The Stranglers 1976 concert dates

The band's breakout year brought near-continuous gigging across London pub-rock venues including the Red Cow, Hope & Anchor and Nashville Rooms, alongside major appearances with Patti Smith, the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. Studio and live recordings captured the repertoire taking shape, and December brought deals with United Artists and Albion before sessions for *Rattus Norvegicus* began at TW Studios.

🎙️ = a recording of this show exists

02 Jan 1976
Red Cow
London
03 Jan 1976
Alhambra
Brighton
04 Jan 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
05 Jan 1976
Red Lion
Ockley
06 Jan 1976
The Brook
Venue unclear
08 Jan 1976
Duke Of Lancaster
London
09 Jan 1976
Red Cow
London
10 Jan 1976
Red Cow
London
11 Jan 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
14 Jan 1976
Thames Poly
London
15 Jan 1976
Windsor Castle
London
16 Jan 1976
Red Cow
London
17 Jan 1976
White Knight
Crawley
Landlord repeatedly asked band to turn down; they turned it up each time
18 Jan 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
20 Jan 1976
Western Counties
London
21 Jan 1976
Goodwill to All
London
22 Jan 1976
Duke Of Lancaster
London
23 Jan 1976
Red Cow
London
24 Jan 1976
Ruberoid
London
25 Jan 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
26 Jan 1976
Red Lion
Ockley
27 Jan 1976
Ronnie Scotts
London
28 Jan 1976
Speak Easy
London
29 Jan 1976
Golden Lion
Dagenham, London
Dagenham Dave's first gig; band drove him home in an ice cream van
30 Jan 1976
Red Cow
London
31 Jan 1976
Newlands Tavern
London
01 Feb 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
Feb 1976 (undated)
(venue unspecified)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Support to Country Joe McDonald; travelled in ice cream van
09 Feb 1976
Dingwalls
London
11 Feb 1976
Freewheelers Club
Leicester
13 Feb 1976
Red Cow
London
14 Feb 1976
Red Cow
London
15 Feb 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
16 Feb 1976
Newlands Tavern
London
20 Feb 1976
Red Cow
London
21 Feb 1976
Red Cow
London
22 Feb 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
23 Feb 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
25 Feb 1976
Salisbury College of Art
Salisbury
27 Feb 1976
Red Cow
London
28 Feb 1976
Weybridge College
Surrey
29 Feb 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
29 Feb 1976
The Roundhouse
London
"Special Leap Year Concert" with Deaf School, Nasty Pop, Jive Bombers
Mar 1976 (undated) 🎙️
Foel Studio
Wales
Recording session; tracks: Tomorrow was the hereafter, Tomorrow was the hereafter #2, Peaches, Bitching, Down in the sewer
03 Mar 1976
London Speakeasy club
London
Band paid £35
Mar 1976 (undated)
Hornsey Art College
North London
The Vibrators' first gig, supporting
07 Mar 1976
Red Cow
Hammersmith, London
08 Mar 1976
Marquee
London
Supporting Pink Fairies; tickets 85p
10 Mar 1976
The Greyhound
Fulham, London
15 Mar 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
Closest Hope & Anchor date to a Sounds article dated 17 Apr 1976 that discusses a Hope & Anchor show — likely the same residency period, though an exact match isn't confirmed (there's a 4-month gap before the next known Hope & Anchor date, 13 Jul)
Forum thread →
23 Mar 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
Supporting The Snakes; free gig
24 Mar 1976
London Speakeasy club
London
Band paid £35
30 Mar 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
03 Apr 1976
Dingwalls
London
Support from Skroo
13 Apr 1976
The Speakeasy, 48 Margaret St
London
Two sets at 10:30pm & 1:30am
15 Apr 1976
Nashville
London
Support from The Snakes; free gig
17 Apr 1976
The Raven Hotel
London
22 Apr 1976
Nashville
London
Support from Snakes; free gig
29 Apr 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
With Sex Pistols and Snakes
30 Apr 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
With Café Jacques and Snakes
07 May 1976
Newlands Park College
Bristol
16 May 1976
Roundhouse
London
Support to Patti Smith
17 May 1976
Roundhouse
London
Support to Patti Smith
19 May 1976
Bogart's
Birmingham
21 May 1976
Grey Topper
Jacksdale, Nottingham
22 May 1976
Central Hall
Kettering
23 May 1976
Palace Leisure Centre
Newark
24 May 1976
Locarno
Leeds
25 May 1976
Tiffanys
Harlow
26 May 1976
Corn Exchange
Cambridge
27 May 1976
Brunel University
Uxbridge
The Jam supporting
28 May 1976
Gaiety Theatre
Leicester
29 May 1976
Bamboo Club
Bristol
Stranglers supporting Diversions
31 May 1976
Nashville
London
Free gig
Punk Music Catalogue →
04 Jun 1976
St. Osyth's College
Clacton
07 Jun 1976
Nashville
London
Free gig
10 Jun 1976
Nags Head
High Wycombe
60p admission. "With Uncle and Aunt this time, tight little boozer the Stranglers started off with Grip, this track was what really caught me! In the set was Hanging Around and Sewer, Bitchin, Choosey Suzie, Walk on by, Go Buddy Go and Peaches, if my memory serves me right about 50 to 70 punters turned up and Peasent in the Big Shitty was in the set, there was not much movement in the crowd. Sometimes really stands out on this one, lots of equipment problems! I do recall the fish and chips after, fuckin nice" Carl Greenwold.
