Festivals have become a staple during the summer months, with over a thousand taking place in the UK alone. Now mega-festivals such as Glastonbury and Coachella attract millions of visitors every year, but there was a time when they were more low-key affairs, fuelled by the hippy movement of the sixties, promoting peace and love, and representing the emerging alternative music scene. Clothes were not mandatory, people danced wildly and smoked freely. Take a look at a selection of vintage festival photography to relive those halcyon days…
CAUTION! May contain some nudity…
Getting to the festival
When going to a festival the first hurdle is transportation there. Hitching, training, busing, walking, people will do anything they can to make it to the big event…
From Left-Right: Young Americans boarding the train at Waterloo station in London to go to the Bob Dylan concert on the Isle of Wight, August 29, 1969 / Tallandier / Bridgeman Images; Fans Hitch-Hike to the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970 (b/w photo) / Petersfield, West Sussex, UK / © Mirrorpix / Bridgeman Images
But travelling by car may have its drawbacks…
People, Hippies Woodstock 1970 directed by Michael Wadleigh / Diltz / Bridgeman Images
Accommodation
In the days before luxury yurts, accommodation at music festivals was pretty rudimentary. A bit of plastic covering would do…
Knebworth Festival 1974 / Photo © Bill Smith / Bridgeman Images
A tiny tent if you’re lucky…
Knebworth Festival 1974; Festival goers arriving for the First Knebworth Festival – the Bucolic Frolic); Photo © Bill Smith / Bridgeman Images
Bathroom facilities were even more makeshift…
Natural Showers at Compton beach’s waterfalls on the Isle of Wight during the music festival, 26th-20th August 1970 (b/w photo) / Bridgeman Images
Festival Fashion
Hippy chic has come back in to fashion time and time again, but this is where it all started…
Hyde Park Pop Festival, July 1970 (b/w photo) / London, UK / © Mirrorpix / Bridgeman Images
Left-right: Young Hippies at the Isle of Wight Festival, 27th August 1970 (b/w photo) / Photo © AGIP / Bridgeman Images; A group of hippies in Hyde Park, London, on July 17, 1967
Bubbles were THE fashion accessory…
Left-Right: Young Hippies Blow Soap Bubbles at the Isle of Wight Festival, 27th August 1970 (b/w photo) / Photo © AGIP / Bridgeman Images; A hippy girl blowing bubbles at a pop concert, 1969 (b/w photo) / Hyde Park, London, UK / © Mirrorpix / Bridgeman Images
And body paint was a great alternative to clothes in the hot weather…
Hippy couple with their chests painted, at the Isle of Wight Festival, 27th August 1970 (b/w photo) / Isle of Wight, UK / © Mirrorpix / Bridgeman Images
The Audience
Thousands of fans gather to worship at the stage on which their favourite musicians perform.
Crowd at the Bob Dylan concert at the Isle of Wight, 1st September 1969 (b/w photo) / Bridgeman Images
sometimes getting so excited they turn upside down…
Knebworth Festival 1974 / Photo © Bill Smith / Bridgeman Images
or remove all their clothes…
Crowd at the First Knebworth Festival – the Bucolic Frolic / Photo © Bill Smith / Bridgeman Images
Before the modern obsession with health & safety, people would go to great lengths to get the best view
Left-right: Woodstock, 1970 / Diltz / Bridgeman Images; Orange music festival, spectators overhang an amphitheatre, waiting for a concert. France, 1975. / Bridgeman Images
Incognito celebrities joined the crowds (tactfully ignored by those around)
Left-right: Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim listening to Bob Dylan at the Isle of Wight Festival, 31st August 1968 (b/w photo) / Bridgeman Images; John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the Isle of Wight Festival, 1st September 1969 (b/w photo) / Bridgeman Images
The Musicians
The reason why everyone is there – the stars of their day perform to large crowds outdoors, come rain or sun… Dylan, Hendrix, Led Zepellin and many others performed iconic shows.
Left-right: Isle of Wight Festival: Bob Dylan, September 1st, 1969.); Protest Folk Singer Joan Baez performing in 1965 / Bridgeman Images
Ian Paice – portrait of the English drummer performing with Gary Moore at the 1977 Reading Festival. Member of rock band Deep Purple. Photo © Odile Nöel / Bridgeman Images
Phil Lynott – portrait of the Irish bassist performing with his band ‘Thin Lizzy’ at the 1977 Reading Festival. Photo © Odile Nöel / Bridgeman Images
With some help from the audience…
HIPPIE MOVEMENT, 1969 Festival attendees play with other musicians at the Woodstock festival. / Photo © Richard Busch / Granger / Bridgeman Images
Gurus
There has always been a strong spiritual aspect to festivals which carries on to this day. A festival in the sixties was not complete without a visit from a guru.
HIPPIE MOVEMENT, 1969 An Indian guru and his followers at the Woodstock festival. / Photo © Richard Busch / Granger / Bridgeman Images
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions can be adverse, especially in the UK, but this never stopped people from attempting to have fun.
Two hooded individuals walk through the mud and rain, at Glastonbury music festival; PYMCA / UIG / Bridgeman Images
The Aftermath
Medical tent at the Isle of Wight Pop Festival, 30th August 1970; Isle of Wight, UK; © Mirrorpix / Bridgeman Images
General scene at the Isle of Wight Pop Festival, 30th August 1970 (b/w photo) / Isle of Wight, UK / © Mirrorpix / Bridgeman Images
and finally…
The Long March home
Hippies on their way home from the Isle of Wight Festival, 31st August 1970 / Bridgeman Images
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