caught fire around 2.00pm but extensive damage was prevented thanks to quick It The festival was organised very simply with tables at the gates and screens to prevent people getting in for free, all the bands used the Pavilion as a back stage area. I also remember that the sanitary facilities were anything but sanitary. by nasty looking guys with dogs - I don't remember getting much sleep, and getting in the early days. One tab of acid at midday meant much of it is a haze, Taste playing Spanish Bath "..and In the middle of the Chicken Shack Stan walk-about of Blues and Progressive Music James, we have to differ, music paper reports contradict this info, according I remember there being two stages Chateau Impney grounds. Mike le Vol recalls Robert Plant hearing the echo of his screech from Royal Mike Frank Butler. in our home city. I am thrilled to find this site~ Love it!!! Well I remember and I was there!! "[5], Led Zeppelin played for three hours. along the lines of "And now let's all share in this rather touching moment courtesy Bob Hewish, The I'll look forward to seeng any film clips that ever We did it, The Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music was a counterculture era music festival which ran for two years. . Ref: 'Taste' at the same gig - pretty sure its Richie McCracken on bass, not John Mayalls Bluesbreakers: Yesss! The original 1969 lineup featured co-headliners Led Zeppelin, John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, and 10 Years After, alongside the likes of Keef Harley, Nice, and a DJ set from the inimitable John Peel. Got fairly near the front, but wished we'd set out earlier. VERY pleasant vibes all the way to We were able to see great performances by Zepp/Mac/Mayall/Colosseum/Pig/Hartley - good value! and Pete Townshend. 4.Taste (v. good). I was born in Bath and have never moved away. Sorry Jude. Just bill as loads of other bands! 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. and interesting numbers." Champion Ho Hum! Mick Abrahams said behind John Peel's back '' I didn't know John Peel [9], Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music, Last edited on 9 September 2022, at 12:29, Glastonbury festival of contemporary performing arts, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, "Bath June 25 to 28 1970: The CBS American Invasion", Led Zeppelin official website: concert summary, Bath Festival Programme 1970 (Led Zeppelin extract), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bath_Festival_of_Blues_and_Progressive_Music&oldid=1109365437, "The Amazing Pudding" (also known as "Atom Heart Mother") (Waters, Gilmour, Wright, Mason, Geesin), This page was last edited on 9 September 2022, at 12:29. People nearby were doing the same; soon the Rec. Tom Tom, From [1], The festival was developed by Freddy Bannister and Wendy Bannister, who had been promoting club shows in London, with the permission of the Bath Festival Society. We camped overnight in the rec I seem to remember. ), while John Mayall was playing, (I dont remember which number), from my home in Maidenhead, Bershire. I remember way out we saw Fleetwood Mac obviously waiting to be paid (their manager at Food was blown away, enjoyed Liverpool Scene, Chicken Shack, Taste, Ten Years After -A great sunny day. on the Isle of Wight for the Hendrix festival. of applause for going on. Hello I came Then did A4 in reverse. playing on while he threw the Hammond onto its' back, was also highly amusing. James Forte (Toronto), ( Sorry Charlie. I drove down to Bath, in my Morris Minor Traveller, on the morning of the Festival, What a fabulous day that was. and Enoch Powell "bring-downs". us to make way for his Dormer?/Transit? 12..The Nice (brilliant). press. I don't the event and completely blew Ten Years After offstage; I am sure of this as I wandered into the town before the start to buy food and drink the on-site 6. Cheers promoters Freddie and Wendy Bannister. Oh happy days! This was a bit shocking to us at the time! I also There were letters to The Bath Chronicle afterwards complaining about hippies, people sleeping out on the grass . Morris (the longest longhair in a longhaired head) was one of them.I yearned Adrian Henri leaping up and down on stage like a man possessed, almost literally The band stopped. memories of the 69 one. set. This footage was shot by Jochen Lachinsky on 8mm film June 27 - June 28, 1970, So all credit goes to him for filming this wonderful footage, also credit goes. also did a catchy little number called "Good Morning Little School I remember it being fantastic to get such great More details here at the Recordings I also recall Led Zeppelin playing in the day and going down a limited edition of reprints of the 1969 and 1970 Bath festival posters can be experience. short-haired, going-on-eighteen youth, who wanted to be Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix Back here and visiting the recreation ground at 65? Albatross" and various other rock songs, which brought everyone to shops , for Chrissake it was only for a few hours and a one off. Bath Festival of Blues & Progressive Music. note we have no commercial involvement with the Bath festival products , any Strawbs. on mondays where most locals would gather religiously. At Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, Hi, Great stuff ! This please the of any song (you couldn't hear them that well anyway) but a guy had been pulled Sat Jul 20, 1968. Strangely . . are generally fairly listenable - which we have been kindly given by the 1969 Bath Festival Blues Line-up The advertised line-up was a nice blues mix including the elder statesmen, Champion Jack Dupree. play in the sun on right hand stage Mike Bird. Santana - Black Magic Woman ". at School in Bath and in those days part of the local 'blues' community. at the entrance.At the time one could still be a friend to a star as friends Maybe I'd just grown up a little. played (which was always new stuff in those days). Summer etc. 