12 Jun 1976
Valley Football Club
Redditch
" 'The Stranglers' who were a new wave band from Guilford but they would cost £70.00!! I agreed and on 12th June 1976 the Stranglers turned up in a converted ice cream van to play the Valley Club in Redditch. The first song they played was 'Grip' and followed that with a lot of other stuff from the Rattus album. "
14 Jun 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
15 Jun 1976
The Red Cow
London
"Yeah, by the middle of 1976 we had a couple of really good regular gigs, like residencies really. One was at The Hope and Anchor, one was at The Red Cow and we had another in The Nashville Rooms." JJ
17 Jun 1976
Walthamstow Assembly Hall
London
Midsummer Music Festival, with Ian Dury & Sex Pistols. Sex Pistols played the Assembly Hall, 703 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, supporting Ian Dury & The Kilburns, plus The Stranglers. The Pistols played second on the night. John Lydon was wearing a rubber T-shirt from the 'Sex' boutique, and as a result of the heat was taken to hospital later suffering from dehydration. Tony Wilson (who missed the 4th June Manchester gig) and Granada TV researcher Malcolm Clarke travelled down from Manchester to see this gig.
24 Jun 1976
Golden Lion, Fulham Road (SW6)
London
Summer 1976 (Jul-Sep, undated)
Nashville
London
Regular Thursday night spot. "They did play the Nashville just about every Thursday from July to September 76. Backing bands included The Vibrators, Plummet Airlines, Radio Stars. There were also more gigs at the Roundhouse, the Jam backed once as did London and the Hammersmith Gorillas." Thanks for that Jeremy
1976 (undated)
The Affair
Swindon
"The Affair in Swindon (backed by XTC who could not play cos the stage was too small)." Thanks for that Jeremy
28 Jun 1976
Rock Garden
Covent Garden, London
Opening night for venue
Jul 1976 (undated)
Riverside Studio
Chiswick
Recording session; tracks: (Get a) grip (on yourself), Peasant in the big shitty
Punk Music Catalogue →
04 Jul 1976
Roundhouse
London
Supported The Ramones and The Flamin' Groovies; American Bi-centennial concert; first UK Ramones date; matches a "Happy Birthday America 04-07-76" forum thread title (America's bicentennial)
Ramones in London →Forum thread →Forum thread →Forum thread →
05 Jul 1976
Dingwalls
London
Supporting the Ramones; "famous JJ vs Simenon stand off"
09 Jul 1976
Forest School
London
11 Jul 1976 🎙️
Pebble Beach Studio
Worthing
Recording session
11 Jul 1976
Forest School (E17)
London
12 Jul 1976 🎙️
Pebble Beach Studio
Worthing
Recording session; tracks: (Get a) grip (on yourself), Bitching, Go buddy go
13 Jul 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
14 Jul 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
15 Jul 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
16 Jul 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
17 Jul 1976
Hope & Anchor
London
19 Jul 1976
Nashville
London
Support from The Rockets; free gig
20 Jul 1976
Nashville
London
Support from The Rockets; free gig
21 Jul 1976
Fulham Greyhound
London
22 Jul 1976 🎙️
Pebble Beach Sound Recorders Ltd
Band record Go Buddy Go and Bitching for demo reel to UA
25 Jul 1976
Red Cow
Hammersmith, London
26 Jul 1976
Wye College
Ashford
27 Jul 1976
Nashville
London
Free gig
30 Jul 1976
Chelmsford Prison
Chelmsford
themeninblack forum post →
31 Jul 1976
Hastings Pier
Hastings
Supporting Frankie Miller's Full House
Related Frankie Miller gig writeup →
01 Aug 1976
The Royal Hotel
Guildford
"The Stranglers played 'Rock At The Royal' several times as well as a regular-ish Sunday lunch spot"
03 Aug 1976
Nashville
London
Support from Sugar Daddy; free gig
17 Aug 1976
100 Club
London
Support by Village
24 Aug 1976
The Nashville Rooms
London
06 Sep 1976
The Rochester Castle
London
50p admission
07 Sep 1976
Nashville
London
13 Sep 1976
The Rochester Castle
London
14 Sep 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
28 Sep 1976
Rock Garden
London
29 Sep 1976
Rock Garden
London
Permuted photography →Forum thread →
Sep 1976 (undated)
The Squat
Manchester
"I was the only one who had a car at the time so I had to drive everywhere. During Freshers' week at Manchester University the Stranglers played at a dingy little club called the Squat. They caused quite a stir, they weren't a punk band as such but they had the attitude."
