Gene Watson: UK Tour: June/July 1979
Gene Watson has been a consistent touring act within the world of country
music since the very early days of his career in the 1970s.
In this section of the Gene Watson Fan Site, you will find information with
regard to Gene Watson's first full tour of the United Kingdom, a tour that
he undertook in June/July 1979.
The tour also included one concert
performance in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
At the time of Gene Watson's first full tour of the United Kingdom, he was
enjoying one of the biggest USA country music hits of his career with the
defining 'Farewell party', a track included on his then latest album 'Reflections'.
'Reflections' (Capitol Records, 1978) had been
released in the USA in 1978, but it gained a British & Irish release in 1979
to coincide with the tour.
During the duration of his first tour of the United Kingdom, Gene Watson
also recorded a special session of his (country) music for inclusion within
BBC Radio 2's then highly influential 'Country Club' show.
Details of Gene Watson's UK tour schedule for June/July 1979 are reproduced
within the Gene Watson Fan Site with the approval of Mike Storey of Mike &
Margaret Storey Entertainments, Huddersfield, England &
Norman Rainey in Northern Ireland.
Gene Watson: 1st UK Tour (June/July 1979)
Presented by Mike & Margaret Storey Entertainments /
Crawford Bell
Tuesday 12 June 1979 - Sunday 1 July 1979
Monday 11 June 1979
Prior to Gene Watson's tour of the
UK in June/July 1979, Gene travelled to Northern Ireland where he stayed at
the Drumkeen Hotel in Belfast.
Gene Watson with Barbara & Eddie Graham in the Drumkeen Hotel,
Belfast on Monday 11 June 1979
Photo credit: Norman Rainey
Gene Watson with Ballymena, Co. Antrim musician
Eugene O'Dornan, along with his sister Maureen Forsythe & guests in the Drumkeen Hotel
in Belfast on Monday 11 June 1979
Photo credit: Norman Rainey
Tuesday 12 June 1979
Wellington Hall, Belfast, Northern
Ireland **
Gene Watson is presented with a Waterford Crystal Clock
by Norman Rainey (note the June 1979 issue of 'Country Music People' in
Norman's left hand) following his performance in the Wellington Hall, Belfast
Photo credit: Norman Rainey
Thursday 14 June 1979
Floral Pavilion, New Brighton, Merseyside, England
Friday 15 June 1979
Greenways Hotel, Addington, Maidstone, Kent,
England
Saturday 16 June 1979
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England
Sunday 17 June 1979
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England
Monday 18 June 1979
Skelton Civic Hall, near Middlesborough,
England
Tuesday 19 June 1979
Lower Mead Hall, Wealdstone, Harrow, England
Wednesday 20 June 1979
Spa Pavilion, Whitby, North Yorkshire, England
Thursday 21 June 1979
Sunset Inn, Silloth, Carlisle, Cumbria, England
Friday 22 June 1979
City Hall, Hull, Humberside, England
Saturday 23 June 1979
Fry's Club, Keynsham, Bristol, England
Sunday 24 June 1979
7-11 Club, Kenton Road, Kenton, Middlesex, England
Monday 25 June 1979
Rock Gardens Pavilions, Southsea, Hampshire,
England
Wednesday 27 June 1979
The Shetland Islands, Scotland *
Thursday 28 June 1979
Aberdeen, Scotland
Friday 29 June 1979
Bicc Club, Prescot, Lancashire, England
Saturday 30 June 1979
Town Hall, Kendal, Cumbria, England
Sunday 1 July 1979
Woods Leisure Centre, Braiswick, Colchester, Essex,
England
Gene Watson was backed by the group Southbound, except where indicated
* &
**
On Tuesday 12 June
1979, Gene Watson was backed (indicated thus
**)
by
Crawford Bell (guitar & trumpet), Brian Nicholl (steel guitar & lead
guitar), Brendan McGarrity (drums), Seamus Costello (keyboards) & Jimmy Hendry
(bass guitar)
The Gene Watson Fan Site is proud of its association (since January 2006) with
Carrie Moore-Reed at
Third Coast
Talent in Nashville.
Carrie Moore-Reed's position at
Third Coast
Talent is that of Gene Watson's Booking Representative - it was in
January 2006 that Carrie Moore-Reed acknowledged the existence of the Gene Watson
Fan Site.
The Gene Watson Fan Site is proud of its firm commitment to bringing you the
Latest Tour Info for Gene Watson.
All tour info is courtesy of Carrie
Moore-Reed at
Third Coast Talent in Nashville & Sarah Brosmer at
Lytle Management in Nashville, unless otherwise stated.
If you have missed any tour info (since June/July 1979), you can check out the
Gene Watson Tour Info Archives by accessing one of the links (above left).