The Music Scene of 1960s Cambridge

A walking tour around central Cambridge

Cambridge developed its own unique music scene during the 1960s. Some local musicians later left and became internationally famous while others, equally talented, chose to remain in the city.

The booklet below describes the venues, meeting places, the way of life of young people during the 1960s and some of the bands that entertained them. The story is told by Cambridge residents and musicians who were there in those times and are still here today.

The booklet was created by Warren Dosanjh in 2009 (and revised and extended several times), with help from Mick Brown and many others, to accompany a Syd Barrett walking tour.

The locations mentioned in the booklet are as follows:

• The Corn Exchange
  • The Red Cow
• The Alley Club, Falcon Yard
  • The Alley Boutique, Lion Yard
• The Masonic Hall
  • The Bun Shop, St Andrew’s Hill
  • Dandelion Café, East Road
• The YMCA, near Petty Cury
  • The Dolphin
• Victoria Assembly Rooms, Victoria Cinema
  • The Still and Sugar Loaf
  • Market Square
  • The Guildhall
• The Criterion
  • The Volunteer
• Miller’s Music
  • Civic Restaurant
• The Regal
• The Dorothy Cafe
• Cambridge Union Society
  • Union Cellars
• The Mill Pond
  • Laundress Green
• The Rex
• The Art School at the CCAT
• Cambridge & County High School for Boys
• Horse and Groom Public House
• Ridley Hall Theological College