Jimi Hendrix's last UK gig © Ken Beken

Afton Festival - August 1970

Fiery Creations, headed by Freshwater brothers Ron and Ray Foulk and South Coast promoter Rikki Farr, literally hijacked the Isle of Wight Tourist Board during August 1970 when they staged their third and final Island festival. A half a million attended the five day event. The Melody Maker headline ran 'Five Days That Shook The World'.

The festival was Jimi Hendrix's last UK appearance. Hendrix flew into Bembridge airport and stayed at the Seagrove Hotel, Sandown.

"I saw Joan Baez and Jimi Hendrix's roadies backstage. They said that Hendrix was very out of it in somebody's garden and they were worried that he wouldn't be able to play."
- Ralph McTell.

"In 1970 I went as a punter, but was rowed in by Charlie Watkins to help mix Hendrix's sound. A photograph of me at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 was in a Sunday paper, possibly The Sunday Times, within the last year, in an article about 60s fashion, although they did not realise it was me."
- Dave Gilmour, Pink Floyd in a letter to Vic King, Isle of Wight Rock Archives.

Jimi Hendrix died in London 18 days later.

AFTON FESTIVAL BILL

Kris Krisstofferson's Blame It On The Stones brought abuse © Ken Beken

Wednesday 26th: Judas Jump, Kathy Smith, Rosalie Sorrels, David Bromberg, Redbone, Kris Kristofferson, Mighty Baby.

Thursday 27th: Gary Farr, Supertramp, Andy Roberts Everyone, Howl, Black Widow, Groundhogs, Terry Reid, Gilberto Gil.

Friday 28th: Fairfield Parlour, Arrival, Lighthouse, Taste, Tony Joe White, Chicago, Family, Procol Harum, The Voices of East Harlem, Cactus.

Joni Mitchell at Afton © Ken Beken

Saturday 29th: John Sebastian, Shawn Phillips, Lighthouse, Joni Mitchell, Tiny Tim, Miles Davis, Ten Years After, Emerson Lake and Palmer, The Doors, The Who, Melanie, Sly and the Family Stone. Mungo Jerry were there but decided not to play.

Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull © Ken Beken

Sunday 30th: Good News, Kris Kristofferson, Ralph McTell, Heaven, Free, Donovan, Pentangle, Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen, Richie Havens.

Hawkwind took over from Pink Fairies in Phun City inflatable marquee outside the main arena to perform throughout the festival. They played on till Monday night.

The chaotic, hand to mouth organisation of the festival is caught on Murray Lerner's film Message To Love (1995)

The view from the hillside © Box

"It was a memorable event and most of the Islanders were tolerant towards it, but a vociferous minority were determined that there would never be another. A Bill was passed by Parliament to (in theory) control these events on the Island, but in practice it banned them. That was the last of the pop festivals on the Isle of Wight." - Dr. Douglas Quantrill, Island Medical Officer during Afton Festival

Map reference: (Few miles east from Freshwater on B3399 to Newport)

All quotes unless noted are from interviews conducted by Isle of Wight Rock Archives some of which appear in Isle of Wight Rock - A music anthology. The above is merely a snapshot from the book.