Welcome to the world of music inspired by the picturesque English Riviera! Nestled in the heart of South Devon, this stunning coastal region has long been a source of inspiration for musicians. From the turquoise waters to the rugged cliffs, the English Riviera has a unique charm that has captured the hearts and minds of artists for centuries.

Join us on a virtual journey through the sounds of the Riviera, as we explore the music that has been inspired by this beautiful corner of England. From sea shanties to indie rock, classical to jazz, there's something for everyone in the musical landscape of the English Riviera. So grab a cuppa, sit back, and let the music transport you to this magical corner of the world.

Abide With Me

The Reverend Henry Francis Lyte, who was curate of All Saints Church in Brixham wrote the words to Abide with Me a few months before his death in 1847. He was a popular pastor with the local fishermen and would even go to sea with them and tell them stories about Jesus and his disciples on the Sea of Galilee. The bells at the church ring out three of his hymns daily, including Abide with Me at 8pm, when “fast falls the eventide.”

ABBA

The idea for the Eurovision Song Contest came about when members of the European Broadcasting Union met in the Imperial Hotel in Torquay in 1950 to discuss ways to unite Europe following the Second World War and a song competition was suggested. Originally called the European Grand Prix, today a staggering 180 million people watch the show across the world. It was at a Seaside Special event on Torre Abbey Meadows in Torquay that ABBA first performed live after winning the 1974 contest with the song Waterloo.

Agatha Christie

A young Agatha trained as a concert pianist, but nerves prevented her from performing. However, there are lots of musical deaths in her stories. In one tale a stormy diva stabs and kills a baritone in the middle of a performance of Tosca, while a flute is used as a blowpipe to deliver a poison dart in one mystery and a ukulele string is used as a murder weapon in another. Back in the real world, Archie Christie proposed to a young Agatha Miller following a Wagner concert at The Pavilion in 1913.

Metronomy

Joseph Mount, the front man from Metronomy grew up in Totnes and spent his summers in Torquay, which was to inspire the 2011 album The English Riviera, which was Mercury Prize nominated. The video for the song, The Bay recreated the classic 1980’s palm tree tourism posters and was filmed on Princess Pier, Meadfoot Beach, the Abbey Gardens bowling lawn and the Imperial Hotel swimming pool. They played a (belated due to Covid) 10th anniversary celebration of the album at The Foundry in 2022, before taking to the Other Stage at Glastonbury in front of 40,000 people.

Fairport Convention 

The concept album Babbacombe Lee by Fairport Convention is widely regarded as the first folk-rock operas and based on the true story of John Lee, a Victorian murderer who was condemned to death, but reprieved after the gallows failed on three occasions. Band member Dave Swarbrick conceived the album after stumbling upon a file of old newspaper clippings that had once belonged to Lee in a junk shop. 

Donovan, Torquay 

Donovan spent a summer in Torquay in 1964 working at the Phyllis Court Hotel (later the Corbyn Head Hotel) and the Conway Court Hotel. He lived in a bedsit on Abbey Road and spent the summer busking and playing in bars and on the beach, as well as drinking and smoking pot. He apparently bought his trademark fisherman’s hat in Brixham where he would play at the Rising Sun. He wrote Catch the Wind whilst in Torquay, while Mad John’s Escape features Torquay in the lyrics. 

Ruby Murray 

Ruby Murray was one of the most successful stars in the history of British popular music and the biggest-selling female artist of the 1950’s who set a chart record in 1955 for having five records in the top 20 simultaneously, including Softly, Softly. However, the young singer suffered from nerves and resorted to alcohol and Valium to settle them. She moved to Torquay to live with her second husband and was often seen frequenting the pubs of the harbourside in the 1990’s. When arrested for being drunk and disorderly, she once spent the night in the cells entertaining the police with her hit songs. She’s also Cockney rhyming slang for a curry.  

Gracie Fields

Gracie was an actress, comedienne and singer in British Music Halls, who became the highest paid film star in the world in 1937. She won a talent competition on a family holiday in Paignton at the age of 13, taking away prizes of roller skates, a purse and ten shillings. As well as being this first actress to ever play Miss Marple in a film, she became famous for entertaining the troops in North America during the war. She returned to Torquay in 1964 to sing hits including Sally and Red Sails in the Sunset at the Princess Theatre.

Feeling inspired yet? Visit us in the Beautiful Bay to see what all the fuss is about! Book your accommodation and start planning your trip now. And, if you'd like to discover more about the UK music artists who were inspired by Torbay, why not join Magical Musical Sunset Tour as part of the English Riviera Walking Festival? To find out more visit www.rivierawalking.co.uk