Headlined by Led Zeppelin (who were paid £20,000 for their performance) and Canned Heat, the bill also included, among many others, Pink Floyd (debuting as Atom Heart Mother), Jefferson Airplane (rained off halfway through their set), The Byrds (playing an acoustic set), Santana, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention plus a set from John Mayall playing with Peter Green.
Bath was the brainchild of promoters Freddy and Wendy Bannister who had held the smaller Bath Festival of Blues within Bath itself in 1969. Among its many innovations was the decision to project film footage of the bands on screens on the side of the stage.
A rare and well-preserved poster for the event emerged for sale at Wessex Auction Rooms (17% buyer’s premium) in Chippenham on July 24. Estimated at £100-150, it sold via thesaleroom.com at £2200.
Hawkwind in Windsor
Poster for the 1972 Windsor Arts Festival – £1800 at Wessex Auction Rooms.
The same Wiltshire sale included as the following lot another scarce festival poster sold at £1800, this one promoting the Windsor Arts Festival held as a charity event at Home Park on September 23, 1972.
The poster, with some small tears to the edges, mentions headliners Hawkwind but also US bands Quicksilver and MC5 that failed to show up. There were two festivals held in Windsor that year – the other an unauthorised free event organised by London commune dwellers at the Great Park. Hawkwind and support act Pink Fairies played both events.
