The Archive.

The Archive.

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

June 29th 1974.

Kevin Ayers, Nico, Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers, Kevin Coyne,Gong, Gt Moore and the Massed Reggae guitars.

The stage and the stacks , during Gongs act © Ian Loveday

Recollections by attendees.

Hello

Kevin Ayers, Gong, Nico

Love your site, thought everyone else had forgotten that day.

I have photos somewhere; if I can find and scan them I’ll send them to you.

I can still see Nico playing The End. It was the most haunting moment of the afternoon. She seemed to be squeezed in between sets, just played the one song and then vanished without fanfare. I will never forget it.

Tim Greig

This is like unravelling my brain to see what’s in there……………….not much from my recall. Thank God I took a few photos or I’d not have remembered I was there at all.

I DO remember Kevin Ayers well though – and Jesus !

The Kev gig I was at was the 1974 one – it kept coming up as 1970 with Pink Floyds and I know I didn’t see the Floyd until they did THE WALL.

So persistence has paid off – I was at the Gong gig and did see Kevin Ayers with Nico (although I think she only did one or two songs). In fact I can hardly remember her and I was a big Velvets fan.

Can you help me track down the audience recording – I’d really love it. I do trade some real rare Todd Rundgren and Zappa if you are interested, or know someone who is.

Thanks again.

Laura

Mass outbreak of plate throwing during Gongs set ....© Ed Sijmons visit Ed's Flickr site to see more excellent rock/jazz pics

© Ian Loveday

Just a quick note: I was present at this great event (I was just 17!). The memories of it are still fairly vivid, even if I can't remember what tracks were being played by the artists - apart from Nico's "The End" of course! I have a paper plate that was thrown out into the audience which has printing on it concerning GONG! The plate was then signed by Nico, several members of Streetwalkers and Alvin Lee (who didn't perform). I also have a few small colour photos that might be possible to display on your site at a later date. These picture Streetwalkers, Kevin Coyne, Kevin Ayers, Gong and (possibly) G.T. Moore.
 

Cheers,
Christer Bäckhage
Gunnilse, SWEDEN.

 

I travelled up to this concert from South Wales on my own, just 4 weeks after a few of us had travelled up for the June 1st 1974 ACNE concert.

I arrived early but the stage had been set up and they had some records being played for the then sparse crowd. I saw Jesus down at the front already boogieing away. Jesus was an idiot dancer who attended all the festivals and had been pictured in the MM or NME at various festivals.

It was dull and overcast and then it happened - one of those absolutely magical moments. The DJ played 'Here Comes The Sun' and the clouds were pushed back and we were bathed in glorious sunshine during the song. Magic!

GT Moore & the Reggae guitars kicked off. To a parochial like myself, I always looked around for skinheads when reggae was played - this was back in '74 remember. I'm not too sure Kevin Coyne's 'darker' music was right for an outdoor concert in the sunshine. I was a bit disappointed in Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers - I loved Family and perhaps it was unfair to compare them while they were breaking in a new rhythm section.

Gong, wonderful Gong were fantastic - a lot of praise should go to their 'switch doctors' (sound engineers) as their blend of glissando, sax and space whispers spread across Hyde park. I think this was my favourite Gong line-up. I thought someone had spiked my drink when it looked as if I was seeing the stage through one of those machines that have ping-pong balls in them with bingo numbers on them but the 'balls' spread around and turned out to be the paper plates with the poem on them. Nico didn't go down a storm - again I don't think her music was suited to an outdoor festival on a sunny day.

Kevin Ayers came on to wrap up the proceedings, as usual with Kevin there was a false start. This time due to him getting electric shocks off the mic - "This mic is fucking shocking!". His band, The Soporifics, were on good form Archie Leggett creating earthquakes of bass riffs and Ollie Halsall was just about the hottest guitarist around at that time. The highlight of their set for me was the old Ayers song from the Softs first album, 'We did it again'. There were a few additional people up on stage jamming during this - Nico on tambourine and Pierre Moerlen on sax. Whatever, it got everyone up on their feet. All in all a pretty wonderful day.

Cheers,
Bill Tasker

 

© Ian Loveday

© Ian Loveday

Hi,
Yes, I was a young American guy traveling around Europe that spring and summer of '74. Hitching mainly. South in France some people turned me onto Gong. And I was just blown away. I got to London sometime in late June...I forget. And hit the park. I was a little solitary, but I enjoyed the nice July 29th eve. I've always liked Family (Streetwalkers) but can't recall them playing...what a fuck up I am. Nico went on & on with what seemed like heroin...but i couldn't figure it out.

Gong was just great. I can remember Pierre Morelan's drum rhythms were just so hard...in beat...so Jazzed...so powerful and synchopated..."On the Road" like Kerouac...yeah, it was such a great concert. Didn't have any money so I didn't drink or have any pot. It probably would've been even greater. And I didn't take any fucking pics. what a nerd ball I was. Or maybe it was that travel Europe on $10.00 a day mentality I had. Ah what the fuck! It was super anyway...Long live those who search for new sounds...sure ain't happening much in this day & age...

xrc

GT Moore onstage © Ian Loveday

If you can contribute any info on this concert Contact us

 (These pages include large photogalleries of the concert, most especially King Crimson and Jack Bruce. )

Concert reviews and info -1974-76( all updated Nov 2018)