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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 11, 2016 12:41:10 GMT
A.K.A the Hollywood Music Festival, held at Lower Farm, Finney Green. SOT
Anyone make it to this?
This was the Grateful Dead's UK debut. There are a number of no shows listed on that poster including The James Gang, Black Widow and Flying Burritos. The much hyped Screaming Lord Sutch backing supergroup "Heavy Friends" featuring,Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend also failed to materialise.
As far as I can tell, this was the actual line up:-
Saturday • Demon Fuzz,
• Trader Horne
• Screaming Lord Sutch
• Mungo Jerry
• Family
• Titus Groan
• Mike Cooper.
• Ginger Bakers Airforce
• Tony Joe White. Sunday • The Flaming Groovies.
• Black Sabbath.
• Wildmouth
• Quintessence.
• Colosseum.
• Free
• Grateful Dead
• Mungo Jerry
• Jose Feliciano
• Traffic.
I was a little young, thirteen, at the time and while I certainly had a developing interest in music it was mainly the prospect of seeing some naked female flesh that piqued my pubescent curiosity. As it happened, I never made it. Three of us set out walking, penniless, with the objective of bunking in but we got distracted en-route and never got there. I had to wait a further year for the Weeley Festival to fully satisfy my interest in the female anatomy.
Everyone I have spoken to since has only good things to say about the Hollywood Festival and despite all the big names on offer, it was locals Mungo Jerry that ended up stealing the show. There were plans to make a full festival documentary but the Dead were handing out Californian acid and the film crew were first in line, so the footage was "unusable"  . The bits of "somewhat good" film are available on a DVD and CD combo predominantly covering the Dead's performance. The CD includes tracks by the other bands as well.
Grateful Dead At the Hollywood festival North west England 1970 DVD + CD [2010]
Off set, the bands stayed at Highway Farm, Keele.
The band Free later released the album "Highway" which includes this track, one of my favourites, which may, or may not, deal with goings on at the farm.
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Post by felonious on Feb 11, 2016 12:57:24 GMT
Remember it well also too young to attend....hippies tripping through Silverdale all day. Some of my favourite bands in the day playing there. Free were an outstanding band but here's a couple of tracks from other attendees.
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yoc
Academy Starlet
Posts: 231 
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Post by yoc on Feb 12, 2016 7:50:43 GMT
I remember it, probably too young to go, was at school and it was the summer of Mungo Jerrys only major hit 'In the Summer Time'?
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 12, 2016 11:22:43 GMT
I remember it, probably too young to go, was at school and it was the summer of Mungo Jerrys only major hit 'In the Summer Time'? That's right, "In the Summertime" was massive that year.
If it had been a year later I would definitely have gone. I suspect Black Sabbath would have been higher up the bill a year later. 
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 12, 2016 11:24:57 GMT
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Post by Dutchpeter on Feb 12, 2016 12:54:57 GMT
Fascinating stuff you've posted here skank. I went the City museum exhibition about the Hollywood festival a few years back, but these links are much more informative. I know there's some news footage of the "hippy invasion" and some cine camera footage of Free and of course the infamous Grateful Dead documentary. It's interesting to contrast festivals then and now and what they meant to the people attending them. The 60s and 70s were a time when youth culture and music were important parts of a young persons life, I'm certain this isn't the same now. I wouldn't go a festival now as they're too commercialised and somehow a little sanitised. I wish there were more "roots" type festivals like those early efforts.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 12, 2016 13:45:04 GMT
Fascinating stuff you've posted here skank. I went the City museum exhibition about the Hollywood festival a few years back, but these links are much more informative. I know there's some news footage of the "hippy invasion" and some cine camera footage of Free and of course the infamous Grateful Dead documentary. It's interesting to contrast festivals then and now and what they meant to the people attending them. The 60s and 70s were a time when youth culture and music were important parts of a young persons life, I'm certain this isn't the same now. I wouldn't go a festival now as they're too commercialised and somehow a little sanitised. I wish there were more "roots" type festivals like those early efforts. Quite right about the festivals. Seems to be about making money nowadays and largely a pastime for the well heeled. Long gone are the days of the free festivals like Windsor etc. Even the commercial festivals didn't feel like a rip off. Burger vans and the like that tried overcharging ran the risk of being tipped over. I turned up at the Watchfield nine day free festival in '75 on the 3rd day (following Reading) with no food, nine pence in my pocket, a tarp and a Woolies sleeping bag. That was massive. Amongst the best six days of my younger life! Everything FREE and blazing sunshine to go with it! Happy days :-) |
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Post by harryburrows on Feb 12, 2016 14:34:45 GMT
Went to the Buxton festivals back in those years , the first one was on a farm in the coldest wettest place on earth . John peel was compare . Subsequent festivals were held in the pavilion , don't remember all the lineups except Rory Gallagher , Edgar broughton , east of Eden , possibly atomic rooster . Happy days
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 12, 2016 15:25:46 GMT
Went to the Buxton festivals back in those years , the first one was on a farm in the coldest wettest place on earth . John peel was compare . Subsequent festivals were held in the pavilion , don't remember all the lineups except Rory Gallagher , Edgar broughton , east of Eden , possibly atomic rooster . Happy days Pity the James Gang didn't make this one eh mate. One of your faves as I recall? |
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Post by harryburrows on Feb 12, 2016 15:44:13 GMT
Went to the Buxton festivals back in those years , the first one was on a farm in the coldest wettest place on earth . John peel was compare . Subsequent festivals were held in the pavilion , don't remember all the lineups except Rory Gallagher , Edgar broughton , east of Eden , possibly atomic rooster . Happy days Pity the James Gang didn't make this one eh mate. One of your faves as I recall?[/ You are correct mate . Joe Walsh,s band before he joined the Eagles |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2016 16:03:54 GMT
I remember it, probably too young to go, was at school and it was the summer of Mungo Jerrys only major hit 'In the Summer Time'? I seem to remember them having a single called " Long legged woman dressed in black " in the charts for weeks one summer during the 70's ?  |
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Post by felonious on Feb 12, 2016 16:09:09 GMT
For those who know Pepper Street which leads from Silverdale to Keele approximately halfway to Keele on the right there was a garage called Hollywood garage it's name taken from the area behind it which leads to the site for the venue.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 12, 2016 18:05:36 GMT
Mungo Jerry are still going apparently. Last album was 2012.
