Hull music venue celebrates 40 years

A month-long celebration of The New Adelphi Club turning 40 is under way

An independent music venue in Hull will celebrate its 40th anniversary later with a special performance by the very first act to play there.

Guy Gibson performed at The New Adelphi Club, located in a terraced house on De Grey Street, when it opened on 1 October 1984.

Over the past four decades, the venue has hosted dozens of bands on the cusp of fame including Oasis, Radiohead and Pulp.

Recalling his performance on the opening night, Gibson, who went on to play in a number of bands, said: "I can't remember a great deal about it as I had a few shandies to steady the nerves."

Bands including the Kaiser Chiefs have appeared in the terrace house venue

Amongst those cutting their teeth on The New Adelphi Club stage is Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Cook, who performed at the venue in 1984 as part of The Housemartins.

Cook returned five years ago to play a special concert to mark the venue's 35th anniversary.

The two-up-two-down terraced house turned music hub has also weathered many a financial storm faced by independent venues including the cost of living crisis.

In 2018, it became a Community Interest Company (CIC), with Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and former Beautiful South singer Paul Heaton acting as patrons.

Manager Paul Sarel is planning to "inject new ideas to future proof the club creatively"

BBC Sounds: Hull's iconic music venue The Adelphi turns 40

Manager Paul Sarel said the month-long celebrations would focus on showcasing new artists as well as the return of more established performers.

"We have decided to concentrate on putting a lot of the brilliant homegrown talent on to celebrate what we have on our own doorstep," he said.

"LIFE, Chiedu Oraka, The Froot, Kingmaker, Ted Key & the VIP's, Counting Coins and Black Kes are all playing shows during the month.

"They've all cut their teeth at the Adelphi before going on to bigger stages."

Mr Sarel told the BBC plans are being developed to "future-proof the club creatively" with the formation of a new steering group consisting of volunteers, promoters, organisers and music enthusiasts.

He also said plans to improve the building are also being looked at.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.