The Archive

Formatted at 1920 X 1020 minimum - Updated July 2021

This site is dedicated to the memory of Roger Hutchinson, who inspired me to delve deep into the magic of the free festival and who passed away Sept 3rd 2010.

R.I.P. Roger .....

R.IP. Phil Shaksby, aka Phil The Beer ,who passed away April 2010 .

Big BIG thanks to our sponsor Neil !

For information on today's festivals see eFestivals.co.uk


 

Harlow Free Concerts 1979.
Spurriers Park- Harlow.

         

Any more details would be appreciated .Any info to add ?-well don't just sit there , Contact us

Thanks to Steve Goldsmith , David Devine of Harlow Council and Steve Baker for their invaluable help in providing data on these concerts.



1979

June 16th 1979

The Late Show

Angel Street

Greedy Pig

(*Frankie Miller orginally billed, but pulled out )

 


June 30th 1979

Gonzalez

TCOJ

White Glass

A poor year this year in terms of acts, due to many of the original billed acts pulling out at the last minute. The only act I saw that year was Hi-Tension. By now Jazz and its many derivatives are starting to seep in to my consciousness . Hi - Tension were a top Jazz Funk outfit of the day, and riding high on the jazz funk wave with the tracks, "Hi Tension" and "British Hustle which had a packed Town Park, including me, moving and grooving to their own brand of dance music.


That is basically it, an eclectic mix of bands over a seven year period , accounting for most peoples tastes, although notably there are no “proper” punk acts around the 76/ 77 mark.
The entertainments officer Dick Kilburn was at one point trying to negotiate a deal with Sparks, but having seen the “rider” I guess he thought better of it .
Many of the above bands have at some point in my life, either at time or much later, have had a big influence on my musical palette.

However, I can say that without Shadow of a doubt the Bay City Rollers, The Rubettes, Kenny and Stevenson’s Rocket have never at any point been found in my record collection.

Stephen Goldsmith


 

 

June 14th 1979

The Fabulous Poodles

Gypp

Topaz

(*Brand X orginally billed, but pulled out )

 


July 28th 1979

Hi Tension

64 Spoons

Hedgehog

(*Squeeze orginally billed, but pulled out )



Free Festivals List

Any info to add- well don't just sit there ! Contact us

Free festivals and small fayres held in the United Kingdom between 1967-90.

1967-69.

 1970-79  
1980-92

 

  • Windsor Peoples Free Festival 1972-74
 
 Free festival related articles
Pay Festivals- Benefits for Travellers aid.
 

Main list of Free festivals 1970-1985

Free rock festivals of the 70s and 80s

Publications

ffhf

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 .

Sending details of a small book I've just self-published which might be of interest to some readers of your admirable site.

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.

Traveller Daves Website - Chock full of of free festival photos !

Many, many thanks go to Roger Hutchinson , Big Steve , Roger Duncan, Celia, Will , Chazz, Jeza ,Chris Hewitt ,The Fabulous Time Tortoise , Peter Piwowarski - ( 70s music site/photos ) Martin S, Steve Austin ,Traveller Dave, Herb, Tim Brighton, Vin Miles, Haze Evans , Noddy Guevara, Chris Brown, Janet Thompson, 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 us


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