Isle of Wight, 1970

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Tue May 06, 2003 5:00 pm

I have viewed a fascinating videotape documentary on this festival, which included (but was limited to) LC performing "Suzanne". Interestingly, I inferred from the comments of one of the festival-goers interviewed in this doco, that there were present on the day, at least some folk who were very keen to see (perhaps, above anyone else) LC perform that day/night.

Anyway, I'm keen to hear from or about anyone out there (probably resident in UK) who was there at that festival. I would love to know what impact LC had on you/them and those in the audience who may not have been exposed to him before.

LC's repertoire at this event was quite extensive (17 songs/poems), so I'm also wondering if there are any recordings (presumably bootlegs) of the whole of LC's performance at the event.

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Wed May 07, 2003 3:41 pm

Hi Andrew - I went to the festival I was working on the Isle of Wight at the time - Pontins Holiday Camp

I really can't remember much of the concert at all apart from the atmosphere which was electric. A lot of the open air concerts I went to I can't remember much of not due to some drugged haze but there was so much going on and the concert in a way was secondary.

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Wed May 07, 2003 4:26 pm

Paula

Lucky you - it just seemed to me to be one of those special events, perhaps like a small (and British) version of Woodstock.

Were you already familiar with LC's music when you went to the festival?

(As an aside, on the subject of your festival attendances, were you by any chance present at the Blackbushe Picnic in Surrey in 1978?)

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

John the Shorts · Post by **John the Shorts** » Thu May 08, 2003 1:24 am

Paula

I am distraught - I thought you wanted to take me to Pontins rather than Skegness for reasons other tahn a staff discount (see other thread)

JTS (You heartbreaker, you)

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu May 08, 2003 3:20 pm

Hi Andrew - yes I did go to Blackbushe I won a couple of tickets from a newspaper a Bob Dylan competition. I can't even remember who was on I can only remember Dylan and I can't remember much of that. The most vivid memory of Blackbushe was trying to get home at the end. It was chocker.

I did know LC's work I found him on a compilation album along with Taj Mahal and others unknown to me. I didn't go to the concert to see him I was not that into him. I went purely because I was in the area. But shortly after I bought my first album of his and was hooked and when to see him at the Albert Hall a year later. Ever since anytime he was playing in England I went to his concerts.

The one open air concert I really remember was the Buxton Folk Festival it was excellent, James Taylor, The Bryds, Steeleye Span, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee etc etc it was in the middle of nowhere and brilliant.

JTS do not think too badly of me. The discount is minimal and only involves extra toast at breakfast PLUS one pat of butter more than anyone else

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Thu May 08, 2003 5:59 pm

Paula

I was also at Blackbushe and the four things that I clearly remember (apart from some vague recollections of the performers) were: the size of the crowd (250,000 I believe)

; the strong smell of dope in the air

; the flaming torches, candles etc being waved around approaching/during the finale

; and (like you) the traffic jam afterwards - we didn't get out of the car park until around 5 am and home (London) until 7 am!

However, unlike you (oh lucky one) I have yet to catch LC in concert!

In fact, I know he's avoiding me: to wit, in 1979 he did his London & Brighton concerts just after I had returned to Oz (for Christmas); then in 1985 he did a concert in Brisbane (where I was living at the time) while I was holidaying in the UK/Ireland!

Andrew (Darby)

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu May 08, 2003 8:20 pm

I'm so sorry to laugh at your misfortune, Andrew.....but could you relate your missing Leonard's performing with more pathos next time? Thanks. I look forward to empathizing with you, but I just can't do it so well while I'm laughing. In sincere anticipation of commiseration

.

~ Lizzytysh

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Fri May 09, 2003 2:46 pm

Andrew, there's awfull tape recorded from the audience, with speed error (too slow). Recently a fan from Poland transferred it into CD and corrected the speed, but it is still one of worst recordings ever, full of noises and intrusive sounds, hissing, and some kind of wind sound thru the whole recording. Anyway, from recent time it's available in trade on CD - but no-one takes it because it is only for collectors, really unhearable. I almost lost my hears when I listened to it - I have it only because of importance of that particular concert for Leonard's career. As I heard from various sources, it's one of most famous and greatest LC's concerts, and the tape proves it.
Complete Suzanne and Tonight Will Be Fine are available from 1990's BBC radio broadcast, and on CD compilation "Last of great festivals". That version of Suzanne is really unbelievable!

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Fri May 09, 2003 3:18 pm

Andrew who was on at Blackbushe I am always happy to know who I heard playing live. I am not even sure where Blackbushe is to be truthful the whole episode is etched in fog

Also I just want to know your whereabouts when the New York 2004 meeting is taking place it could have a bearing on whether the man will make an appearance.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri May 09, 2003 3:42 pm

Paula ~

"the whole episode is etched in fog"

"I just want to know your whereabouts.......it could have a bearing on whether the man will make an appearance"

These alone made coming in today worthwhile.

~ Lizzy

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Fri May 09, 2003 4:57 pm

lizzytysh wrote: I'm so sorry to laugh at your misfortune, Andrew.....but could you relate your missing Leonard's performing with more pathos next time? Thanks. I look forward to empathizing with you, but I just can't do it so well while I'm laughing. In sincere anticipation of commiseration .

~ Lizzytysh

Elizabeth

You're absolutely right - I only find this passably amusing with the benefit of a bit of distance and philosophical resignation!

I just feel upset with myself that I didn't regularly buy the New Musical Express or Rolling Stone (or whatever) back then, to keep abreast of forthcoming concerts.

I also unequivocally know it would never happen in this day and age of Internet promotion/communication, as we all would not only know about it, but have our tickets purchased 'on line' (or should that read 'on mind') a millisecond after Leonard had the vague notion of doing a concert/tour pass through his head!

(This gives me an idea for another topic.

)

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Fri May 09, 2003 5:21 pm

Tom

Thanks for that info on the Isle of Wight tape - the sound production quality sounds quite torturous (what with snakes and hurricanes

)!

Anyway, I think I'll give this bootleg a big miss - because (if you excuse the puns) it sounds like a total "Wight off", despite LC's performance there being "worth its Wight in gold"!

(or from the recipient perspective

)

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Andrew (Darby) · Post by **Andrew (Darby)** » Fri May 09, 2003 5:47 pm

Paula

The 'big-name' performers I can remember were Joan Armatrading, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan; Blackbushe was a disused (at least I hope so!) aerodrome near the M3 motorway, south/south-east of Reading; and you're probably not far wrong in your logical conclusion about my proclivity for shooing Leonard away.

(So out of the goodness of my heart and with every noble altruistic sentiment I can muster, I should stay away from New York - or at least go there in disguise, with a false identity! Mmm...that could be fun.)

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Mon May 12, 2003 3:43 pm

There was a time in the early 70's where every concert I went to Eric Clapton was in the audience and was asked to go on stage and join the performer. Even when I went to see Little Stevie Wonder and the Four Tops he appeared. I think he must have scanned the music press and "invited" himself on.

And after all these years I have just realised the Folk Festival was at Lincoln and not Buxton. Well they say if you can remember the 60's you weren't there

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon May 12, 2003 8:18 pm

Paula
I'm glad that you clarified that there was no folk festival at Buxton.
Buxton did have festivals at that time and I'm sure that the one I went to was not folky... unless I wasn't really there

I remember seeing, for the first time, Gentle Giant.. and that was the beginning of a fanatic odyssey that continues to this day.. and they were not definitely folky.

Didnt see Eric Clapton though

Pete