Wootton Festival 1969

Bob Dylan and The Band onstage at Wootton ŠChris Hockenhull

Bob Dylan, Wootton Festival
- August 1969

A soundbite from our Judy Gascoyne interview can be heard at:
http://www.dotmusic.com/news/March2000/news13407.asp
the full interview is available on the CD

Judy Gascoyne, housekeeper to Bob and Sara Dylan and George Harrison at Forelands Farm, Bembridge during the week of the festival gives an interview on
Vaguely Sunny - Isle of Wight Rock anthology CD, price £10 p&p

The second Fiery Creations festival firmly placed the Island on a world map when the Foulk brothers and Rikki Farr managed to persuade Bob Dylan to top the bill. Dylan's performance, barely an hour in duration, was responsible for the 100,000 plus crowds.

The audience included John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Keith Richard, Bill Wyman, Jane Fonda, Francoise Hardy, Peter Wyngarde, cricketer Bob Willis, Elton John and Cilla Black.

"I never tour the UK without someone telling me that they saw me at the Isle of Wight. It was a gas and it didn't rain." - Tom Paxton

Friday 29th August: Mighty Baby, Eclection, Bonzo Dog Dooh Dah Band, The Nice.

Saturday, 30th: Gypsy, Blonde On Blonde, Blodwyn Pig, Edgar Broughton Band, Aynsley Dunbar, Marsha Hunt and White Trash, Pretty Things, Family, Free, The Who, Fat Mattress, Joe Cocker, Moody Blues.

Sunday, 31st: Gypsy, Liverpool Scene, Third Ear Band, Indo Jazz Fusions, Gary Farr, Tom Paxton, Pentangle, Julie Felix, Richie Havens, The Band, Bob Dylan and The Band.

Map Reference: (Land east of Wootton, near Woodside Bay)

Forelands Farm the day before Dylan arrived in 1969 ŠDoug Watson

Forelands Farm - August 1969

Bob Dylan and his pregnant wife Sara arrived on the Island late on Monday, 25th August. During their stay the Dylan's visited the country estate of Queen Victoria, Osborne House and were joined at Forelands by George Harrison. Rehearsals for Dylan's first major performance since his 1966 motorcycle accident were held in the barn with The Band.

Levon Helm's drums at Forelands Farm ŠDoug Watson

The reported 'jam' session at the Crab and Lobster Inn and the existence of The Red Rocking Chair tape were both scams spread by Islander Jeff Lewis.

"Bob then invited The Beatles to a game of tennis on the Forelands Farm courts. 'I'll play on condition nobody really knows how,' quipped John and, as Bob and John teamed up against Ringo and George, Patti Harrison giggled: 'This is the most exclusive game of mixed doubles in the world . . .' The game ended at 5.30, and Dylan piled into a white van along with Sara, Ringo, Maureen and me for the five mile drive to the festival site. We joked all the way." - Al Aronowitz from Looking Back At Bob, The Telegraph No. 42 Summer 1992

George Harrison at Forelands Farm ŠJudy Gascoyne

After his performance Bob Dylan returned to Forelands for a get together with John Lennon, Yoko Ono, George and Patti Harrison, Ringo and Maureen Starr.

"The 'entertainment' was a test pressing of Abbey Road, which I thought was tremendous. It was a quiet party and I didn't stay late." - Tom Paxton

Press conference over Dylan sits on sea wall ŠDenis Gryce

Bob Dylan at Seaview
- Thurs, August 28th, 1969

Bob Dylan attended a press conference at the Halland Hotel, Seaview. After it was over he went out and sat on the sea wall (now demolished).

Map reference: Walk along coastal path from Ryde to Seaview

Richard Manuel with local band Di's Independence in Shanklin
ŠGeoff De Feu

Richard Manuel
plays on Medway Queen

The late Richard Manuel of The Band, visited the Island's floating nightclub, the paddle steamer, Medway Queen. He sat in with resident musicians Doug Watson and Ernie Hayles to add some eloquent piano to a blues standard. The Medway Queen was scrapped and its replacement the Ryde Queen now lies neglected and rotting.

Map reference: East bank of River Medina below Folly Inn. Bracing walk from Newport