Stables Relationship - Wed Nov 9

In the always-respected Monkey Kettle Awards, we have been recognising the category of “Best Milton Keynes Music Venue” since the inauguration of Awards in 2001. In that time, The Pitz has won the gong three times (and been runner-up once); MADCAP has won twice (and been runner-up twice – and it’s not even technically a music venue!); plus there’s been a smattering of gold medals for some of the high quality music nights in pubs over the decade: Zak’s; The Cannon; The Craufurd Arms etc etc.

In the entire ten years since we’ve been Awarding Awards, not once has The Stables ever even received so much as a runners’-up shout. And I’ve only just noticed! That’s a bit odd, isn’t it... so I was wondering why.

On paper, The Stables is brilliant – created by world-famous jazz musicians Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine in 1969, it’s never lost its name for celebrating music from the groovier end of the spectrum. And the venue itself is genuinely lovely – both the green surrounding environs and the vibe of the main auditorium... pleasingly intimate for a capacity of 450. I certainly daydream of playing there every time I go and see any concerts. That would be something.

But maybe our generation (okay, okay, and the one below if you're in that one!) feel like it’s somehow not for us. That it’s all a bit “Dadrock” yet. And that’s a fair point, though I’d argue that some Dadrock has its place in our rich rock heritage. (My Dad &) I have seen some beautiful, captivating and historical moments down in the Jim Marshall Auditorium over the years...

Blunstone & Argent, the main members of The Zombies* knocking “She’s Not There” out of the park. Neil Innes not only doing Bonzos classics like “Urban Spaceman”, but also throwing in songs from The Rutles! A broken but not defeated Peter Green finding his way through “Albatross” almost blindfold. Oh, man.

And finally, this very week, thelead singer of The Byrds, Roger McGuinn, performing “Eight Miles High” alone on an acoustic guitar – picking the intro with breathtakingly relentless speed, especially for a man of 69 who’s been ‘in the Rock n’ Roll’ since the late 50s!

I wouldn’t try and claim that every act who comes to The Stables is as vital a part of the development of modern music as these – cover bands on in the next few months for example include ‘Magic – A Kind Of Queen’, ‘Classic Clapton’, ‘T-Rextasy’ and, er, ‘Real Diamond’ (oooof!) – but they do have a diverse mix of elderly stalwarts, new up-and-coming Next Big Jazz Thingers, classical music etc. If you like that sort of thing.

And they do workshops – hey, there’s an “Introduction To The Harmonica” one! I wonder... – and other community stuff. And there’s evenings of spoken word – Simon Callow! Coming to talk about Charles Dickens in February! And comedians! Jack Dee! Russell Kane! Rich Hall! Cor, you don’t get that at “The Blacksmith’s Arms”!

Interesting too to see that although I broadly paint the Stables fare as “Dadrock”, there’s beginning to be a smattering of bands from ‘my era’ (which began in the late 80s / early 90s) turning up too – The Lightning Seeds, the continuing-to-tour members of The Beautiful South. Ulp.

So maybe the range of stuff on offer is not the issue at all. Maybe it’s the fact you probably need a car to get there. Maybe it’s the price – though actually those big comedians I mentioned are only £15... however as the bands get more ‘famous in the day’ the prices move up towards and through the £20-£30 bracket.

Still, I dig The Stables for what it is, even now. Probably because it’s the only venue in town where I’m regularly the youngest person there when I go! Get in! (punches air youthfully)

* I shouldn’t have to, but just in case I’ve provided full Wikipedia links to these important characters. Y’know, if Da Kidz aren’t even sure who Kenickie are in 2011, what chance do Fleetwood Mac got?