More on the Camden Festival '71 at The Archive: a history of over 30 years of UK festivals.

Fred

Friday, April 25, 2025 10:46 AM

My first year of gig-going, and my fourth gig - and what a beaut.
It was one of three Camden Festival '71 gigs that I attended, all of 'em at the Roundhouse, in Chalk Farm.
This was a Sunday afternoon/evening (the first of many at that lovely old venue, the air of which was always heavily - shall we say - 'perfumed' by smouldering herbiage).
First on the bill was a screening of the classic film 'Monterey Pop', featuring a gifted guitarist called Hendrix.
Next up was sound architect Ron Geesin (possibly most famous for his work on 'Atom Heart Mother' and one who certainly didn't suffer sleepless nights worrying about how to spend the vast fortunes his work generated) and then the All Acton Male Striptease Band - many's the time I've wondered what happened to them!
Brinsley Schwarz and Tir Na Nog were the final two supports before the real reason we were all there, the Yes band.
The gig was hot on the heels of the release of the seminal 'The Yes Album', the first hearing of which, I clearly recall, left me wondering: how was this great music possible? Know what? More than half a century on and it still sounds pretty damned good.
Ticket: 80p

Mish

We were there! Although we were not there! I remember alot, yet so little...the Sunday Roundhouse was a weekly date, and some great bands were around.
Was this particular concert one with Hawkwind when the power went off?
Anyone remembering this concert or the Roundhouse days of 71/72 do email me:
MicheleEdmonds@bigpond.com