THE SMIRKS

Always had that je ne sais quoi	Irritating little combo with no plans to reform	The most fun you can have with your shoes on
	Click here to buy the SMIRKOLOGY album

Gig guide 1978

The Stiff Records Talent Contest was a great way to start the year, and it wasn't long before the band signed a contract with Beserkley Records. In April, they recorded a John Peel session and later in the year embarked on a massive touring schedule, along with the release of just two singles.

Early dates

05 JAN 1978 Liverpool, Eric's Stiff Records Talent Contest
16 JAN 1978 Manchester Band on The Wall

08 FEB 1978 Spurley Hey High School, Manchester

March - signed to Beserkley

March - tour supporting Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias

02 MAR 1978 Castaways, Plymouth (with Alberto's)
03 MAR 1978 Bristol University (with Alberto's)
04 MAR 1978 Leicester University (with Alberto's)
07 MAR 1978 York University (with Alberto's)
08 MAR 1978 Sheffield Polytechnic (with Alberto's)
09 MAR 1978 Preston Polytechnic (with Alberto's)
10 MAR 1978 Aston University (with Alberto's)
11 MAR 1978 Manchester Free Trade Hall (with Alberto's and Devo)

12 MAR 1978 London Roundhouse (with Alberto's and Devo)
14 MAR 1978 Slough (venue unrecorded) (with Alberto's)
15 MAR 1978 Cardiff University (with Alberto's)
17 MAR 1978 Reading University (with Alberto's)
18 MAR 1978 Nashville, London
19 MAR 1978 Nashville, London
21 MAR 1978 100 Club, London (with Wire)
22 MAR 1978 Dingwalls, London (with Stukas)
23 MAR 1978 Rock Garden, London
25 MAR 1978 Friars/Civic Centre, Aylesbury (with The Rubinoos and The Boyfriends)
voted equal 5th best concert there in 1978
31 MAR 1978 Eric’s, Liverpool (with Greg Kihn Band)

01 APR 1978 London Hammersmith Odeon (with Greg Kihn and The Rubinoos)

03 APR 1978 Nashville, London (with Late Show)
06 APR 1978 Sandpiper, Nottingham
15 APR 1978 Good Mood, Halifax
16 APR 1978 Recorded Pete Baker Show (?)
19 APR 1978 Recorded John Peel session, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London
20 APR 1978 Rock Garden, London
21 APR 1978 Rafters, Manchester
24 APR 1978 Nashville, London
25 APR 1978 Digby Stewart College, Roehampton
26 APR 1978 Broadcast of John Peel session
29 APR 1978 Loughborough University (with The Boyfriends)

01 MAY 1978 West Cumbria College, Workington
03 MAY 1978 Spurley Hey High School, Manchester
05 MAY 1978 North Staffs Polytechnic
11 MAY 1978 York (venue unrecorded)
12 MAY 1978 Rock Garden, Middlesbrough
22 MAY 1978 The Ritz, Manchester
23 MAY 1978 Town Hall, Birmingham (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
24 MAY 1978 Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
25 MAY 1978 Friars/Civic Centre, Aylesbury (with John Otway/Willy Barrett and The Untouchables)
27 MAY 1978 Rainbow, London (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
28 MAY 1978 Open Air Festival, Oxford (with John Otway/Willy Barrett and Tone Deaf & The Idiots)
31 MAY 1978 Eric’s, Liverpool (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)

June 1978 - Release of OK-UK

01 JUN 1978 Middlesbrough (venue unrecorded) (John Otway/Willy Barrett)
02 JUN 1978 City Hall, Sheffield (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
03 JUN 1978 Hexagon, Reading (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
04 JUN 1978 Locarno, Bristol (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
06 JUN 1978 Winter Gardens, Penzance (with John Otway/Willy Barrett)
10 JUN 1978 London The Marquee
15 JUN 1978 F Club, Leeds
16 JUN 1978 Lafayette Club, Wolverhampton
17 JUN 1978 University College, London
19 JUN 1978 Phoenix Theatre, Leicester
20 JUN 1978 Plough Inn, Cheltenham
22 JUN 1978 Goodricke College, York university
23 JUN 1978 Claire Hall, Leicester University
27 JUN 1978 London Dingwalls
30 JUN 1978 Rafters, Manchester (with Ed Banger)

15 JUL 1978 Alexandra Park, Manchester (Rock against Racism)

20 JUL 1978 Nag’s Head, High Wycombe
21 JUL 1978 JB, Dudley
22 JUL 1978 Middleton Civic Hall (with Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds and The Steroid Kiddies)
23 JUL 1978 Forde Green, Leeds
24 JUL 1978 Sandpiper, Nottingham
25 JUL 1978 Barbarella’s, Birmingham
27 JUL 1978 Limit, Sheffield
29 JUL 1978 Corn Exchange, Devizes
30 JUL 1978 Open Air Theatre, Regents Park, London (with Rubinoos)

27 AUG 1978 Groningen Festival (Netherlands) with Greg Kihn

10 SEP 1978 Rotterdam New Pop Festival (Netherlands) with Boomtown Rats and The Darts

September - first national tour

28 SEP 1978 Liverpool Polytechnic
29 SEP 1978 Sheffield Polytechnic
30 SEP 1978 Warwick University

04 OCT 1978 London The Marquee
11 OCT 1978 London The Marquee
14 OCT 1978 Manchester University Students Union

18 OCT 1978 London The Marquee
30 OCT 1978 London The Marquee

02 NOV 1978 Russell Club - matinée for under-18s
02 NOV 1978 Russell Club

Two cancelled concerts - one at the Marquee, one at Aston University

November 1978 - Release of Rosemary

November 1978 - working on first album

05 DEC 1978 appearance on Get It Together with Roy North

Main concert page 1977 1978 1979 1980

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Page last updated by Ian on 30 September 2007