KEIGHLEY’S vibrant 1970s music scene is now part of an exhibition in the town library.

It was National History Day at Keighley Library on Saturday, (Sept 15) so not only was their plenty of historic material on offer, but a live band as well.

The rock gig was organised by historian Malcolm Hanson and included a blistering set of songs performed by Keighley band Howlin Johnny & the Devil’s Rejects.

Mr Hanson – who staged his own one-man show about local English Civil War heroes in the morning – said the gig was “brilliant”.

He added: “It’s not often you see an entire library on it’s feet, dancing and singing along to a deep-south version of Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’, but they did. It was pretty much a capacity audience, and the band did the library proud.”

Also at the library to speak about ‘70s music was Billy Barton, who during that time fronted Keighley’s most famous band of the decade, Dawnwatcher.

Mr Hanson said: “Billy told some wonderful stories from the era and many people enjoyed his talk – the first he had ever done.”

Keighley’s Music in the 70s exhibition will remain in the library until the end of October. There are hundreds of rare photos of local bands to see, plus accounts of events such as the notorious Sex Pistols visit, and visits by AC/DC and other top ‘70s names.