Coventry: A Multicultural Melting Pot with Vibrant Past and an Exciting Future

Feature by Pete Chambers

Anyone who thinks Coventry’s musical journey began in 1979 with 2 Tone has some significant ground to make up. The truth is, this exciting and often overlooked city in the West Midlands has always had a musical heartbeat. Located smack bang in the middle of England, it is one of the most vibrant and thriving multicultural cities in the UK, and boasts a crossfade of styles, cultures and genres. Coventry has been named the UK’s City of Culture for 2021 and there is already a different feel to the music scene: a real sense that something special is about to happen.

Rebuilding Coventry after the devastation of The Blitz heralded the start of a brave new world. This was the land of opportunity: Coventry was motor city – soon to be dubbed the ‘British Detroit’ – and it welcomed workers from across the globe. This multiculturalism would soon start to weave itself into the city’s musical DNA.

Electronic innovator

Musician, composer and revered electronica pioneer Delia Derbyshire hailed from Coventry. Her realisation of the iconic Doctor Who theme was the first time many people had heard electronic music and her legacy is profound. Take a trip to the small but perfectly formed venue The Tin, and chances are at some point a ‘Synthcurious’ concert will take place, testament to the genius of Derbyshire.

In the 60s, the Locarno ballroom (now the city’s Central Library) hosted Irish showbands who entertained the emigrant community that had made Coventry its home. The Who and The Rolling Stones also played there, alongside homegrown talent such as the Ray King Soul Band. Led Zeppelin took to the Locarno’s revolving stage in the 70s, and it was also the venue where Chuck Berry recorded his only No.1, My Ding-A-Ling. The audience was in full voice that night, a crowd that included Jerry Dammers of The Specials, Noddy Holder and singer Lene Lovich.

The Windrush generation had become lords of the sound system. Blues parties were held all over the city, and there was little chance of avoiding the infectious rhythms of ska and reggae, even if you wanted to. Jerry Dammers soaked it all up, forming The Specials in 1977 and then, two years later, setting up 2 Tone Records, the DIY label that would change the city’s musical landscape forever.

The Specials, fellow Coventry band The Selecter, The Beat from Birmingham, and London bands Madness and The Bodysnatchers helped 2 Tone to dominate the charts over the next three years. The Coventry Sound was born, and from 1979 to 1981 it was the most happening music city in the UK. 2 Tone galvanised the whole scene; bands that had previously played jazz/art/rock were suddenly knocking out ska-infused pop. That lineage continues today, including a first-ever No.1 album for The Specials, Encore, to mark their 40 years in the business.

Up-and-coming r’n’b/soul duo Izeidi & Izeidi.

By the mid-80s, Coventry was producing a proliferation of bands. In 1984, singer Paul King of rock-ska band the Reluctant Stereotypes relaunched himself, sporting a mullet and spraypainted Dr Martens, with King. The band notched up two Top 20 albums and five Top 30 singles in the space of a year. Two years later, indie pop band The Primitives began their own assault on the charts with albums and a run of singles such as Crash. Bhangra artist Panjabi MC kept the city on the musical map in the late-90s, with his global hit Mundian To Bach Ke. And in 2007, indie trio The Enemy’s debut album, We’ll Live And Die In These Towns, went straight to No. 1.

The beat goes on

Bands such as Barb’d Wire and Ruder Than U are keeping the ska flame alive in 2019, while grime artist Skatta tours internationally and does valuable outreach work with young ex-offenders. Singer-songwriters now dominate open-mic nights and bijou venues such as The Big Comfy Bookshop, while guitar bands rule the roost at The Arches, Knights and the Godiva Festival, the city’s major musical showcase. Jazz fans are catered for at the Corner Pocket Jazz & Blues Club, and Don Mather of The Don Mather Big Band has done much to promote jazz in the city.

Barb’d Wire and Ruder Than U are keeping the ska flame alive in 2019.”

Coventry artists currently making waves include Feet, Shanghai Hostage and r’n’b/soul siblings Izeidi & Izeidi. At the time of writing, Coventry rapper Jay1 had just entered the UK singles chart with Your Mrs. Originally from London, he prefers to work from Coventry: he too knows that something special is happening. Roll on 2021.