The "Long Legged Woman" single was '74. There was "Baby Jump" and "Alright Alright Alright" as well
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 12, 2016 18:56:19 GMT
For those who know Pepper Street which leads from Silverdale to Keele approximately halfway to Keele on the right there was a garage called Hollywood garage it's name taken from the area behind it which leads to the site for the venue. The track that ran alongside was called Hollywood Lane. I haven't been up that way for ages. |
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Post by bathstoke on Feb 12, 2016 19:29:45 GMT
For those who know Pepper Street which leads from Silverdale to Keele approximately halfway to Keele on the right there was a garage called Hollywood garage it's name taken from the area behind it which leads to the site for the venue. Know it, I went school there & this is the 1st I've heard of it. Ok I was only a couple of years old at the time, but still... |
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Post by innocentbystander on Feb 13, 2016 0:26:43 GMT
[/quote]
Quite right about the festivals. Seems to be about making money nowadays and largely a pastime for the well heeled. Long gone are the days of the free festivals like Windsor etc. Even the commercial festivals didn't feel like a rip off. Burger vans and the like that tried overcharging ran the risk of being tipped over.
I turned up at the Watchfield nine day free festival in '75 on the 3rd day (following Reading) with no food, nine pence in my pocket, a tarp and a Woolies sleeping bag. That was massive. Amongst the best six days of my younger life! Everything FREE and blazing sunshine to go with it! Happy days :-)
[/quote]
I was there then too, went there on my Triumph 350, slept in an aircraft hanger.
Waited ages for some band (Skywhale? Here and Now?) to get it together on a rickety stage while the intro to Zep's Immigrant Song played on the PA, when they cut it off just before the wailing starts all the audience just carried on.I remember it every time I hear that track.
Also went to the 7.7.77 free festival near Glastonbury and met my hero Edgar (Rob) Broughton and Steve.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 13, 2016 11:24:11 GMT
Went to the Buxton festivals back in those years , the first one was on a farm in the coldest wettest place on earth . John peel was compare . Subsequent festivals were held in the pavilion , don't remember all the lineups except Rory Gallagher , Edgar broughton , east of Eden , possibly atomic rooster . Happy days Loads of Buxton stuff here. Well worth exploring this site, it's a gold mine:-
www.ukrockfestivals.com/buxton.html
As for the James Gang, it seems churlish not to give these a run out:-
and...
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Post by harryburrows on Feb 13, 2016 12:08:05 GMT
Went to the Buxton festivals back in those years , the first one was on a farm in the coldest wettest place on earth . John peel was compare . Subsequent festivals were held in the pavilion , don't remember all the lineups except Rory Gallagher , Edgar broughton , east of Eden , possibly atomic rooster . Happy days Loads of Buxton stuff here. Well worth exploring this site, it's a gold mine:-
www.ukrockfestivals.com/buxton.html
As for the James Gang, it seems churlish not to give these a run out:-
and...
James gang still sound great . The Buxton lineups were pretty good looking back , forgotten so much though . Thanks for digging them up mate |
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 13, 2016 12:40:14 GMT
Quite right about the festivals. Seems to be about making money nowadays and largely a pastime for the well heeled. Long gone are the days of the free festivals like Windsor etc. Even the commercial festivals didn't feel like a rip off. Burger vans and the like that tried overcharging ran the risk of being tipped over.
I turned up at the Watchfield nine day free festival in '75 on the 3rd day (following Reading) with no food, nine pence in my pocket, a tarp and a Woolies sleeping bag. That was massive. Amongst the best six days of my younger life! Everything FREE and blazing sunshine to go with it! Happy days :-)
[/quote] I was there then too, went there on my Triumph 350, slept in an aircraft hanger.
