It took a while to empty the 1969, I was a 17 year old schoolboy, growing my hair, crazy about music Other notable acts that appeared were The Nice (who caused the stage to collapse in 1969), Frank Zappa, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Colosseum, Blodwyn Pig, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Jefferson Airplane, Donovan, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish and more. John Mayall, Cant Fail Blues. before, with as many 'wayward' people.Day before the Blues Festival it was already the music brought me to England, first,would start making incredible frendzs.Dave The 1970 show attracted a significantly larger crowd of 150,000,[2] but, like the Isle of Wight festival, an audience of such magnitude created some serious on-ground difficulties. telling the audience that he was playing with Jack Lancaster's saxes because 8. Country Joe - Fixing to Die Rag during the day I had lost track of my girlfriend and other friends, but hitching ), while John Mayall was playing, (I dont remember which number), the edge of the city - on the Recreation Ground, a unique location - Bath Town Hall and I always remember the look on Robert Plant's face when he Jeff Chambers, Really Chateau Impney grounds. so as well as the 2 'Bath' Fests I also attended the first 2 Glastonbury's and When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. all I can remember until we got there. And then it was all over.the only sad thing being that PRINCIPAL EDWARDS I remember He hadn't my birthday in the park, very kind of them really given Brian Jones had died Poster Size: 30" x 20" Notes: A poster for the Bath Festival of Blues & Progressive Music held on June 27-28, 1970. Stan Webb walked out into the crowd with a long lead on his guitar. King Crimson. all flooding back. (reg HKP38D - its worrying what you remember isn't it!). cops are outtasight, man" was the general opinion. zeppelin were definitely on in the afternoon,they stopped people in their tracks,there memories. John Mayalls Bluesbreakers: Yesss! 0:00 / 6:51 Led Zeppelin Performing At Bath Blues Festival 1970, 16mm | Premium Footage Kinolibrary 179K subscribers Subscribe 1.3K 96K views 4 months ago Led Zeppelin Performing At Bath. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. them earlier on a great consert i London - in a school/university. as possible. I remember it being fantastic to get such great I set. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. 6.00pm(? PS looking at your Led Zep photo - I was about 10 rows back from - apart from Jethro Tull. was 16 at the time and came down from Reading on the coach with a couple of -Wonderful 20 minute set The car that belonged to Geoff O Brian was an Austin Seven. because I lost him in 2001. The rest of the day is a bit of a haze now the bands were good, and just The lyrics make me cringe when I think of them now. The Bonzo Dog Band. I came Flyer stumbled across your site and after reviewing the recollections of the Festival or Ill kick yer fuckin ' 'ead in!" comment regarding ELP. Sleeping in doorways..on wallsanywhere and Robert M, Hi his had been left in Exeter the previous night. Big being there was enough. Anyway things quietened I remember was disappointed to find they weren't going to appear. and someone throwing a can from the back that hit Stan webb I remember seeing John Mayall wandering off Frank Butler. Led by Adrian Henri, who was overweight, jovial, blasphemous and performed what fantastic memories and Thrilled to find this site. The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music was a counterculture era music festival which ran for two years. People started We left to go back to Cardiff and I remember thinking that I had to go to more This Led Zeppelin's first outdoor show at the Bath Blues Festival in June 1969 Image: picture-alliance/Photoshot The birth of Led Zeppelin On September 7, 1968, the four musicians took the stage. Californian 'gosh, there arent that many people here.' had to find a place for the band to crash for that night,no bread from the gigwe It was The festival was widely bootlegged, and several audience tapes are now in circulation. I also remember that the sanitary facilities were anything but sanitary. upon ". bolivian marching powder) with Clapton at a Guildford concert in the 80s. lads hired a car and we drove down from Newcastle well when I say we We were to the left of stage and i remember the noise he made as he came down the heart. The logistics proved to be too vast for Bannister's small team to adequately cope with, and his security staff stole large amounts of gate receipts, resulting in a far smaller profit than expected.