50 years after they took the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival of Music by storm, British blues-rock pioneers ‘Ten Years After’ will play Experience 1970 this September.
Back in the day, Ten Years After wowed the festival crowd 8 hours into the Saturday action with classic rock offerings such as I’m Going Home and Love Like a Man. They enjoyed great commercial success between 1968 and 73 and also appeared at Woodstock in 1969, as well as the Isle of Wight the following year. They still tour to enthusiastic crowds today!
The group were led by inspirational guitarist Alvin Lee, who died 7 years ago, but still boast 2 original members – keyboard player Chick Churchill and drummer Ric Lee. They are joined by critically acclaimed lead guitarist Marcus Bonfanti and respected bass player Colin Hodgkinson, who has collaborated with greats such as Bill Wyman, Alexis Korner and Gary Moore.
It’s the second original 1970 artist coup in as many weeks for the organisers and promoters of the event, Chris Hewitt and Andy Sharrocks, following the signing of Moody Blues’ great John Lodge.
Chris said:
“I have been on the trail of Ten Years After for some time and we are delighted they will be playing at East Afton Farm in September.
“Ten Years After were a festival staple in the late ’60s and early ’70s and they were a stand-out act at the 1970 IoW Festival. It will be wonderful to welcome back Ric Lee and Chick Churchill and I am sure all those fans who loved the flamboyant Alvin Lee will discover a real talent in Marcus Bonfanti. He has to be really good to mix it and play with the likes of PP Arnold and Eric Burdon in recent times – and he is.”
The anniversary festival bill for Experience 1970 now has an impressive list of original 1970 performers supported by some top-class tribute acts, all set to recreate the sounds of many of the other original performers including the late greats Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison of The Doors, plus The Who, Emerson Lake and Palmer and Free.
Among those original stars are Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle; Groundhogs; Nik Turner – a member of Hawkwind who played in 1970 – plus 1968 IoW Festival mainstay Arthur Brown and, also from the 1968 and 69 festivals, Dick Taylor, of The Pretty Things.
A full list of the artists on the bill announced to date can be found at www.experience1970.com. Tickets are now available online at £180 (plus £15 booking fee) from the website.
Won’t happen, the Virus will be so bad, it will likely be banned imo.
Try reducing the ticket price before adding to the line-up
The london marathon has just been cancelled for the first time, it wont surprise me to see other large gatherings cancelled because of the virus, people wont be rushing to by tickets for things now