On 29 May 1967 our little sleepy town of Spalding became host to one of the first ever rock festivals. Held in a tulip bulb auction shed, Barbecue ’67, for an admission price of £1, provided ‘non-stop dancing’ from 4pm to midnight, hot dogs and a licensed bar.
When the promoter originally booked some of the acts they were still relatively unknown but within months they had hit the big time and, honouring the booking, turned up to play. On the bill were Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band, Zoot Money, Move, Cream, Pink Floyd and The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
The bulb shed held 4000 people but thousands more turned up on this hot, sticky Bank Holiday to see some of the biggest names in rock.
Over the last few years the Spalding & District Civic Society have been looking to highlight places in the town which have had interesting residents and guests. Many people suggested The Red Lion Hotel in the town should have a Blue Plaque to commemorate the gig and the fact that Jimi Hendrix stayed there overnight. The current owner of the hotel, proud of this former guest, has also stated that girls were flocking outside Jimi’s window and he apparently knotted his bed sheets together so they could climb up. Whether any of them took him up on his offer is unknown!
Earlier this month, the plaque was unveiled by the original members of local group Sounds Force Five, who also played at Barbecue ’67 and have the most amazing memories of a truly historic night.
You can imagine my surprise, having only just seen this shiny new plaque in our town square, to find another blue plaque to Jimi Hendrix this weekend. Not the official English Heritage one in Mayfair, London, showing where he lived from 1968-69, but a slightly less official one in the window of Marshall’s Fish and Chip shop in Tynemouth, near Newcastle. It would seem that just a couple of months before staying overnight at the Red Lion in Spalding, Jimi Hendrix was having his dinner at the seaside…
OMG! Gino Washington (was it 'Geno', I've forgotten now?) anyhoot, that takes me way,way,way back. Imagine Jimi eating his fish and chips in Tynemouth?!! Hope you're good. x
Oops you're right – it's Geno – will correct the typo.
Yes, had a lovely couple of days with my mum – such a relief knowing we could travel north and my aunt would be ok and not on her own. I have a trapped nerve in my neck at the moment which is agony and I can't sit for very long so typing at the computer is a nightmare. But other than that, we're good. Hope you are keeping well too. Will come over for a gander xx
I was too young for this festival….but Americans in England always seemed so fabulous to me as a young girl…they were usually on the tv or on screen at the cinema so knowing that they stayed in hotels and ate fish and chips made them seem less exotic and more human. Hope your neck improves.x
Definitely more human. He had very good taste in chippies as this has one has a great reputation.
Neck still painful 🙁
Bet that was a night to remember!
I hope your neck is feeling better now. Did your husband kindly massage it for you? 🙂
Neck has been affected for a couple of weeks now but very painful last few days…pain goes into left shoulder too. Apparently massage probably not much help so am on painkillers and heat. I think it's been caused by iPad posture!
Hubby is still a huge fan! We must take a trip to see that plaque!
I wonder if there are any more dotted around the country – councils and civic societies must surely be working out whether he had a meal or a night in their town. Could start a trend!
What a brilliant story! I love the knotted bed sheets… I bet they did take him up on his offer! Also £1! Can you imagine Glasto charging that now 🙂
The hotel owner's ex girlfriend was one of the girls – she told him she didn't clamber up the sheets. Hmmm 😉
I love that. My Parents had a pub for many years, and a few famous patrons used to come in from time to time. I think my Dad should have stuck up a similar sign saying "Christopher Lee ate here from time to time, would always tolerate jokes about ketchup"… 😀 x
He should have! Lots of publicans do and, for some reason, Italian restaurants – they always have photos of celeb diners on the walls.
I had no idea Jimi Hendrix ever played in Spalding, or that he ate fish & chips in Tynemouth, for that matter!
Fab stories, I have forwarded the link to Sexy Hubyy, who is a Hendrix's fan. xx
And now you know, Katia! Always here to provide all the information you never realised you needed.
Ha! Brilliant! Before they were all famous and all that! Love that the fish and chip shop put the sign up in their window! X
I'm not sure the fish and chip shop had the local worthies' blessing, but good on 'em!
These little stories are bigger than they might imagine!
That's just it. A little nugget of information but so much behind those few statements.
I always go to Marshalls when I'm at home. You'd think they'd put a sign up telling the world, Clippy Mat eats here. Next best thing I'll pose for a pic next to it with a bag o' chips.
I should have gone in for some chips, rather than just take a photo!