Deeply Vale Festivals
Encyclopedia
The Deeply Vale Festivals were a unique free festival
held in northwest England in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. It is regarded as the one of significant events that united punk
music into the festival scene.
, Chris Hewitt was one of the main organisers of the event between 1976 to 1978, his inspiration for Deeply Vale Festivals being working on Bickershaw Festival
with Jeremy Beadle in 1972 and an event at Rivington Pike
in August 1976. Chris went on to produce many other festivals and concerts and start a record company Ozit Records
. Starting with an audience of 300 camping for two days in 1976 watching space rockers Body and John Peel favourites Tractor
, the festival grew to 3000 in 1977 (bands including Andy McCluskey
's Pegasus, a forerunner of OMD
in 1977) and by 1978 and 1979 to 20,000 people watching bands and camping for six days. The Home Office
-sponsored body that reported on many pop festivals from the mid-1970s - Festival Welfare Services
- said in a report on the 1978 that Deeply Vale Festival "was actually better organised than the large Bob Dylan
concert at Blackbushe the same summer". It was the biggest free festival in England ending its annual run after four years in 1979.
As with the 1970s festivals, Deeply Vale hoped to bring together music of all styles, to create new styles and genres and maybe break a few. Since music seems to follow trends set already in history by names such as The Beatles
, The Kinks
, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, The Doors
and many others who broke the musical mould of the 1950s and 1960s turning the times into a psychedelic outlook on life. Deeply Vale has been credited as a catalyst for many current bands who have formed since the 1970s festivals. Amongst people who claim to have been in the audience at Deeply Vale from the next generation of musicians and Deeply Vale inspired them to pursue a musical career are Andy Rourke
of The Smiths
, David Gedge
from the Wedding Present
, Dave Fielding, Mark Burgess
and Reg Smithies from The Chameleons
, Jimi Goodwin
from Doves, Steve Cowen from the Mock Turtles, and Ian Brown
from The Stone Roses
.
The Deeply Vale Festivals were also the first of the hippy music festivals to mix punk bands on the bill in amongst festival stalwarts like Steve Hillage
, Nik Turner
, The Ruts
, Misty In Roots
, Tractor
(who had already achieved some notoriety as a John Peel
band), Here and Now
and The Fall. The Fall were regulars at the festival at a young age (and Mark E Smith still holds the event in high esteem today), and Durutti Column played their fourth ever gig on the Deeply Vale Festival stage. Both these bands were introduced by a young Tony Wilson
who had just started his own record company and offered to help his friend Chris Hewitt by compereing at Deeply Vale in 1978.
In September 2009, two buildings associated with Deeply Vale Festivals, Factory Records
, Tractor and John Peel, one building in Heywood and one in Rochdale had blue plaques unveiled to commemorate the important part the buildings played in the geneaology of rock music. The blue plaques campaign was put together by Peter Hook
and Chris Hewitt.
In July 2007 the DVD "Deeply Vale Festivals" was released, it contains 3 hours 40 minutes of archive band performances and interviews and the 49 minute Truly, Madly, Deeply Vale film plus other rare interviews, crowd footage and band performances.
to become the Deeply Vale Bickershaw Festival.
Free festival
Free festivals are a combination of music, arts and cultural activities for which, often, no admission is charged, but involvement is preferred. They are identifiable by being multi-day events connected by a camping community without centralised control. The Free festival movement being the...
held in northwest England in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979. It is regarded as the one of significant events that united punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
music into the festival scene.
Deeply Vale Free Festival
In the 1970s Rochdale resident and associate of John PeelJohn Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
, Chris Hewitt was one of the main organisers of the event between 1976 to 1978, his inspiration for Deeply Vale Festivals being working on Bickershaw Festival
Bickershaw festival
The Bickershaw festival was a rock festival held in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester, England between the 5–7 May 1972. Apart from the 1976-79 Deeply Vale Festivals, the Bickershaw festival was the only major north-west multi-day festival with camping...
with Jeremy Beadle in 1972 and an event at Rivington Pike
Rivington Pike
Rivington Pike is a hill summit on Winter Hill, part of the West Pennine Moors, overlooking the village of Rivington in Lancashire, England. The nearest towns are Chorley and Horwich. The Pike is a prominent local landmark which derives its name from the Old English hreof plus ing meaning the rough...
in August 1976. Chris went on to produce many other festivals and concerts and start a record company Ozit Records
Ozit Records
Ozit Morpheus Records is a UK record label founded in 1996. It mostly releases psychedelic and eclectic music on cd and vinyl.The label had close links with disc jockey John Peel up until his death...
. Starting with an audience of 300 camping for two days in 1976 watching space rockers Body and John Peel favourites Tractor
Tractor (band)
Tractor is a band founded in Rochdale, Lancashire, England by guitarist/vocalist Jim Milne and drummer Steve Clayton in 1971. Both had been members of a beat group, The Way We Live since 1966. They are notable both for their appreciation by John Peel and Julian Cope, but also for their longevity...
, the festival grew to 3000 in 1977 (bands including Andy McCluskey
Andy McCluskey
George Andrew "Andy" McCluskey is the lead singer, bass guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark ....
