September 1, 2024

Pop Festival – Pett Village 1973 – who remembers?

September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

all photos supplied by Angela Frances Gardner

Ian Mantel… My parents owned the Country Stores in Pett Road at the time, they were not amused I seem to recall

Geoff Peckham… I remember this very well. Nice vibes. Factory played – I don’t recall who else. I believe it was run by Kenny Marten, a great character – a brickie from London and habitué of the Nelson. It was a free festival, well we certainly weren’t paid and Kenny chastised us for thanking Tony Shipley for providing the beer at the end our set – he’d charged for it! Good times!

Andy Qunta… Great memory, Jaffa!

Pete Fisher… “Pop music pouring from amplifiers…a continuous beat beat beat”…and a young woman who took her clothes off…what is the world coming to…I must have missed this one unfortunately…

John Wilde… Great fun and good vibes. Factory were tight!

Tony Court-holmes… John you were on a monkey bike

Angela Frances Gardner… It was a wonderful weekend I’ve still got lots of photos.

Photos now at the top of this post. Thank you Angela.

Bob Gregory… Just about remember this , had some laughs with a Mr Dave Garland at this venue or what i can remember of it.

Pete Prescott… I think I’ve finally found it! I’ve been asking for years about Woodstick. My first trip to Hastings. I wonder how many people were there that I’ve come to know ? We played on the Saturday afternoon.

Phil Gill… Although this video is primarily Stallion at Reading Festival in 1976, it also contains footage of the Tich Turner/Tony Bridger/Steve Kinch version of the band at the Pett festival.

Tony Court-holmes… yes i went there

Martin Blackman… I was there, I seem to remember someone asking me to be a car parking attendant, which wasn’t a great idea considering the abuntant amount of hallucinogenic drug abuse! great little festival though.

Hat Trick – Ore Centre Sept 1978

September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

Photo supplied by Roger Carey. Write up supplied by Sarah Harvey

Barry French, Dennis Wootton & Roger Carey . (and David Cash not in photo)

Andy Qunta….Saw them several times! Great stuff!

Sarah Harvey…..There is one member missing from this picture…I think it was Dave Cash and this is probably a picture of their last gig with this line-up (See article dated Sept 9th, 1978 attached)…..they did continue however although I have no idea who joined them! 😉

David Cash…. Hello David Cash here, 1978 member of Hat Trick till I moved to London to go to College. I’m a keyboard player and Music teacher now at Northbrook College (Worthing) and ICMP (London). Still bump into Roger Carey from time to time at Liane Carroll gigs.

Barry French… Very fond memories of my time with Hat Trick.
Den & I are are currently playing with SLAM, & we bump into Roger from time to time & reminisce about the old days. So pleased to hear that Dave Cash has done so well for himself (Great musician but he’s the only guy I know could get drunk on half a shandy) Perhaps sometime we will all get together & play a few tunes (Stranger things have happened).

Sarah Harvey… How lovely to hear from Barry again……I was gutted when he left Hat Trick. A wonderful person and always remember him playing in a band with Den’s brother Del. Can’t remember for the life of me what they were called. Help me someone! Remember them playing at St.Helens Youth Club on the Ridge and at The Regent.

Barry French… Hi Sarah good to hear from you too. The band that Denis & I were in was 1st Emotion. Together with Den’s Brother Clifford, we had a resident spot at the Regent Hotel (About 1972 ) Later my Sister Jenny joined the band & we played the Caravan site & club circuit for about 2 years. Den & Cliff left to form a rock band called Butch (Which I believe played the Pier & The Aquarius) while Jenny & I formed Amethyst with Paul Hugget & Will Powell ,we played the club circuit until the break up of the band in 1977.

Lucy Pappas… Den and Del! I was in a band with them! Lived on Chown’s Hill? We rehearsed in their garage, I think!

Sarah Harvey… I remember all of those band names and I always remember you playing Yellow River….just can’t remember which band that was, but its funny the things that stick in your mind. I think I always came to see you with Roger Carey or Kevin Potter. I have to say that Roger is coming on really well as a bass player 🙂 and haven’t seen Kevin Potter in over a decade.

Lucy Pappas… Sarah, we used to sing ‘Yellow River’ at St Helens Youth Club. Some T Rex, too, not sure what else. I loved being part of the band but did we even have a name?

Redstar Richter… who scored the goals?

Barry French… Hi Lucy I also remember those day’s rehearsing at Chowns Hill. We originally were going to call the band Typhoid but good taste prevailed & the name was changed to “Iron -Stone”.The line up was your good self, Diana Smith, Den, Cliff & Me. I think we did a couple of gigs at St Helen’s Youth Club, & yes I too remember Yellow River. (Magical times!!!) Really amazing to hear from you.

Lucy Pappas… Aw, Barry, I wish I could recall those days more clearly! We were called ‘Iron Stone’? Who knew? Where is everyone these days? Maybe we need a reunion gig? xx. I don’t think I have any pics of the band. Roger Carey gave me some of us with Phil Gill a while ago but I don’t think I have any of youth club days 🙁

Hawkwind & Ace support – Hastings Pier 1st September 1973

September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 by Alan Esdaile

poster supplied by Mick Mepham. Ad supplied by Sarah Harvey

Martyn Baker… My parents banned me from going to this one…. but I went anyway, which made it all the more exciting. Maybe they’d heard about Stacia dancing semi-naked onstage?

Phil Gill talking about Ace ‘How Long’….Brilliant single “How Long”, great guitar solo, fab Paul Carrick vocal. A great song is ageless.

Phil Gill… Stacia! I met her once, she was lovely. Every band needs a shaman.

Phil Thornton… did many gigs supporting Hawkwind !! a jolly bunch and no mistake ! – prepare for the sonic attack …..

John Storer… In 1973, this was a fairly expensive gig to go to … 99p! Remember going to the gig but was only really interested in hearing Silver Machine because I found the rest of their stuff a little … overblown. Would echo Phil Gill’s comments about Paul Carrack … may be no coincidence that he appears (and sings) on my two favourite Squeeze albums … East Side Story (the brilliant “Tempted”) and Some Fantastic Place (the excellent “Loving You Tonight”)

Gary Kinch… I was there but don’t remember much of it…..I have vague hormone driven memories of Stacia though. Ace’s How Long was always a juke box favourite for me. …..and agree I with John, Tempted is very good.

Andrew Freeman… I used to work with a guy who played bass guitar with Hawkwind, but not sure which years as they had many changes over the years.

Pete Fisher… I was there (I think!)…vaguely remember the light show (mostly strobes) and the wall of sound…and Stacia of course…probably another of those gigs where everyone sat cross-legged on the floor, apart from a couple of stand-up dancers up front, who people occasionally threw beer cans etc at!!