35th Anniversary of the Hope & Anchor's Front Row Festival

Following on from the excellent piece on the Strangler's participation in the Front Row Festival, hosted by the Hope & Anchor pub in Islington, there is really very little that I can add.

Sadly, the audiovisual record of the band's many appearances at the famous venue are limited to that one night of 22nd November 1977.

All that I can offer is a couple of bits that bracket the band's critical association with this venue.

Firstly an add in one of the UK weekly music papers from December 1975 announcing the start of a '25 year residency'. The add is notable as just above the Stranglers, the end of a residency of one Kilburn & The High Roads is announced.... something of a baton change in many respects.

Next is an add for the event (prior to The Stranglers being announced):

..... and a band shot outside with a good few recognisable faces

.... and finally that cheeky shot with the bands and their mums

As I said,  until someone finds an old box of tapes gathering dust in an attic somewhere in London and in amongst the Duck Deluxe, Tyla Gang and Bees Make Honey bootlegs there is one of those residency dates, the 22nd November recording is all we have.

Until such time arrives, please content yourselves with an account of the band's time at the Hope, here.