KEIGHLEY Library is moving on a decade for the follow-up to its hugely-successful exhibition on the town’s music scene.

The first display, created for last autumn’s History Day, focused on bands and singers from the 1960s in the Keighley area.

The display of photographs, memorabilia and newspaper cuttings was extended for several months as veteran musicians and long-time music fans went along for a look.

Now library staff member Janet Mawson, who arranged the 1960s exhibition, has decided that this year’s exhibition will focus on the 1970s. She has enlisted Malcolm Hanson, a local historian, walks guide and ghost book writer, to organise the latest exhibition.

As well as being a former chairman of Keighley Festival, Malcolm was a musician with Keighley bands during the 1970s. He said the new exhibition would cover the decade of heavy/progressive rock, punk and disco.

He said: “The pressure on Janet in alone organising the 60s exhibition has been enormous; many of the musicians that played then are no longer with us. I really take my hat off to her for her determination in tracking down as many musical acts as she has.

“By comparison, my job will be far easier. For a time I was part of the 70s music scene; I cut my teeth in progressive rock bands such as Kaboss and Abyss, and many of my former musical colleagues are still around for interview. We also have lots of memorabilia at home.”

Malcolm said the 1960s exhibition clearly showed that working men’s clubs and variety clubs dominated the scene, and most bands were straightforward pop acts or all-round entertainers. He said things changed as Keighley entered the 1970s, which would make for an exhibition matching the excitement of the decade.

Malcolm said: “Bands wrote their own material, they no longer compromised. Rock clubs sprang up, and festivals took place such as Demons in the Park, at the time provoking extreme controversy.”

Malcolm said not only rock dominated the Keighley music scene.

He said: “There was a very healthy folk movement with folk clubs springing up everywhere, while the pop scene was just as vibrant as ever, and bands that entertained us in the 60s continued to entertain us in the 70s.

“The disco scene was prominent, with thousands of Keighley youngsters enjoying every weekend a dose of Saturday Night Fever. Then towards the end of the decade, punk bands arrived, taking their lead from the notorious Sex Pistols, who paid a visit to the town.”

Malcolm needs to hear from people who can contribute to the exhibition, whether musicians, fans or just lovers of the local music scene.

He needs old photographs, memorabilia, press cuttings, posters, and memories of bands, gigs and clubs.

Email malcolm.b.hanson@gmail.com, call 1756798730 or drop material at the library marked “70s Exhibition” c/o Janet Mawson.