At 16, Ed Vulliamy saw Jimi Hendrix blow the crowd away on the Isle of Wight. Today, at nearly 60, he is still chasing the festival spirit round far-flung fields. Here is his tale of peace, love and mud
The Observer's A-Z of festivals 2014 in pictures
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Just as it had rained at Woodstock in 1969 so it began to pour down too on the 1970 Bath Blues and Progressive Music festival in Somerset. And because it had rained at Woodstock, it didn't seem to matter it was what one did, apparently, with Peace, Love and Music: one sat or slid around in mud.
This was the prototype Glastonbury, and because of the rain the Byrds high point of the bill had to play an acoustic set. But what the hell: covered by a plastic sheet, I had to pinch myself to believe I was hearing Roger McGuinn sing Mr Tambourine Man live. And Jefferson Airplane Grace Slick was my pubescent pin-up passion thundering White Rabbit. Johnny Winter and John Mayall played too, as did mighty Steppenwolf who performed Monster, their epic counter-history of America, in its entirety. Reported by guardian.co.uk 15 hours ago.
The Observer's A-Z of festivals 2014 in pictures
Win a pair of tickets to the festival of your choice this summer
Just as it had rained at Woodstock in 1969 so it began to pour down too on the 1970 Bath Blues and Progressive Music festival in Somerset. And because it had rained at Woodstock, it didn't seem to matter it was what one did, apparently, with Peace, Love and Music: one sat or slid around in mud.
This was the prototype Glastonbury, and because of the rain the Byrds high point of the bill had to play an acoustic set. But what the hell: covered by a plastic sheet, I had to pinch myself to believe I was hearing Roger McGuinn sing Mr Tambourine Man live. And Jefferson Airplane Grace Slick was my pubescent pin-up passion thundering White Rabbit. Johnny Winter and John Mayall played too, as did mighty Steppenwolf who performed Monster, their epic counter-history of America, in its entirety. Reported by guardian.co.uk 15 hours ago.