Punk77 Skrewdriver interview →
Oct 1976 (undated)
(venue unspecified)
Westcliff, Clacton
Lasted 10 minutes on stage
01 Oct 1976
Eric's
Liverpool
Opening night; possibly with Pistols; 60p entry. "It was the night a scene was born, a night that changed the music world forever. Entry was 60p, and there that night were the young Ian McCulloch and Pete Wylie."
03 Oct 1976
Nashville
London
05 Oct 1976
Dingwalls
London
07 Oct 1976
Nags Head
High Wycombe
08 Oct 1976
Kings College
London
09 Oct 1976
Digby Stuart College
Roehampton
10 Oct 1976 🎙️
The Nashville Rooms
London
Tracks: (Get A) Grip (On Yourself), Sometimes, Bitching, Peasant in the Big Shitty, Hanging Around, Peaches, Ugly, London Lady, Down in the Sewer, Walk on By, Go Buddy Go
12 Oct 1976
Top Rank
Cardiff
15 Oct 1976
Southbank Polytechnic
London
16 Oct 1976
Westfield College
London
17 Oct 1976
The Nashville Rooms
London
17 Oct 1976
Bracknell Arts Centre
Bracknell
Listed same date as Nashville Rooms — likely a listing conflict
18-20 Oct 1976 (undated)
(venues unspecified)
Wales
22 Oct 1976
Hammersmith Odeon
London
Support to Patti Smith. "I first saw the Stranglers in 1976 when they were the support act to Patti Smith - this was at the Hammersmith Odeon. The Stranglers were far superior to Patti Smith on this particular night. She was self indulgent and ultimately quite boring!!"
23 Oct 1976 🎙️
Hammersmith Odeon
London
Support to Patti Smith; recorded for unreleased UA LP
24 Oct 1976
Odeon
Birmingham
Support to Patti Smith
25 Oct 1976
Odeon
Birmingham
Support to Patti Smith (unconfirmed)
26 Oct 1976
Top Rank
Cardiff
28 Oct 1976
The Granary
Bristol
Support to Patti Smith at Manchester Free Trade Hall was cancelled, so the band played Bristol instead
30 Oct 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
Support from The Vibrators (Portsmouth Polytechnic also listed for this date)
Punk Music Catalogue — Nashville →
Oct/Nov 1976 (undated)
University College of Swansea
Swansea, Wales
Support to AC/DC (Patti Smith's Manchester Free Trade Hall date cancelled); AC/DC's own tour history dates their Swansea show 28 Oct 1976, which conflicts with the existing 28 Oct Bristol (Granary) entry above — same-day discrepancy not resolved, so this date is left undated pending resolution. (John Cooper Clark mentions seeing them at Manchester Free Trade Hall "pre-Pistols era")
Oct/Nov 1976 (undated)
Eric's
Liverpool
With The Sex Pistols
Nov 1976 (undated)
Valley Football Club
Redditch
02 Nov 1976
Canterbury University
Canterbury
04 Nov 1976
Granary
Bristol
05 Nov 1976
York University
York
06 Nov 1976
Reading University
Reading
07 Nov 1976
The Marquee
London
60p admission; supporting Ducks Deluxe. "we played for a fiver" Hugh. JJ "put his boot from the window separating the bar and stage area to attract the attention of poseurs"
09 Nov 1976
Acklam Hall
London
11 Nov 1976
Woods Centre
Plymouth
Also listed as "Nashville" — source conflict
12 Nov 1976
Cardiff University
Cardiff
12 Nov 1976
Student union bar
Bangor
"I first saw the Stranglers play in the bar at the student union building in Bangor, 30 years ago this November. They were there the week we were occupying the Maths Tower in support of four Welsh-speaking students who had been sent down for putting graffiti all over the college, backing a bilingual policy. The Stranglers lead singer said between songs: I hear you've got a problem with a bloke called Reggie. Reggie-strar! They only cost about £90 to play that night. Shortly after, they had a string of hits, and when we booked them for the following October's Fresher's Week they cost a grand."
