11/08/2026
Where do you start with the post that you never wanted to make? How do I feel? Devastated about covers it.
My adult life (over 25 years) has been intertwined with The Phoenix / Campbell - whether I have been as a handful as a punter, a handful as an employee - or a handful as a DJ/Promoter. To see it's unceremonious and sudden sale hurts my heart, and I dread to think what is round the corner. I feel like part of me has been stripped away, and Coventry's alternative heartbeat just got a hell of a lot duller.
I have now been spinning records for 23 years at several different venues in Coventry. There are a bunch of DJ's and venues that made me want to get into DJing, though they would tell me to shut up and that I did things on my own. Kip gave us some wonderful Wednesday and Friday nights through the early 00's, and the way he would masterfully select songs that would elicit massive reactions was fascinating to me. It was immediately something I wanted to do myself - and there is no high just quite like keeping a room of people buzzing just through playing the right song at the right time. I learned a lot through just by going to Kip's nights.
In 2010, I had all but retired when Jim asked me if I wanted to give it another pop - and Rawk Saturdays were born. Over the last seventeen years we have seen hundreds of people walk through the doors, throw their shapes, drink the place dry and genuinely make me feel like the luckiest man ever to have the best job in the world - a seventeen year residency is seldom seen in this business, and I owe each and every one of you a massive thanks. Without this platform, Desertfest or Bloodstock would never have happened for me.
Thanks to the support of Craig, Liam, Steve, Dale and Dom we were able to bring several events to the pub. Bloodstock and Roadrunner clubnights or hosting Kerrang's Johnny Doom. Kunt and The Gang and Devvo. Rawk Spotlights with local talent like Dragster, Gehtika, Wolves, Vengeful Atonement, Concussion and several others. We even saw some massive acts in like Nick Oliveri, Elder, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Brooklyn and Old Empire's Madball tour, Karma To Burn.
As an employee I have worked alongside some I would now be fortunate enough to call close friends, and the teams that have worked there over the years have been a pleasure to know (and occasionally frustrate). My heart goes out to the current team who are a wonderful bunch that have been blindsided by the sale - I wish them all the best as they navigate the next couple of months.
I will reserve my comments on the degradation of nightlife or the pub trade being on its arse, or Stonegate themselves - as now is not the time. Instead, to everybody who has supported or befriended me in this venue, I cannot thank you or express my love for you enough. I am a richer man for the pub, the punters and the team.
So what's next? I am always open to discussion around Rawk, and throwing some nights if it feels right, so businesses/venues? Let's chat! MC Devvo has been officially moved to Arches Venue and original tickets are valid.
And of course, we have a few last chances to dance.
Sat 15th August
Sat 22nd August - Guest DJ Mikey with Emo anthems
Sat 29th August
Sat 5th September - Rawk Is Dead(?)
One last time - THANK YOU
- Harris x