Waited ages for some band (Skywhale? Here and Now?) to get it together on a rickety stage while the intro to Zep's Immigrant Song played on the PA, when they cut it off just before the wailing starts all the audience just carried on.I remember it every time I hear that track.
Also went to the 7.7.77 free festival near Glastonbury and met my hero Edgar (Rob) Broughton and Steve.[/quote][/p]
----------------------------------
Masses of detail, photos etc here:-
www.ukrockfestivals.com/watchfieldfestival-bands.html
After Reading I was the only one in our group with any stamina left so I hitched over to Watchfield on my own. I was wasted on arrival so I just set the bivvy up in the bottom field and crashed out. The site was massive, three stages as I recall? I remember the aircraft hangar, plenty of bikers up that end. It's all a bit of a blur and I don't remember many of the bands bar the usual suspects. You could always rely on the Broughtons, Pink Fairies, Hawkwind, Twink, Gong, The Deviants and the Global Village Trucking Company et al. to show up at this sort of thing. Edgar Broughton Band and the Pink Fairies were my particular favourites! Even at the tiniest alternative event going off anywhere you could guarantee either of them turning up and playing a set off the back of a flat bed lorry!
The ace food by the Hare Krishnas deserves special mention!
Anyway, any excuse...
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Post by innocentbystander on Feb 13, 2016 15:18:03 GMT
Edgar does FDWFAFDP gigs - Fair Days Work For a Fair Days Pay - he'll come round your house and play for whatever you get payed for a day, you have to give him a bed for the night too.
No way I could sleep if I had Edgar Broughton in my back bedroom.
Always loved his guitar playing, it'd probably blow all my windows out.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 13, 2016 15:57:22 GMT
Edgar does FDWFAFDP gigs - Fair Days Work For a Fair Days Pay - he'll come round your house and play for whatever you get payed for a day, you have to give him a bed for the night too. No way I could sleep if I had Edgar Broughton in my back bedroom. Always loved his guitar playing, it'd probably blow all my windows out. The last time I saw them was at the Wheatsheaf a few years back. Excellent live band. |
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Post by lordherefordsknob on Feb 13, 2016 21:37:09 GMT
I remember it, probably too young to go, was at school and it was the summer of Mungo Jerrys only major hit 'In the Summer Time'? That's right, "In the Summertime" was massive that year.
If it had been a year later I would definitely have gone. I suspect Black Sabbath would have been higher up the bill a year later.
Just a small question that everyone has seem to missed. Why the fuck is there a massive inflatable knob at the side of the stage? |
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 13, 2016 23:24:42 GMT
That's right, "In the Summertime" was massive that year.
If it had been a year later I would definitely have gone. I suspect Black Sabbath would have been higher up the bill a year later.
Just a small question that everyone has seem to missed. Why the fuck is there a massive inflatable knob at the side of the stage? We made our own amusements in them days mate. There was an inflatable tit as well. :-) |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2016 23:29:25 GMT
Mungo Jerry are still going apparently. Last album was 2012. The "Long Legged Woman" single was '74. There was "Baby Jump" and "Alright Alright Alright" as well Yes ' 74 it would be  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2016 23:31:10 GMT
Just a small question that everyone has seem to missed. Why the fuck is there a massive inflatable knob at the side of the stage? We made our own amusements in them days mate. There was an inflatable tit as well. :-) Wasn't there always ?  |
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 13, 2016 23:45:49 GMT
There was a band a couple of years later called Brewers Droop. They had several inflatable cocks. Didn't distract people from their terrible music though and they eventually folded.
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Post by innocentbystander on Feb 15, 2016 20:35:03 GMT
There was a band a couple of years later called Brewers Droop. They had several inflatable cocks. Didn't distract people from their terrible music though and they eventually folded. That's a limp joke. |
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Post by jukeboxjury on Feb 15, 2016 20:57:45 GMT
I was there with my girlfriend, we were both 16, and got in free because she knew the owner of the field
It was a bit chaotic but I do remember Mungo Jerry as it got to number one that week
My girlfriend has been my wife for 44 years
This brought back some good memories
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 16, 2016 13:15:59 GMT
There was a band a couple of years later called Brewers Droop. They had several inflatable cocks. Didn't distract people from their terrible music though and they eventually folded. That's a limp joke. I dunno. I thought it stood up quite well. |
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Post by Skankmonkey on Feb 19, 2016 11:41:20 GMT
I was there with my girlfriend, we were both 16, and got in free because she knew the owner of the field It was a bit chaotic but I do remember Mungo Jerry as it got to number one that week My girlfriend has been my wife for 44 years This brought back some good memories Congratulations to both you and your wife!
I'll keep the thread going for a bit longer and see if any more attendees show up. Like I say, I was just a year too young at thirteen.
I couldn't find a decent live version of this but at least the miming here is contemporary:-
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. The bits of "somewhat good" film are available on a DVD and CD combo predominantly covering the Dead's performance. The CD includes tracks by the other bands as well. 