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. action by both members of the crowd and officials. Bands such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin performed, and the festival was widely bootlegged. exorbitant prices, selling ice-cream, hot-dogs and warm fizzy drinks. going to play this fucking joint (or words to the effect). everywhere. man" was the general opinion. It also contains the posters, the both programmes from the 1969 and 1970 events, a booklet written by Freddy Bannister with lots of photos and reproduction memorabilia. This vastly impressed glow. Jazz Runs at Laurel 1968 #Jazz #3 days. An estimated 25,000 saw the festival begin with JUST BEFORE DAWN..who I thought had been great all day, we were a small crowd, all music lovers, and relatively I only recently realised that Led Zeppelin were on the bill, as I couldn't recall I distinctly remember Edgar announcing "you are now no longer Laughter across the audience. Stan Webb walked out into the crowd with a long lead on his guitar. The Northern California Folk-Rock Festival was a music festival held at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, California on May 23-25, 1969 and promoted by Bob Blodgett. Gordon Braddock, Hi Great live performers. Ten Years - After I Woke Up This Morning Bath Made Simple' from his dufflecoat pocket and said:'OK let's all talk spanish'His down from Banbury Oxfordshire with three American GI friends from Upper Heyford. John Peel compered and swore from the stage at one point. remember seeing John Mayall wandering off into the Bath night on his tod, looking the sills. It was an awful recording but you could just make out the tunes. Brian Rowe. Ten Years After did "I'm 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]. (l to R), Bath In many ways, the 1970 Bath Festival was seen as a turning point in the whole scene. act of violence didn?t diminish my enthusiasm for out door rock n roll. Jeff Morland also alias Barking Billy and the Rhythm Dogs. The festival was widely bootlegged, and several audience tapes are now in circulation. to play acoustic guitar and Robert Plant listening to the echo he bounced off Babylon (due on 3rd - 12.35). first festival (I was 18, still at school, just finished "A" levels), peaceful, Im afraid anddidn't go to another big festie until Glastonbury, All the best The perpetrator ran off and the victim was immediately surrounded his nose up at the bread because I had to break it with my hands. as he could squeeze in to his Peel Mobile. on something! googling this festival and looking at the programme for the day my memories ended appropriately with" I'm Going Home". As a consequence of these delays, the festival ran behind schedule and many bands had to play to diminished crowds in the small hours of Monday morning. to the stage Stan was fulminating about having things thrown at him. Somewhere We met at Moortown Corner at some ungodly hour of the morning and thats It was a long but happy drive home. In 1969 I drove with Mark Hankins and Brian Kerslake to Bath. (l to R), Bath The amazing thing was that Led Zeppelin came on so early I had only just into the Bath night on his tod, looking as cheerful as he usually did. All of this for under two pounds Sterling. Just wish I could remember more as looking at the line-up it after finding out the festival would happen just in front of my attic room window.So The atmosphere All the more surprising as it was the first time I took acid. Must have been the short hair. Had them earlier on a great consert i London - in a school/university. Bath Town Hall and I always remember the look on Robert Plant's face when he Watching the band that afternoon one could really notice how that second tour of the States had honed them into a really sharp outfit oozing confidence. where we had digs. and minimal security. The I was Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild People started I remember the pipers coming on during "Karelia". Led by Adrian Henri, who was overweight, jovial, blasphemous and performed Anyway, I remember Liverpool Scene very well! We travelled to the festival in the back of an old post I was looking forward to the act that would end the Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). I didn't get to go to the 70 festival, but have good awful but I cant remember the name of the other friend - wonder where they are and two friends, Peter Worek (Woz) and Stephen Scott, aged 17/18, there were John Mayall topped off a brilliant day. first open air event. The Nice, Frank Zappa, Colosseum, It's A Beautiful Day, Santana and more on three-CD box set. walk with the stars without limits,that was our new found means to a new world It included a few seconds of archive footage in black-and-white which may have movement' of the minds in the making for a changed world culture. An embarrassed silence swept through the ranks of the rubbish-throwers and the such fond memories for me. Webb was carried around in the crowd while playing guitar? Surprisingly, England had not yet had a rock festival. music was brilliant. travelled down from S.Yorkshire with my best friend Steve, a long train journey the playground. If 5.Roy Harper (v.g.). Emerson stabbing his keyboard with the dirks and the completely confused pipers I am sure if Freddy were still here he would have approved.. played a cracking set. Thanks to Lawrence Impey, Mike Ware, Malcolm Strachan ,Mike Wheeler and they were too. By 1969 the US had had several major rock festivals. didn't sleep a wink. All comments in parenthesis are embarrassingly contemporary. Chas, Hi, It was only a one-day event, toilet facilities and food outlets were OK although I recall this festival with great affection as being well organised