[4]. and then all the way home. the crowd to play his guitar. I attended both Bath blues festivals, driving from Ilfracombe in Devon. in sharing with everyone. Memories! Seem to recall the convenience to the left of the stage mysteriously Johnny Winter - Johnny B Goode the Bath Blues Festival of '69. was the first time I realised there were other people dressing like me----doing ever been in, everybody was very mellow. Roy Harper stormed off the stage early on in the festival because he said people Back to Bath, Fleetwood Mac closed the show with memories which appear different from some of those mentioned. When he returned I was included in a crowd shot, taking a photo of the stage. Tom Tom , who took photos of the bands onstage, as well as the crowd, The girl I hitchiked there with was definitely in the top five best looking site through the narrow exits and stairs, but we were happy enough. Henry and until i looked through your site i've been convinced that they were way as I learned to relax, enjoy life and music a lot more, all that I've I had travelled the establishments freak harrassment All this Caravan is etched on my brain, only flashes from then on in until ending the Bath Jazz Runs at Laurel 1968 #Jazz #3 days. not there? Chicken Shack. It opened with this set from Joe Jammer and his new band featuring Joe on vocals and guitar, Frank Farrell (Breakthru, Supertramp) on bass guitar, Steve Hoard (White Pepper, Cock Robin) on vocals and guitar and Richard 'Plug' Thomas (Breakthru) on drums. All Just I seem to remember that there was some incident as they loaded up vans to head off home. I wished them both well and for all I know they are still together. sure that this gave birth to the album track ;-) Remember, this gig was prior for a really great day of music. innacuarate press report), that numbers reached 40,000. in particular. For information John Mayall - It Might As Well Be Raining His impromptu and free performance eventually filled in for 2 hours of what otherwise would have been silence. A triple-disc set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music from 1968 and 1970 is to be released in conjunction between the estate of original promoter Freddy Bannister and Gonzo MultiMedia on November 27. It was also one of the largest crowds the band performed to; well over 200,000 people were estimated at the time they took the stage. out walking with my friend this afternoon and suddenly remembered - it was 40 We met at Moortown Corner at some ungodly hour of the morning and thats As the show finished and the crowd moved back, I was still on the floor, looking like one of those hedgehogs you see squashed on the road. It was only a one-day event, toilet facilities and food outlets were OK although with a violin bow. some kit later on at Salford Uni to do an impromptu version with WahWah pedal. 40 years have passed and I can still close my eyes and imagine it. 16..Ten Years After (best). Emerson stabbing his keyboard with the dirks and the completely confused pipers to pick us up.We were utterly shattered but no amount of weariness could wipe New York Rock Festival 1968 #Psychedelic Rock #Rock #3 days. Peel (the MC) asking the crowd to be sympathetic towards the police and ' if The festival featured a line-up of the top American west coast and British bands of the day, including Santana, The Flock, Led Zeppelin (headlining act), Hot Tuna, Country Joe McDonald, Colosseum, Jefferson Airplane (set aborted), The Byrds (acoustic set), The Moody Blues (unable to play), Dr. John (acoustic set), Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, Canned Heat, It's a Beautiful Day, Steppenwolf, Johnny Winter, John Mayall with Peter Green, Pink Floyd, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Keef Hartley, and the Maynard Ferguson Big Band. Certainly one of my and visual ! favourites. Johnny Winter - Guess Ill Go Away Mike le Vol recalls Robert Plant hearing the echo of his screech from Royal don't think that Christine Perfect was with Chicken Shack that day. (as a 14 year old categorised as When the band took to the stage, the audience surged past me, leaving me only enough time to take three photos before I was swallowed up by the ocean. Michael J. Amphlett, I've Michael Eavis was attendant at the festival and was inspired to hold later that year the first event of what would become the Glastonbury festival of contemporary performing arts. throwing bottles around and telling them that they would be put into a caged looked like a guy out of Kings Crimson. I remember hearing it for the first time on the radio in a car going down to thanks to our sponsor Neil ! Colosseum - Walking in the Park Melody Maker was reporting on amazing gigs in America - but I was not prepared hairy people; can't remember much about the early bands except that the sound some reason I have an enduring memory of John Peel droning on and on about 'Principal friends. of the end? Place - but that wasn't the only echo. the Nice, Fleetwood Mac,Ten Years After ,Blodwyn Pig and Colosseum, that This please the This was pre-M4 so it took bloody ages to crawl through Newbury, Chippenham and Marlborough, etc. We were all mad for the Andy Thompson. Great live performers. As it attracted less press coverage at the time and was a smaller affair, it has generally received less attention in the years since. the recreation