During the 80's & 90's Hamilton was thriving with live venues. 'Governors', 'Zaks', 'Shakes', 'The Hillcrest', 'Macy's', 'The Oranga', 'Metropole', 'Framptons', 'The Glenview', 'The Lady H', 'Biddys', 'The Orange Garden', 'The Founders', 'Roxoff', 'The Gold Bar', 'Uncle Sams', 'Ward Lane Tavern', 'Rockafellas', 'The Chartwell', 'The Hamilton Hotel', 'Cobb & Co' and many others provided a stage for a variety of bands of all genres and styles. We had 'Tandy's Studios' & 'Hark Records'.  'Radio Contact', 'Kiwi Fm' and 'The Rock'. Close by we had 'The Lemmington' (Cambridge), 'The Junction' (Thames), 'The Nottingham Castle' (Morrinsville) 'The Fathers' and 'The Criterion' (Paeroa), 'De Bretts' (Taupo), 'The Oxford' (Putaruru), 'The Trees' (Tokoroa) 'The Matamata Motor Inn', 'The Greerton' (Tauranga), and many many more.  We had Lake Concerts and outdoor events at Claudelands and Te Rapa Racecourse.

These exhibits are not designed to be a definitive view of that period.  For more information and details on the Hamilton Music scene there are many other sites and pages including the Ian Duggan's Htown Wiki and the Audio Culture website [Links at the end of this page]

These photo collections have been put together to celebrate the photography of Doc K.E. Ford from the shows and events she attended during that time.  Please enjoy...there's more to come.