Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972(1)

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25/05/2021 Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972
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Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972
 
  
The Strawbs Chelmsford 1972, photo c/o Steve Schechter
Just came across your site while trying to find a list of who played at theChelmsford Folk Festival in 1972. I was there.
I was 18, first trip to UK from NYC, stayed for 3 weeks, saw as many bands aspossible in those 3 weeks.
We took the train up to Chelmsford on a Friday. That night all of the artistswho had arrived early jammed all night in the tent, playing mostly 50s rock androll songs. Everyone sang along.
Mostly I remember Sandy Denny, Steeleye Span, Al Stewart, the Strawbs,Stefan Grossman, cannot recall who else was there - I do not recall Roy Harperbeing there? Sandy Denny offered to give me and my friend a lift back toLondon. But it didn't happen because she had 2 large Great Danes and myfriend was scared of her dogs - I wanted to kill him.
We hitchhiked back to London. We stood on the side of the road with acardboard sign that said "London" and no one stopped for us. I changed thesign to read "New York City (or London)" and we got a ride right away. I've stillgot some photos of the Strawbs, maybe Sandy Denny ... it was a greatweekend!
Steve Schechter
The Strawbs Chelmsford 1972, photo c/o Steve Schechter
A few more names for the 1972 Chelmsford Folk Festival at the Chelmsfordshowground. I was 15 at the time but still remember it well because it had agreat line-up of performers as well as a great mix of jug bands and lesserknown bands on the smaller stage in the marquee. On the main stage Iremember dancing the evening away to great sets by Steeleye Span and theStrawbs but more laid back folk was supplied by Sandy Denny, Al Stewardplaying his amazing Nostradamus and Roy Harper sang I Hate The White Man.Topping the bill was going to be Joni Mitchell but she never appeared. wordaround the field was that she refused to play because too few people attendedthe festival. It was poorly attended but that gave it a particularly friendly andintimate atmosphere. Great memories.
Mark Johnson.
The Strawbs Chelmsford 1972, photo c/o Steve Schechter
late Summer 1972 - Strawbs - Chelmsford Folk Festival (copyrightwww.strawsweb.co.uk )
Personnel were:
Dave Cousins (gtrs, vcls), Tony Hooper (gtrs, vcls), Richard Hudson (dms,vcls), John Ford (bs, vcls), Blue Weaver (kybds, accordian), Guest: DaveLambert (gtrs, vcls), Encores:
Going Home, Sheep
Dave Lambert jammed with the band on a few UK gigs after they returned fromtheir first U.S. tour in 1972. Dave Lambert was a long-time friend of Cousins,having persuaded Dave to buy his first electric guitar. Cousins and Lamberthad taken to the folk clubs as a duo in the course of Summer 1971. Cousinshad been engaged as producer for the King-Earl Boogie Band (of whichLambert had joined after a period in the clubs) to make their album "Trouble AtT'Mill" - he also played banjo on a traditional track, "Goin' To German". Inreturn, Lambert had helped out on Cousins' solo album "Two Weeks LastSummer" Cousins recalled:
"I said 'Do you want to come on and play the encore - we'll do "Going Home".... on he came like the Wild Man, hair down to his knees and pranced aroundlike a lunatic and the crowd went bananas. We thought right: we've now got to

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25/05/2021 Chelmsford Folk Festival 1972
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have a rock guitarist. And it came to the last show that we did [with TonyHooper], which was at Chelmsford Folk Festival .... he came on stage and didthe same thing again, the crowd went bananas again and we thought well thatreally definitely is it - we really do need an electric guitar in the group. Thatreally was the end of our folk days. We then became an electric group."
At that momentous gig too, Tony Hooper realised that he no longer wanted tostay with the band he had helped to form. A few days later, the announcementcame that Lambert had left King-Earl and had joined the Strawbs permanently;the Watford gig followed a couple of weeks later.
 
 
This review c/o http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk
Sandy Denny 1970s, photo c/o Steve Schechter
travelled from Middlesbro to the Chelmsford Folk Fest way back in 1972. Iremember the Strawbs 'cos they were the main reason we went..but there wasalso a guy called Harvey Andrews (he's still doing the rounds) who wasobviouly memorable! <p>Nice site! Keep up the good (hard) work! David
Sandy Denny 1970s, photo c/o Steve Schechter