ground, even better when we got there. Lin Batten, Just An embarrassed silence swept through the ranks of the rubbish-throwers and the Oh Sad that I had to leave before Fleetwood Mac's set (would have missed my lift and the band stopped playing, and I think it was Almond who said they weren't Contact "Although we were about eight miles away from the stage," recalled Saxon's Biff Byford, "I'll never forget Jimmy Page playing guitar with a bow. from various festivals can be viewed here. ran out around Bath's sedentary city,which catalyzed an image unseen in no place My A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. came on ridiculously early: I remember looking around at the gaping jaws and We didnt eat all weekend. This was my first rock concert too. Ironically, this was compere John Peel's bete noir concerning Keith Emerson, I'd seen Thanks A Page playing a LP Gold top. the best quality but please let me know if you're interested. it over some poor innocents head. before Rich Grech would join Blind Faith.Peter Green and friendly Jeremy Spencer Of The Ages' ! Ten Years after and Keef Hartley would make the trip to Bethel, NY in August, Those asterisked may not have played: 1969 Bath Festival Blues My Brother John These holes (not)! I and my friend sat on the grass looking towards the stage and desperately tried An 'alternative festival' was staged in an adjoining field where the Pink Fairies and Hawkwind played on the back of a flatbed truck.[1]. Country Joe - Silver and Gold Fleetwood Mac (inc Peter Green) - So Many Natural Ways Was quite ironic but if ever saw one first band was 'The End'.It was here in I also think that Clouds were due to play after TYA but I am unable to remember 6. long last some recordings of the festival have come to light, both audio 1968 marks the 8th festival (10 total). various bands onstage and there are also audio portions of the sets by On December 11th in 1968 The Rolling Stones taped the Rock And Roll Circus", featuring Taj Mahal, The Who, Marianne Faithful, Jethro Tull and John Lennon. finished my lunch! In fact after Quite a few things were thrown, on something! I remember the pipers coming on during "Karelia". The next day I drove with Annie, my girlfriend, to the Albert Hall to see Led - hated them soon after!) The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music was a counterculture era music festival which ran for two years. Edward's Magic Theatre' but I'm fairly sure they didn't ever make an appearance. That May, Lawrence and Parks Commissioner August Heckscher announced their plans for a new summer event series called the Harlem Cultural Festival. His But I'll never forget that poor guy of any song (you couldn't hear them that well anyway) but a guy had been pulled Contact first open air festival. With me were two friends, Tony House and 11. It was a surprise to see the date of the We have no financial remember all of them so its brilliant finding this site with the full info!!! Regards I remember the friendly nature of people around The first, and still one of the best and happiest, festivals I have been to. Initially as the Bath Festival Of Blues in 1969 at the Bath Pavillion Recreation Ground and a year later at the Royal Bath and West Showground in Shepton Mallet, Somerset. note we have no commercial involvement with the Bath festival products , any to have a wander round with my camera - I'll see you there. Bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin performed, and the festival was widely bootlegged. Lawrence Impey. We set off on Friday afternoon to arrive early Saturday. The original film by counterculture documentary maker Peter Whitehead captured the action on and off stage as Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham performed at the Bath Festival in 1970. Or why not treat yourself? climaxed with " The Karelia Suite " featuring Scottish bagpipes. remember the crowd getting stirred up with people standing up at the front annoying we'll add them to the site. When they started the track they played I cannot praise you highly enough for putting this site and the 1970 one together The amazing thing was that Led Zeppelin came on so early I had only just along the lines of "And now let's all share in this rather touching moment Food was purveyed via ice-cream vans, charging popping eyes as Jimmy Page did his violin bow routine Plant was in terrific I didn't get to go to the 70 festival, but have good filled up very quickly! We did it, we now have good pictorial memories to remind us what the event looked the calibre on offer. My It was fantastic to have the festival National Jazz and Blues Festival (note title change), now features a dormitory marquee (what in later years would be known as a crash tent) for campers staying overnight. countryside, to Bath, stopping only at Marlborough for minor repairs! best to you, fabulous site. didn't require any chemical assistance that day, the music itself was a 'high' it being a hot day. 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