The Kinema building is currently empty (2024) and previously occupied as the Kinema Ballroom, it was a legendary local music venue, much loved by the Dunfermline community.
The original Ballroom, built in 1938, was Dunfermline’s first-ever purpose-built dance hall and had its main entrance at 19 Pilmuir Street. Its guest list reads like a who’s who of music royalty and Ghoulz runs a website tracking the venue’s fascinating story over the years. The website is incredible, worth a sit down to browse the contents, with biographies of the bands who appeared there and loads of personal memories from gig-goers. It’s all produced by a voluntary and community effort for the love of music and the original venue.
However, one major band that never made it onto the Kinema stage was The Beatles. Hear local journalist Willie Livingston tell the story:
There are five decades of music included on the Spotify playlist below, reflecting the artists and songs over the period they played the Kinema. Which are your favourites?