Friends of a Brighton music promoter who passed away this month are planning to gather next Saturday to remember him.
Although Dave Morrison left Brighton in 2006 to emigrate to Canada, he is still fondly remembered by people who met him through Virgin Megastore, Rounder Records and his promotion company the Gilded Palace of Sin.
He worked in the Virgin Megastore in Western Road, Brighton in the 1980s and later in Rounder Records, the independent record store that operated in Brighton Square until it closed in 2012 after 46 years.
His particular affection for roots, folk and country music led him in 2001 to co-found live music promotion company the Gilded Palace of Sin, which specialised in bringing American artists to Brighton venues.
Acts promoted by the Gilded Palace included Gillian Welch, The Shins, The Decemberists, The National, M Ward, Richard Buckner, Dinosaur Junior and hundreds of other artists.
One of the first acts to come over in 2001 was Canadian duo Flophouse Junior, featuring Jon Wood and Susan Young.
Dave and Susan fell in love and married in 2003, living at Seven Dials for the next three years until a fire in their building caused them to hasten their plans to move to Canada.
They spent sixteen years living in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, where Dave continued to write prolifically about music and became heavily involved in the local scene.
A long-term survivor of cancer, Dave became ill again in 2022 and died on 11 March 2023 with Susan at his side.
For all those who would like to share memories of Dave and hear some of his favourite music, there will be a celebration on Saturday, 9 September 2023 at the Hartington on Whippingham Road.
The day will feature records played by his friends and live music from local artists who played at Gilded Palace of Sin gigs.
To let the organisers know you would like to come, please sign up here.
Rounder Records was one of Brighton’s great institutions. I was in there once and a wonderful piece of music was playing. I asked Dave what it was, as I wanted to buy a copy: he replied “Not telling you – we’ve only got one copy and we like it too much to sell. Come back in a couple of weeks and I’ll sell you one if we get any more in!”
Absolute legend.
Don’t leave us hanging fishwife! C’mon, spill the beans 🙂
D’yknow, I’ve been racking my brains since yesterday, trying to remember! It would have been some turn-of-the-century techno band – possibly Pendulum? My memory’s somewhat hazy – blame the excessive amount of disco biscuits I ingested at the Pressure Point.
them gilded palace boys, mr morrison in particular,
led me in the direction of countrified roots music
long before the ‘americana’ label was invented
– and partially responsible for me trusting that i, too,
could bring great musicians into town to play little gigs.
it’ll be a pleasure to share some fond memories and a pint or two.
cheers to dave, up there in the great roundup in the sky…
Dave was a legend, I was lucky to work with him at Virgin in the 80’s. We became good mates and along with a couple of others we shared a love for music and seeing live bands, and just sharing life’s highs and lows and we were each others family, that lasted until he moved to Canada when it changed to long distance natters. I was incredibly proud of everything he did at Gilded Palace with Charlie and Shaun. They shone the light on some amazing artists. I’m forever grateful for the introduction to Tandy and Mike Ferrio who also became a friend. Thankyou big man, your a legend Moz, hope you’re enjoying the great beyond.
I first met Dave in Rounder Records like many of us. He was playing a cd by a band I had never heard of and asked for a copy. Flophouse Jnr. I was introduced to so many great bands through Dave and The Gilded Palace. Also played many GPOS gigs with my outfit opening for Tandy and so many of my favourite artists. Thanks for bringing such great great music to Brighton Dave.
Dave was a sweetheart. I worked with him at Virgin Records in Birmingham and he turned me on to Nick Drake, foe which I am forever grateful. Godspeed Mr M x
What a legend he was, his top ten albums of the year were essential listening. Let’s get this straight; he put on The National (who filled the Brighton Centre in 2019) in The Hanbury Ballroom, Kemptown, for a few quid. He had an incredible ear. Much missed.
Ah. I’ve just been delving into some old emails and was reminded of Dave and TGPOS. I didn’t know he had passed, but just wanted to comment that that Brighton scene in the early 2000’s changed my music taste (and therefore my life?) forever.
RIP Dave.