's Pegasus, a forerunner of OMD
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
in 1977) and by 1978 and 1979 to 20,000 people watching bands and camping for six days. The Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
-sponsored body that reported on many pop festivals from the mid-1970s - Festival Welfare Services
Festival Welfare Services
Festival Welfare Services is a United Kingdom voluntary organisation established in 1972 to improve welfare services at pop festivals. Prior to formation of FWS a variety of voluntary groups were providing services at festivals which, at the instigation of Release, came together to improve their...
- said in a report on the 1978 that Deeply Vale Festival "was actually better organised than the large Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
concert at Blackbushe the same summer". It was the biggest free festival in England ending its annual run after four years in 1979.
As with the 1970s festivals, Deeply Vale hoped to bring together music of all styles, to create new styles and genres and maybe break a few. Since music seems to follow trends set already in history by names such as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
and many others who broke the musical mould of the 1950s and 1960s turning the times into a psychedelic outlook on life. Deeply Vale has been credited as a catalyst for many current bands who have formed since the 1970s festivals. Amongst people who claim to have been in the audience at Deeply Vale from the next generation of musicians and Deeply Vale inspired them to pursue a musical career are Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
of The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, David Gedge
David Gedge
David Gedge is an English musician and songwriter. He is the main songwriter and vocalist in the bands The Wedding Present and Cinerama...
from the Wedding Present
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
, Dave Fielding, Mark Burgess
Mark Burgess (musician)
Mark Burgess is an English singer, bass player and songwriter. He was the lead singer, co-founder and main force behind English post-punk band The Chameleons. He currently resides in Germany and the UK.-Biography:...
and Reg Smithies from The Chameleons
The Chameleons
The Chameleons were an English post-punk band that formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, England in 1981. They consisted of singer and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarist Reg Smithies, guitarist Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever...
, Jimi Goodwin
Jimi Goodwin
Jimi Goodwin is the bassist, vocalist and guitarist for Doves. Before their incarnation as Doves, the three members were a dance-club music trio called Sub Sub....
from Doves, Steve Cowen from the Mock Turtles, and Ian Brown
Ian Brown
Ian George Brown is an English musician, best known as the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses, which broke up in 1996 but are confirmed to reunite in 2012. Since the break-up of the Stone Roses he has pursued a solo career...
from The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
.
The Deeply Vale Festivals were also the first of the hippy music festivals to mix punk bands on the bill in amongst festival stalwarts like Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
, Nik Turner
Nik Turner
Nik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
, The Ruts
The Ruts
The Ruts were a reggae-influenced British punk rock band, notable for the 1979 Top 10 hit "Babylon's Burning", and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was not a hit but was much played and highly regarded by the UK BBC Radio 1 disc jockey, John Peel.-Career:...
, Misty In Roots
Misty in Roots
Misty in Roots began life as a Southall-based British roots reggae band in the early 1970s. Their first album was 1979's Live at the Counter Eurovision, a record full of Biblical Rastafarian songs. It was championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, helping to bring roots reggae to a white audience...
, Tractor
Tractor (band)
Tractor is a band founded in Rochdale, Lancashire, England by guitarist/vocalist Jim Milne and drummer Steve Clayton in 1971. Both had been members of a beat group, The Way We Live since 1966. They are notable both for their appreciation by John Peel and Julian Cope, but also for their longevity...
(who had already achieved some notoriety as a John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
band), Here and Now
Here & Now (band)
Here & Now are an English psychedelic/space rock band formed in early 1974. They have close connections with the band Gong and in 1977/1978 worked with Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth under the name Planet Gong...
and The Fall. The Fall were regulars at the festival at a young age (and Mark E Smith still holds the event in high esteem today), and Durutti Column played their fourth ever gig on the Deeply Vale Festival stage. Both these bands were introduced by a young Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
who had just started his own record company and offered to help his friend Chris Hewitt by compereing at Deeply Vale in 1978.
In September 2009, two buildings associated with Deeply Vale Festivals, Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
, Tractor and John Peel, one building in Heywood and one in Rochdale had blue plaques unveiled to commemorate the important part the buildings played in the geneaology of rock music. The blue plaques campaign was put together by Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
and Chris Hewitt.
Truly, Madly, Deeply Vale
Luke Bainbridge (journalist and editor of the Observer Music Monthly- and attendee of Deeply Vale Festivals as a youngster) said in the 2004 ITV documentary Truly,Madly,Deeply Vale that the Deeply Vale Festivals were far more organised than Glastonbury by 1978.In July 2007 the DVD "Deeply Vale Festivals" was released, it contains 3 hours 40 minutes of archive band performances and interviews and the 49 minute Truly, Madly, Deeply Vale film plus other rare interviews, crowd footage and band performances.
Deeply Vale 2010 or 2011
Following the release of the documentary, there are plans to resurrect the festival in this century. One idea has been to merge with relaunching the Bickershaw FestivalBickershaw festival
The Bickershaw festival was a rock festival held in Bickershaw, Greater Manchester, England between the 5–7 May 1972. Apart from the 1976-79 Deeply Vale Festivals, the Bickershaw festival was the only major north-west multi-day festival with camping...
to become the Deeply Vale Bickershaw Festival.