Pop at the Poly: New Polyphonic project celebrates music history at the University of Westminster

Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac played at the University’s Little Titchfield Site in 1968. 55 years later to the day, A Polyphonic Ghost Gig: Peter Green’s Fleewood Mac will see the event recreated on Thursday 27 April from 12:30pm to 2pm. The event is being organised by the University’s Centre for the Study of Law, Society and Popular Culture.

The inspiration behind the project came when Guy Osborn, Co-Director of the Centre and Professor in Westminster Law School, and Matthew Morrison, Senior Lecturer in the University’s School of Humanities, unearthed recordings of the original performances from musicians who played at the University. They found some had been officially released, such as Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live in London. They also discovered other unofficial tapes and vinyl by bands such as New Order, The Redksins and GRIMMS. 

A research lead led the pair to Computer Science and Engineering alumnus Dusty Pulver, and former Chair of Polyfolk, the University’s music society in the 1960s and 1970s, who had a treasure trove of recordings he had made including Ralph McTell, Donovan, Shelagh McDonald and Maureen Kennedy Martin. More research unearthed recordings by Jonathan Richman, Blyth Power, the Membranes, Gaye Bykers on Acid and more. 

The pair wondered how to give a new lease of life to these recordings and this is where the idea of a series of ghost gigs was born. The ghost gigs use the original source recordings of concerts that took place at the University, and replay these recordings on the anniversary of the day they took place, as close as possible to the space they were recorded in. These spaces are often no longer used as venues but something of their past, their ghost, their imprint, somehow lives on.  The ghost gigs normally take place at lunchtime, as a homage to the Soho Poly’s commitment to lunchtime theatre, and to tie in with the overarching  Disrupting the Everyday project, which Polyphonic is part of.

The research, by Westminster alumnus Alex Hancock, former University Archivist Anna McNally, Professor Osborn and Matthew Morrison, has documented all the bands and artists who played at the University between 1966 and 1992. 

Whilst starting at Little Titchfield Street, Polyphonic project aims to pop up at other sites around the University. These events are supported by a series of banners and badges, a fanzine and a Spotify playlist of musicians that have played at the University.

Book a place for the event A Polyphonic Ghost Gig: Peter Green’s Fleetwod Mac. Tickets are free.