1960s Poster - Fleetwood Mac Gig at Queen Mary College, University Of London.

[SisterNightroad]

Fleetwood Mac and Manfred Mann played Derbyshire rock festival in 1970s
Were you among the concert-goers who saw top acts like Rod Stewart and the Faces, Mungo Jerry, Nazareth and Wizard at Peak District festival?

Fans at Buxton rock festival in 1972

A QUICK glance at these photos and most people would be able to date them to the early 1970s, based on the fashions and hairstyles on show.

But we wonder just how many readers would be able to say where they were taken or that they were there! The two photos from our archive were taken 45 years ago at the Buxton Rock Festival in September 1972.

Judging by the array of coats and blankets on show, the audience were certainly not enjoying the benefits of an Indian Summer, which seem to be more a fact of life in the 21st century than in the 60s and 70s when long, hot summers in June, July and August, are remembered by those of a certain age!

According to a festival programme from 1974, a rock concert at Buxton was originally the brainchild of promoter Stephen Robinson. They began life in 1969 as indoor events but their popularity soon persuaded organisers to move to staging a larger outdoor festival.

Fans at Buxton rock festival in 1972

Anyone who lives in the Peak District will know that its weather can be rather inclement and, unfortunately, the sun did not always shine on the audiences or bands, with downpours of rain a particular problem.

The first of the indoor events was billed as a progressive blues festival. It was staged at the Pavilion Gardens and boasted an impressive line-up of acts including Fleetwood Mac, East of Eden, Family and Radio One DJ John Peel.

The Pavilion Gardens was the venue the following year for the “Until Tomorrow” all-night music festival in the June featuring The Strawbs, Savoy Brown, Colosseum and, once again, compered by John Peel.

Two months later, another all-night blues and music festival called Sound 70 was staged, with Keef Hartley Big Band, Manfred Mann, Mungo Jerry and the Climax Blues Band, amongst others. This proved so popular that, in the November, the 2nd Sound 70 all-night progressive music festival was held, again at the Pavilion Gardens. This time, the bill included Marmalade, Ginger Baker’s Airforce, Black Widow and DJ Pete Drummond.

The Sound 71 Festival was held in the summer of the following year still at its indoor venue, with Edgar Broughton, The Groundhogs, East Of Eden and Paladin providing some of the musical entertainment. It was in September 1972 that organisers decided to brave the English weather and move to an outdoor venue, at the rather exposed Booth Farm.

Billed as Buxton Pop Festival, John Peel was back as DJ but the main act on the bill, Slade, did not appear. Steppenwolf, Family, John Kay Band, Uriah Heep and Roy Wood and Wizard did perform, however.

July 21, 1973, was the date for the next Buxton Pop Festival, again staged at Booth Farm. It was another good year for acts which included Chuck Berry, Nazareth, Edgar Broughton Band Groundhog and another appearance by Roy Wood and Wizard.

Predictably, as with the previous year, the event was plagued by weather but that didn’t stop the organisers planning one more outdoor festival which was held the following year. Held over two days in July 1974, the first day was headlined by Mott The Hoople, with special guests Lindisfarne.

The main act on the Saturday night was none other than The Faces with lead singer Rod Stewart. Humble Pie and Trapeze were also on the bill along with DJ “Whispering” Bob Harris.

Did you attend any of the Buxton festivals, either indoor at the Pavilion Gardens or outdoor at Booth Farm? We would love to hear your memories and see your photographs. Contact Bygones on bygone@derbytelegraph.co.uk or 01332 411689.



http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news...-played-431734