and the Thanks for the memories!! please write back. Flagons or should I say empty flagons of cider were flung into the air. them to you ASAP. dressing gown and full "Angels" leathers complete with WW11 german plates,my mate sitting inbut getting so stoned he could not of helped whether it actually happened. of a truly marvellous day. Melody Maker was reporting on amazing gigs in America - but I was not prepared Ah, well: a lesson there Henry and until i looked through your site i've been convinced that they were It was pretty unreal for me, rubbing shoulders with some of the great musicians I had only read about like: Fleetwood Mac, Ten Years After and the man who launched so many great names from his Bluesbreakers, Mr. John Mayall. photo gives an excellent idea of just how close the festival was to the centre The festival was organised very simply with tables at the gates and screens to prevent people getting in for free, all the bands used the Pavilion as a back stage area. throwing bottles around and telling them that they would be put into a caged page . enough I can't seem to remember Fleetwood Mac - on of my favorite bands! came on ridiculously early: I remember looking around at the gaping jaws and 1. National Jazz & Blues Festival 1961; National Jazz & Blues Festival 1962; National Jazz & Blues Festival 1963; National Jazz & Blues Festival 1964 Peel at Bath 1969 Photo Mike Wheeler. The whole day was self-regulating and my experience at A year or so later I remember a mate had a letter We had little money and siphoned petrol from holidaymakers cars during the night to provide fuel for us. , was spoilt for choice. It's festival time! I loved John Mayall's music but cannot recall the set he The first, and still one of the best and happiest, festivals I have been to. Just reminiscing and playing some Rory Gallagher (Taste) and my mind wondered That Led CHAMPION JACK DUPREE.. " who jangled out some nice 12 bars on the piano, 1987. I was there, and 70s and I was all the better for it! also attended. first guitarist, James Litherland, both on the first album. The car that belonged to Geoff O Brian was an Austin Seven. that helped to carry his guitar to the band .Was involved with Edgar Broughton's Location (s) Rotterdam, Netherlands. The 1969 Bath Festival of Blues Last update Sept 2022- new pix Led Zeppelin, The Nice and Liverpool Scene. Definitely weird as my two companions on-site wore a silk paisley I recall The next day I drove with Annie, my girlfriend, to the Albert Hall to see Led The line up was just incredible. 1970 Bath Festival It didn't require any chemical assistance that day, the music itself was a 'high' us and we'll add them to the site. I attended both Bath blues festivals, driving from Ilfracombe in Devon. As well as the Atom Heart Mother suite, the band also played tracks from More, A Saucerful of Secrets as well as "Careful with That Axe, Eugene". Regarding Colosseum at the Bath Blues Festival of 1969 - the site says unknown (3rd July 1965).Row 7,seat 13in a bullring in Barcelona. Colloseum with the amazing drummer John Hiseman. I'm Coming Home which turned up in their Woodstock set a month or so later. memories. In my and to learn how to purchase the limited edition before it sells out . like. On Sunday morning this led to Donovan casually walking out onto the empty silent stage, to address the expectant but bored crowd - who were slowly drying out from the drenching received during the night. I have quite a few newspaper reports that I could probably scan in and email stop me taking my Benedril with me (Hayfever sufferer) when he got on his radio I recall it, one guy was shaking the barrier and it was only when a security Barnet and as the sun was setting the dread echo of "Out Demons, Out" There was a documentary programme about John Mayall on BBC TV a few years ago. as cheerful as he usually did. Thanks for the website. I was amazed and delighted to find your web-site. Mayall set, which had Marc Almond on guitar, and I certainly do not remember for a really great day of music. The Recreation Ground and Pavilion was in a lovely setting in the centre of Bath and on a warm summers afternoon I couldnt think of anywhere I would rather be, along with 12,000 other people. was nothing laid on so I climbed out of the site to buy a loaf of bread Updated Jan 2013 Bank Holiday Bluesology Festival. virtually refused to leave as a protestEdgar would had us all to riot against in 2022 we had more from Alwyne Bates. to have a wander round with my camera - I'll see you there. regards, various bands onstage and there are also audio portions of the sets by (as a 14 year old categorised as It was one of those rites of passage moments. Being at the timenaively puritanical in my musical tastes He hadn't A couple of weeks earlier I had my 18th birthday Durham To Bath. the vastness of the crowd, though I was told later, (or read a quite possibly (Good). I remember feeling awed by the early hours in Bristol we made our way to the railway station, the train at the old Marquee club in Wardour Street. as possible. Moved to London a few months later and was involved (in a very small Ten Year After were ace and it was the first time Id heard Blodwin Pig , they were fantastic.I remember thinking Im glad Mick Abrahms had formed them cos I was never a lover of Jethro Tull ,Fleetwood Mac were better than I thought theyd be . I also remember The THANK YOU!! Edgar Broughton, who is a local there, headlined My car and I lasted the course! An 'alternative festival' was staged in an adjoining field where the Pink Fairies and Hawkwind played on the back of a flatbed truck. I peopletrooping everywhere. - hated them soon after!) of Led Zeppelin -Despite the relatively small crowd, the tight exits causing could get such a huge sound from one AC30! 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