Chelmsford Folk Festival

September 1972 — exact day not stated · Chelmsford Showground

The preserved Where & When source lists Harvey Andrews and Steeleye Span at the Chelmsford Folk Festival, Essex Showground, in September 1972. The date is given only to the month; no day is inferred.

Festival photographs

Photographs of The Strawbs at Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972, credited to Steve Schechter in the supplied source.

Strawbs musician singing and playing guitar at the 1972 Chelmsford Folk Festival — The Strawbs at Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972 · Photo credited to Steve Schechter in the supplied source.

Strawbs performer at a keyboard, with the band name on an instrument panel, at the 1972 Chelmsford Folk Festival — The Strawbs at Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972 · Photo credited to Steve Schechter in the supplied source.

Open the supplied source PDF.

Additional folk photographs in the source

The supplied PDF labels these images “Sandy Denny 1970s” and credits Steve Schechter. It does not give an exact date or location for the photographs, so they are not assigned to the September 1972 festival entry.

Sandy Denny performing at a piano; the supplied source labels the photograph 1970s and gives no exact date or location — Sandy Denny, 1970s · Photo credited to Steve Schechter in the supplied source.

Sandy Denny performing with an acoustic guitar; the supplied source labels the photograph 1970s and gives no exact date or location — Sandy Denny, 1970s · Photo credited to Steve Schechter in the supplied source.

Audience memories

These recollections are separate from the surviving Where & When listing above. They preserve what individual audience members remember; they do not independently establish the full bill or the reason a performer was absent.

Contributor who attended aged 15

The contributor remembers jug bands and lesser-known acts in a marquee, dancing to Steeleye Span and the Strawbs on the main stage, and sets by Sandy Denny, “Al Steward” and Roy Harper. They remember Joni Mitchell being expected but not appearing. The explanation heard at the time—that low attendance led her to refuse to play—remains unverified. The contributor describes the festival as poorly attended but friendly and intimate.

David’s recollection

“I travelled from Middlesbro to the Chelmsford Folk Fest way back in 1972. I remember the Strawbs ’cos they were the main reason we went … but there was also a guy called Harvey Andrews (he’s still doing the rounds) who was obviously memorable!”
— David, audience recollection supplied by the user

Read both full recollections · Find them in People’s Memories

Read the preserved festival source transcription · Read the original Where & When source