The Mammoth Music & Arts Festival proudly hosts a Jockey Club Takeover on the Hofbrauhaus Stage at The Southgate House Revival Lounge on Sunday, September 29, 1 pm-8 pm. As part of the larger festival, The Jockey Club Takeover will be a celebration of a key part of Newport’s musical past and the continuing impact it has made on the Tri-State’s musical landscape.
Newport’s legendary Jockey Club was a cornerstone of the punk and hardcore scene from 1982 to 1988. Situated on York Street, this iconic venue was the stage for an impressive lineup of internationally and nationally renowned bands, including Black Flag, the Ramones, the Dead Kennedys, the Cramps and many, many more. It was also a vibrant hub for local talent, serving as an incubator for dozens of local bands that would go on to define the genre, many of whom lasted much longer than the club itself.
The event will showcase an array of Jockey Club memorabilia, bringing the iconic venue’s history to life. Attendees can look forward to readings from Stories for Shorty by those who contributed to the collection, offering personal insights and tales from the club’s heyday. The night will be rounded out with musical performances by currently active bands, featuring those who either graced the stage at the Jockey Club or include members who once played there.
Performers include Cincinnati stalwarts The Tigerlilies, Spiderhand (featuring Vivian Vinyl of The Dents), The IdleAires (featuring William Weber of The Reduced and others) and Pedro-X (of SS-20). DJ Grover Smith will be spinning classic punk records.
Local independent publisher Aurore Press has played a crucial role in preserving the legacy of The Jockey Club, hosting and promoting several reunion shows over the years. In 2008, they published Stories for Shorty: A Collection of Recollections From the Jockey Club 1982-1988, a compelling collection of stories shared by musicians and fans who experienced the Jockey Club firsthand. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event and can also be found at Shake It Records and Everybody’s Records.
In conjunction with Kelli Evans, Aurore Press is working on It’s a Freak Show, Ace! Punk Flyer Art from the Legendary Jockey Club 1982–1988, a 304-page collection that captures the raw energy of the punk scene through Jockey Club flyer art. This compilation preserves original paste-ups, set lists, tickets, calendars, gig photos, and zine ads, highlighting the club’s legendary impact on the punk music world. Featuring over 370 bands, the book is a testament to the Jockey Club’s pivotal role in shaping the Midwest punk scene.“As a teenager growing up in Newport, the Jockey Club was my first introduction to punk rock and most certainly has informed my lifelong musical taste, as well as my work,” said Morrella S. Raleigh, owner of The Southgate House Revival and Mammoth co-founder.
“It feels important to honor and not forget the legacy of The Jockey Club and what that place has meant to so many people. I was my initiation. The music I heard and experienced there will always be within me and has become the soundtrack of my life,” said Betsy Young, co-publisher of Aurore Press.
“I was a student studying graphic design at the University of Cincinnati when I first went to the Jockey Club. Unlike many of its denizens, I was actually old enough to legally get in and drink the cheap beer. Despite Cincinnati’s conservative reputation, the city had a surprisingly vibrant music scene, which was largely thanks to the Jockey Club just across the Ohio River in Newport, Kentucky.” Kelli Evans, author of It’s a Freak Show, Ace! Punk Flyer Art from the Legendary Jockey Club 1982–1988.
An afterparty featuring currently active local punk bands who carry on the tradition of the J.C., will take place immediately following. Bands include Bandages and more to be announced!
