exhibition features just a small sample of local bands from the era.
Click here to learn more
This wasn’t an entirely new phenomenon. There had always been a music scene in the surrounding towns and villages before Milton Keynes was even conceived. Stony Stratford had its Folk scene and Bletchley its Rock ‘n’ Roll – even the likes of the Rolling Stones and Gene Vincent performed at Wilton Hall and The Walker Brothers at The Palace in Wolverton in the 1960s.
The eighties also saw Milton Keynes put on the map by the biggest acts in the world visiting the National Bowl. David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Queen – to name but a few – brought a buzz to the City that inspired local bands to raise their game and shoot for the stars.
The explosion of live music in the 1980s was to last well into the 1990s. A combination of factors led to its demise including new licensing laws along with the closure of the ‘breeding ground’ youth clubs and venues. Culturally, there was also a huge shift from bands to DJs with the advent of the ‘superstar DJ’ – resulting in nightclubs and raves becoming more popular than gigs.
Today Milton Keynes continues to have a strong live music scene with venues such as The Craufurd Arms, MK11 and Unit 9 all hosting regular gigs, along with many other pubs and clubs in the area. The sheer volume of bands and venues of the 1980s might not be with us anymore, but the creativity, talent and lust for live music certainly is. This exhibition features just a small sample of local bands from the era.
Click here to learn more
This website showcases the exhibitions held at the Discover Milton Keynes exhibition space at the central library. They highlight the stories of people and place, and share the unique history and heritage of our city.
Milton Keynes Central Library
555 Silbury Boulevard
Saxon Gate East
Central Milton Keynes MK9 3HL
555 Silbury Boulevard
Saxon Gate East
Central Milton Keynes MK9 3HL
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