The Archive
Formatted at 1280 X 1024 minimum - created Jan 2002.
updates October 2007 - Formby Point Free Festival 1987, Cambridge Free Festival 1971, Ribblehead, Nostell Priory .
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1967-1990. |
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Photo © Glenda No don't panic , you are entering a zone which MAY offend your bourgeois sensibilities, but as long as you keep in mind that you are exploring a site dedicated to those who tried to live in an alternative manner , to push the boundaries , to take risks and who also made many sacrifices along the way for their lifestyle, then you may , just may come to appreciate their take on life, even if you don't agree with it . |
Arthur Wally and friend, Watchfield Free festival 1975 Photo © N Ayers
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When most people think of Festivals they think of the big ones, Bath, IOW , Knebworth , Glastonbury, Donington . The festivals that have gone down in rock history as being THE significant events of the age . But, throughout the 70s and 80s - and almost unnoticed by the rock mainstream press and punters, there maintained the fragile stream of free festivals. Organised by die-hards determined to keep some of the spirit of the counterculture alive ,( the organisers often facing harassment from authorities , even imprisonment) -these (mostly ) small scale events persisted throughout the decade. They were later to mutate into the raves and travellers gatherings that took place during the latter part of the century and which persist today. This site is dedicated to all those who attempted to keep the spirit of the free festival alive and particularly those , such as Arthur Wally and Rico , who have now passed on .Also to the Beanfield survivors , such as Phil the beer who were victimised and lost their homes to oppressive forces wielded by the state. |
There's
still precious little in the way of documentation on many of these festivals
online.
In an attempt to create
somewhere where
those interested in the early history of free festivals can easily find
something about all the festivals - or at least the fact that some of
them took place at all , we've created this index of the free festivals
we know of and sites that contain any information about them . If the
site has a good deal of information about the festival we have linked
directly to it and marked the page with a #.
If its hardly got any content we've usually added the information to
the pages we have created about the event . Most of the pages will contain
links to photo sites of the festivals on the net , bands that played
at the festivals and any recording details . |
Unknown band onstage at Watchfield 75 Photo Steve Austin © |
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We are proud of the contribution we have made to Andy Worthington's sociological history of Stonehenge and the free festival scene in the UK .This new book gives a fascinating insight into the various counter cultural obsessions with the Stones and provides a variety of new perspectives to many of the key events surrounding the Henge such as the Battle Of The Beanfield and the more recent attempts hold a celebration at the Stones during the Solstice.Find out more about this great book by clicking on the image on the left and visit the Heart of Albion Press web site .
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This list is in no way definitive and is being added to whenever new information turns up , therefore the site is constantly being updated . Information has often been gleaned from net scouring and therefore is almost definitely NOT completely accurate .We particularly need first hand accounts and photos of these events NOW whilst memories are still relatively intact and photos haven't faded away . If you can help with ANY information please do not hesitate to contact us Contact email
Free festivals and small fayres held in the United Kingdom between 1967-90.
1967-69.
1970-79 |
1980-90 |
Main list of Free festivals 1970-1985
Free rock festivals of the 70s and 80s
Related Articles
The aroma of a free festival -by Roger Hutchinson
Dome construction instruction sheet (download-140k)-by Roger Hutchinson
Travellers Tales Convoy Steve's tale of how the freaks outsmarted the fuzz at Greenham common.
Zorch -House band for the free festival set ? A fanzine page on the UK's first electronic band .
Tibetan Ukranian Mountain Troupe-surreal pranksters of the Traveller community .
Acidia Lightshow Lightshow for Windsor festival and Stonehenge in the 1970s.
Many, many thanks go to Roger Hutchinson , Big Steve , Roger Duncan, Celia, Will , Jeza,Chris Hewitt ,The Fabulous Time Tortoise , Peter Piwowarski - ( 70s music site/photos ) Martin S, Steve Austin ,Traveller Dave,Herb,Noddy Guevara,David Stooke,Gary Gibbons , Nigel Ayers, Rich Deakin ,Glenda Pescardo,Justin Warman,Brian F, Steve Bayfield, Kev Ellis, Paul Seaton and many other minor contributors for their help in providing the archival material related to these free festivals which has at enabled us to construct the site .
Any info to add ?-well don't just sit there , Contact email