First ever Knebworth Festival – The Bucolic Frolic
Allman Bros
Doobie Bros
Van Morrison
Mahavishnu Orchestra
SAHB
Tim Buckley
Admission cost the princely sum of £2.50.
Remember it as being a hot, sunny day – pretty sure main headline on that day’s papers was Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus.
Remember seeing a bit of SAHB (Next), all of the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s second incarnation – bright sunlight and an audience of – what – 80,000 people not really an optimal showcase for them.
Backed up by Peter van Hooke, Pete Wingfield and a bassist whose name I have shamefully forgotten, Van was terrific. Veedon Fleece came out a couple of months later so I remember Bulbs as being a real highlight. Other amusing aspect of Van’s set was the mouthy Aussie bloke behind us who kept insisting that Van had previously fronted the Doors and would surely finish with Light My Fire
Never been much of a Doobies’ fan, but they were the sort of mindless boogie that the festival needed. The Allman Bros were pretty good but I think me and my mates had to get back to Euston for the last train to Cov so must have missed a fair chunk of their set
Am sure I can’t have been the only AWer who was there, Anyone else with any memories?
Some pix and a write up here
https://www.loudersound.com/features/gallery-the-bucolic-frolic-knebworth-festival-1974-in-pictures
I recall reading an interview with Alex Harvey in which he recalled an incident at
Knebworth.
He said he and the band were in their trailer when there was a knocking at the door.
It was a couple of roadies for the Doobies. They informed the SAHB that they had to get out because the Doobies wanted their trailer.
Alex’s reply was “If the Doobie Brothers want this trailer, they are going to have to try and take it – with knives“.
The Doobies decided the trailer they had was good enough.
Allan Jones in Uncut recalled a ‘testy’ interview – is there any other? – he conducted with Grumpy Van.
The most amusing bit was Jones waking up in London, accreditation/press pass to Knebworth in hand, before it suddenly dawned on him “Where the f*** is Knebworth?!”
I confess that as it doesn’t have a football, cricket or rugby team of note, or a race track, I’d struggle to answer that question even now.
Passed through it today.
Just down the road from me!
Nearer Stevenage than the village of Knebworth, once home of Bulwer (“it was a dark and stormy night…”) Lytton, mi’lud.
One of my pals used to live in Codicote. Having been round his earlier, Mrs F and I attempted to get to the Knebworth House craft fair through the villages but, after an hour of driving around in circles, had to go via the ‘Nidge.
Michael Winner’s 1978 England-set version of “The Big Sleep” makes use of Knebworth House and the driveway into the estate for the beginning and end credit sequences.
And the film of “”Sir Henry at Rawlinson End”.
Three whole minutes to drive a Merc up the driveway. Putting the bins out must take Baron Cobbold all day.
I think we need some summer 1974 Mahavishnu at this point…
I wus there. Painted me face with the stuff out of them loominous bangles.
I I was at the Pink Floyd Knebworth. 1975?
Included Steve Miller Band, Roy Harper, Linda Lewis (from memory) and I can’t remember who else at this time.
Did you have loominous bangles, Steve?
Noted throughout the West Midlands for his loominous bangles, Saucy.
Actually recall Captain Beefheart too.
I was also at the 76 one where Lynyrd Skynyrd did the definitive version of Freebird – was shown on OGWT so would imagine is on YT
Yebbut did you have loominous bangles Jaygee?
“Fraid not.
Didn’t see that sort of thing on offer in the Empress Buildings down on Binley Road
Class of 76 likewise, with the long old wait for the Stones. No loominous bangles that year; the time had passed.
I think I’ve seen that. In the days when guitarists actually had to plug their guitars in to their amps. I’m sure the bass player tried to move to the front of the stage but was yanked back when he reached the end of his lead.
The definitive version of Freebird was literally every time they played it at a festival.
I was at this one, although I don’t remember much about it to be brutally honest. I think I dozed off during Mahavishnu Orchestra, but I have spent years thinking it was Quintessence who I slept through..!!
I am in the same boat: I was there but remember almost nothing other than odd fragments. SAHB for example. They were at everything I went to for a number of years. Couldn’t stand them then, probably wouldn’t like them now. There was also a bloke playing a saxophone, probably Van Morrison. And, err, that’s it. The only thing I remember about the actual process of getting there and back was that I managed to get eleven people into a Rover 100. How? Simple, really. Four in the front and seven in the back for the short journey from Euston/Kings Cross/whatever to our overnight in Camden Town.
As well as The Allman Brothers, it turns out there’s lots of groups or artists I really like nowadays but have zero memories of seeing years ago. The Band is but one good example. They were on the same bill as Joni Mitchell and CSN&Y at Wembley. The only distinct memory I have of that one is that Tom Scott’s LA Express were mighty fine. I can, however, remember seeing The Grateful Dead at Ally Pally. I was just bored. Other acts I have seen I remember with great clarity. Perhaps it was just the fug of dope around me at some of these events that lies behind the lack of memory. I dunno.
Let us cut to the chase…
The Golden Age?
It went thatta way!
Didn’t go til 78 … Genesis were pretty good but it pissed down.
Jefferson Starship played but Grace Slick was ‘unwell’ … so they were basically a shit Quicksilver Messenger Service.
With the strange addition of Devo on the bill. I saw Tom petty and the heartbreakers at the marquee at a warm up show a few days before.