13 Nov 1976
Valley Club
Redditch
14 Nov 1976
Torrington Arms
Woodside Park, London
First encounter with The Finchley Boys
Forum thread →
15 Nov 1976
Oxford Poly
Oxford
Support to The Flamin' Groovies with The Vibrators & The Damned; £1 tickets
17 Nov 1976
Bradford University
Bradford
18 Nov 1976
Fforde Green Hotel
Leeds
"Fforde Grene Hotel, Leeds, which has a long history and was a notable music venue in the 1980s and hosted the Sex Pistols and the Stranglers. Now a continental supermarket."
20 Nov 1976
Teeside Polytechnic
Teesside
21 Nov 1976
The Nashville
London
Support from Chelsea (band split after this gig; Billy Idol formed Generation X)
25 Nov 1976
Bangor University
Bangor
Free gig
27 Nov 1976
Cleopatras
Derby
28 Nov 1976
Tom Cotton's
Hull
29 Nov 1976
100 Club
London
30 Nov 1976
100 Club
London
Infamous gig; Dagenham Dave fought The Finchley Boys; with Clemen Pull and Lee Kosmin Band
themeninblack forum thread →
02 Dec 1976
Red Cow
Hammersmith, London
"Punkadelic Disco"; 60p tickets
03 Dec 1976
J.B.'s
Dudley
04 Dec 1976
Paradise Rooms
Burton
07 Dec 1976
The Nashville Rooms
London
JJ checked out Ultravox's first gig
08 Dec 1976
(n/a — band news)
Band signed to UA Records — 2 album deal, £11,250 with a further £10,000 on 1st June 1977
thestranglers.co.uk →
10 Dec 1976 🎙️
The Nashville Rooms
London
Support from Tom Robinson Band; gig recorded for unreleased live debut
Forum thread →Forum thread →Forum thread →
11 Dec 1976
Friar's
Aylesbury
Support from Deaf School and Roogalator; £1.20 admission
Aylesbury Friars '76 →themeninblack forums thread →
12 Dec 1976
Strathclyde University
Glasgow
Unconfirmed date. "The band's 1st Scottish gig was @ Strathclyde University in Glasgow in December 1976 (don't know exactly which date, but if Edinburgh was the 13th, Glasgow was probably the 12th). The Union had booked Ian Gillan's band, however they pulled out @ the last minute & 'The Stranglers' were booked as their replacement. The hippies didn't care much for our boys, especially as they were expecting Gillan. The band ended up baricading themselves in the dressing room whilst angry punters tried to beat a way in. Whenever I walk past the Uni. Union (I was once a student there), I always try & imagine the old ice cream van outside. The venue is up on the 6th Floor, so the boys would have had their work cut out hiking the kit up the stairs - what with Jet & his bad back! Steveareno"
The Scottish Sun feature →
13 Dec 1976
Tiffany's
Edinburgh
Support from Nobodaddy
14 Dec 1976
(n/a — band news)
Band signed to Albion
Dec 1976 (undated)
Hope & Anchor
London
JJ Burnel photographed at the venue with Ian Woodcock
Getty Images →
16 Dec 1976
The Nags Head
High Wycombe
Support from Funny Farm
16 Dec 1976
(n/a — band news)
Jet interviewed for Sideburns magazine
20 Dec 1976 – 28 Jan 1977
TW Studios
Rattus Norvegicus recording sessions
23 Dec 1976
Nashville Rooms
London
Support from Racing Cars

Source: themeninblack forums thread