The Portsmouth Music Scene
The Rock Gardens

The Rock Gardens Pavilion in the 1950's, below closed around 1987. The Pyramids were built on that site and opened 1988 - Video of the last dinner and dance at the Rock Gardens Pavillion donated by Viv Gregson- 'Idle Fret'...Southsea Rock Gardens 1978 Matt Little & Simon Little Live music by "Cold Structure" in around 1981, Andy Cornish on the left, Iggy Egan on drums, Gez Driffield on vocs, Steve Lympany on Guitar..

Known performers at the Rock Gardens Pavilion 1950 October 20th At the Rock Gardens Pavilion, The Masterpieces Band play for dancing. 1951 NIL 1952 October 14th Dancing at the Rock Gardens Pavilion to the Broadway Orchestra. October 28th Dancing at the Rock Gardens Pavilion to the Broadway Orchestra. November 11th The Broadway Quartet play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. November 18th The Broadway Orchestra play for dancing at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. December 30th At the Rock Gardens Pavilion, dancing to The Broadway Orchestra. 1953 March 24th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. May 26th The Broadway Orchestra play for dancing at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. September 8th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. December 29th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1954 April 27th The Broadway Quartet play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. October 19th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. December 28th the Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1955 March 8th The Broadway Trio play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. July 1st Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday dancing to Bert Osborne and his Orchestra. August 16th The Broadway Quartet play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. September Stan Matthews and his Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. October 11th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1956 May 22nd The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. July 26th The Broadway Quartet play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1957 May 6th The Greenwood Singers entertain holidaying pensioners at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. May 25t The Greenwood Singers entertain holidaying pensioners at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. July 2nd The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. July 30th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. August 1st The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1958 March 28th The Club Quintet play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. May 16th Stan Mathews and his Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion for the Dairy Maid of Portsmouth Ball. May 26th The Astralites Concert party entertain holiday makers at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. June 3rd The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. June 17th The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. June 21st At the Rock Gardens Pavilion, it's Daphne Ashdown, Brett Connors, Dirk Masters, Gary Hayman and his boogie piano and the Gordon Trevor Band. October 21st The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1959 April 18th Saturday, The Broadway Orchestra play at the Rock Gardens Pavilion. 1963 Autumn Old time dancing including Southsea’s Co-Op Hall, the Crystal Palace Hotel on Fratton Bridge, the RMA Club Eastney, Unity Hall and the Rock Gardens. 1966 the Rock Gardens offered old time and modern dancing. 1967 September 8th Midas Touch Soul Society October 13th Portsmouth & District Northumberland and Durham Society Annual Ball. 1968 Despite the growing audience for newer rock music, Spinner suggested that the Inspiration were “proving soul could still be popular” with a capacity audience at the Rock Gardens. 1968 October 5th Portsmouth Gas Social Club 2nd Annul Dinner and Dance 1969 The more experimental local bands continued playing with Heaven, Rosemary and Shy Limbs appearing at the old Rock Gardens on 10 December. 1971 February 26th Pembrook County Club Annual St David's Day Ball. 1976 December 15th Grand Xmas Olde Time & Mordern Sequence Dance. 1978 'Idle Fret' play at Southsea Rock Gardens, Matt Little & Simon Little 1984 1985 May 16th House of Cards, Cool Dizzy’s Playhouse, Emptifish, A Motion Industry.