The inspiration for the first Deeply Vale festival was a free festival held at Rivington Pike in 1976. "Basically we had a good summer" recalled the late Andy Burgoyne, an organiser of the Deeply Vale festival, " we just thought - lets have our own". There was an existing pool of talent to call on as the local band Tractor and their manager Chris Hewitt were keen to be involved. After a few weeks frantic planning the dream became a reality and in 1977 the wooded region of Ashworth Valley, Deeply Vale, played host to a gathering of musicians and fans alike.
Large Teepee
During the late 70s the festival was transformed from a local gathering into a 'Stonehenge with tripe'. The values of the free festival permeated Deeply Vale but what made it unique was Rochdale and the neighbouring towns and villages where many of the organisers and musicians originated. This environment, urban & rural, its musical mix of punk, new wave and hippie, gave birth to the proto-crusty, whose descendants form a large counter-culture today.
"In a funny, raggedy, dope-and-cider befuddled way, Deeply Vale was the North West's Glastonbury; a lovely tract of land on the outskirts of Rochdale that hosted many a free festival and was the crucible of North Lancashire's gently anarchistic counter culture around the mid-70s and beyond" Stuart Maconie
A Big Crowd At Deeply Vale
In 1978 there were 50 acts, including Misty in Roots, The Ruts, The Out, Here and Now, Nik Turner with Sphynx and Steve Hillage. The timetable itself makes interesting reading. Tony Wilson compered the new wave afternoon, which included a little known Prestwich band called The Fall. They were followed by Durutti Column, who had just signed with Factory records, Wilson's company. Wilson's fellow Granada TV presenter Trevor Hyett compered and performed at the folk afternoon. All this entertainment was made possible by donations from the crowd and fundraising events. 1979 saw a new band The Frantic Elevators, containing an unknown frontman with red hair - Mick Hucknall. By 1980 times had changed and the festival reached a natural end. Larger commercial events became the norm and the time of community spirit and togetherness had started to disappear. But for many this was an experience never to be forgotten and the events have become legend to a new generation of music lovers and festival-goers.
"You could say it was one of the last times people tried to do anything in the free festival spirit before the onset of Eighties consumerism; but you can also say this was one of the daftest music festivals ever held. I've got an audio recording and you can hear an announcement asking if anyone can spare some petrol for the generator so the next band can play . . ." David
Nolan
Deeply Vale Stage Pass signed by Steve Hillage
JIMI GOODWIN, LEAD SINGER, DOVES
"My first festival was Deeply Vale Festival near Rochdale..I was eight years old and me and my Mum and dad and brother went for the day.I remember little fragments of it. It was lovely and sunny and I remember bursting with excitement at seeing all these mad people wandering around.I also remember seeing a local punk band called Wilful Damage.
Another thing I was dead impressed by was seeing a traveller kid , who can't have been much older than me , playing on scaffolding at the front of the stage, and what should be dangling from his mouth but a humungous joint! I'd seen and smelt spliffs at my parent's parties,but smoking them in full view of adults? Radical shit! I've since met onne of the people who made the festival happen,Chris Hewitt who's filled me in on the ethos and spirit of the Rochdale workers co-operative organised festival.
He's still amazed that the police and council approved and let them get away with it! Michael Eavis apparently name checks deeply Vale as a festival with a kindred spirit. there is talk of reviving Deeply Vale Festival in 2006 and in theory Doves are well up for it."
Below Deeply Vale Videos !!! And More Stuff !!!
Stage Right Teepee's etc
Festival Site Full Of Tents and Teepee's
Deeply Summer Of Rock Article
Steve Hillage Live At Deeply Vale 1978 CD Front Cover
