Live at the Front Page - The Story of a Legendary Music Club

Mark Knopfler contributes his own thoughts about his background and influences during what he calls the 'wilful' destruction of the North's industrial heritage.

The surviving member of the Zimbabwean band the Bhundhu Boys, who made their English debut in the club, tells the tragic story of a group of young musicians wiped out by HIV.

In the background is a unique social experiment which controlled the entire city's drinking habits, and shaped attitudes to the arts and entertainment for three generations.

It is a modern musical history of Carlisle and a story of triumph over adversity during a decade in music, politics and social upheaval which influences life in Britain to this day.

Find out more at www.liveatthefrontpage.co.uk

Review

This is the story of an influential blues and jazz club in Carlisle in the mid to late eighties - but it's about so much more as well.

It pulls together several different themes - Carlisle's entertainment and leisure history, the author's own ups and downs and the often bleak backdrop of the north of England at the time along with first-hand reminiscences from the musicians who clearly relished playing at 'The Front Page.'

It's a well-written, pacey read with some very entertaining anecdotes along the way - Steve Marriott's in particular.

I was lucky enough to visit the club a couple of times and it really took me back to those days. But this book also made me realise I'd missed out on a huge number of really good nights there as well. My loss!

Review from Roddy McDougall

A honest and personal insight into how Martin Lawson and his team strove to bring "live" roots music, in all it's formats, to the city of Carlisle. The hardships to pursue their eventual success to sad demise in what was one of the best venues in the U.K. a "MUST" read for club goers and musicians alike to "HEADLINE, THE FRONT PAGE"
Review from Ray Stubbs