Kevin Mott Renton Remembered

What to Expect

Kevin Mott Renton, who died on 7 May last year, ran the idiosyncratic Renton’s Records music shop on High Street in Leamington from the late 1960s to the mid-80s. The store had been passed to him by his stepfather, Arthur Renton, who had run it along traditional lines. But Kevin’s interests in jazz, world music, folk and obscure records and instruments from around the globe gave the business a new character, including having an aviary in the middle of the shop. Kevin also produced his own hand-drawn publicity leaflets and posters.

Kevin became interested in instruments from around the world, and made versions of them using scrap materials, which he showed off in the window. When the business closed in 1984, he switched to making a living by travelling around schools, teaching children to make instruments out of recycled items. His reputation in that field was enhanced by two appearances on the BBC’s Blue Peter, in 1988 and 1989.

In the last year of his life, Kevin was a regular at Southbound, and so it is a fitting venue for old friends to gather in his memory. At this afternoon's event, compèred by Bungle, you will get to see many of Kevin's instruments played by some of his old friends in a performance of improv jazz, folk and ethnic music. It will be quite informal, as Kevin would have liked. All are welcome.