Essex University and the Weeley Festival

1970 was an exciting and pivotal year in my life. I was accepted by Essex University to study for a degree in Computer Science, Frankie and I moved to Braintree in Essex and last but not least Frankie and I got married.

Braintree photograph courtesy of Essexweddings.com

Having previously dropped out of university I was determined not to make the same mistakes. I considered myself fortunate to have this new chance and resolved to apply myself to my studies. So determined was I that I sold my guitar to remove any distractions. It turned out that I never touched a musical instrument from that day until about 2010. My children had no idea that I once played the guitar.

Essex University photograph courtesy of the Guardian

In August 1971 there was a pop festival on our doorstep at Weeley, a village outside of Clacton-on Sea, Essex. This was supposed to be a small event for 5000 people but when the Isle of Wight festival for that year was cancelled everyone switched to Weeley. The crowd was estimated at between 110,000 and 150,000!

Posters courtesy of ukrockfestivals.com

The line up was impressive and music was performed day and night. The cost of the entire weekend was £1.50 in advance or £2 on the door. I got to see T Rex, Rod Stewart and The Faces, Barclay James Harvest and Lindisfarne. The link is to my favouite Lindisfarne track of the time "Lady Eleanor". I recall little of the other acts. A combination of little sleep, practically no food and too much alcohol must have taken its toll. The facilities on site were primitive, to say the least, but the festival was worthwhile for the wonderful music and camaraderie among the crowd. I was pleased to get home on the Sunday for a long soak in the bath and a proper toilet!

After obtaining a job in a record store Frankie was very happy in her new life. Her record store discount meant new sounds were always turning up at our flat. She was able to obtain import records from America so I put in an order for "Will the Circle be Unbroken" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The day it arrived I could not stop playing it. In 1972 it must have been one of the first copies to reach the UK. 

"Will The Circle Be Unbroken" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is a collaboration with many famous Country players, including Mother Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Merle Travis, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin and others. It also introduced fiddler Vassar Clements. A track which epitomises this album is Nashville Blues, I remember thinking this is the music I love and I'll always love.

Frankie and I both enjoyed the American singer/songwriters of the time such as: Carol King, Janis Joplin, James Taylor, Randy Newman, Joni Michel (OK she's Canadian). We also loved The Byrds with their smooth harmonies. Here is James Taylor in 2009 performing You've Got a Friend. He has lost his hair (like me!) but he has not lost his voice, nor the affection of his fans.

Living in Essex we could get to London and back in a day and we made a few trips to see groups when time and money permitted. Frankie loved Johnny Winter and we saw him perform at the Albert Hall. I loved blues and delta music in the acoustic style so this was a bit of a departure from the norm for me but well worthwhile. Once Johnny started up a rock and roll medley of "Jumpin Jack Flash", "Great Balls of Fire" and "Johnny B Goode" the audience went crazy, and it was dancing in the isles time. So lets sample a little of Jonny's artistry with Jumpin Jack Flash.

In 1973 I graduated from Essex University and we moved again; but more of that in my next post.