1969 Police Fund Raiser in Barn

[michelej1]

[From the BBC Hereford and Worcester, readers were asked to send in stories about gigs they saw in the area]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2008/11/05/music_map_grossmont_alan_morgan_feature.shtml

Stars in the barn
by Alan Morgan

Lots of the top bands of the '60s played Grosmont Wood Barn in Herefordshire. Alan was in the audience at one memorable gig... but was John Lennon there too?

If you were a group in the 1960s you could end up playing some pretty strange places - but few as remote and unglamorous as the outbuildings of a farm in Grosmont, on the Herefordshire/Monmouthshire border.

Yet this unpromising barn hosted gigs by Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Fleetwood Mac.
As someone who was in the audience put it: "This barn is in the middle of nowhere - there weren't any neighbours to complain, there was no traffic snarl-ups."

Alan Morgan has sent us the story of one of those gigs:

"In 1969 myself and a friend Colin Turner (sadly killed in a road accident a couple of years later) went to Grosmont Wood Barn to see Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, the Amazing Arthur Brown (including his flaming crown) and other bands.

"It was all in aid of the Abergavenny Police Benevolent Fund, if I remember correctly.

"It was an amazing night - Fleetwood Mac played Albatross, which was fantastic live, and Jethro Tull played all their chart songs.

"It was alleged that John Lennon was in the crowd, but this was not confirmed... anyway I didn't see him!"

[michelej1]

Same website also talked about a 1968 Bluesology Festival at the Chateau Impney

http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2008/11/04/music_map_chateau_impney_feature.shtml

Rocking the Chateau
by John Coombe

Fleetwood Mac, Tom Jones, and John Peel all appeared at The Chateau Impney near Droitwich in the 1960s. Local rock historian John Coombe picks out some of the highlights.

Sunday 1 - Monday 2 September 1968

The Bluesology Festival at the Chateau was spoilt by rainy weather.

This two day festival was plagued by heavy showers, but it did not stop a range of top groups appearing.

Hosted by Radio One DJ John Peel, the bands included Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, with new guitarist Danny Kirwan, John Mayalls Bluesbreakers, Geno Washington, Joe Cocker and his Grease Band, The Family, Wynder K. Frogg, The Move and Skip Bifferty.

Friday 27 January 1967

The Beat Scene column, written by Malcolm Nicholl, had now changed its name to On the Inside, and featured an article on an appearance by Jimmy Cliff and The Shakedown Sound, at the Black Horse the previous Thursday.

The article wrote that a dynamic Jimmy Cliff really entertained an unusually lively Kidderminster crowd, with the 'Shakedowns', including local musicians Kevyn Gammond and Sean Jenkins, providing a solid foundation.

Also mentioned was the previous Friday's all-nighter at the Chateau, which featured the Protection Racket from Worcester, and local blues outfit Chicken Shack.

Another great night with a full house.

Friday 24 March 1967

Under the headlines "Friday Night and Saturday Morning", Malcolm Nicholl wrote about an 'all-niter' he had been to the previous Friday.

He said early risers in Kidderminster were surprised to see hundreds of sleepy teenagers walking through the town centre on Saturday morning.

They had just returned by coach from an 'all-niter' at the Chateau.

First band on were The Frame, followed by Chicken Shack - a trio at this time - they were praised for their power house Chicago Blues.

Later on another band turned up and played an impromptu set.

The 'all-niter' was turning out to be a real cultural phenomenon.

[becca]

I now have some strange image of Tom Jones shreiking 'I am the God of Hellfire' backed by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac (with the three pronged crown)!