In 1969 and 1970, Plumpton Racecourse hosted one of the most legendary yet overlooked festivals in British music. Pink Floyd, The Who, Ginger Baker, Peter Green and Black Sabbath all lit up the Sussex skies before the festival was forced to relocate, eventually evolving into what we now know as Reading Festival.

Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre Band headline the Saturday. Barre was Jethro Tull’s guitarist for 43 years and the hand behind the ‘Aqualung’ riff. Canadian blues-rock powerhouse Anthony Gomes, endorsed by B.B. King, tops the Sunday.

Also playing are Caravan Acoustic, who played Plumpton in 1970, Martin Turner (ex Wishbone Ash), These Wicked Rivers, Dan Patlansky, Deborah Bonham, Leaf Hound, Ben Poole, Laura Evans, Basement Saints, and Miller Anderson’s Salute To Keef Hartley. Anderson was on the Plumpton bill in 1970, the year after he played Woodstock.

Beyond the music, the festival recreates the late 60s and early 70s with psychedelic visuals, period food and fashion, vintage markets, art installations, a retro funfair and walkabout actors.

“It’s more than just a tribute, this is about reclaiming a forgotten chapter of UK music history and re-igniting it for a new generation,” says creative producer Theo Crew.

Camping, day and weekend tickets are on sale now.

It’s a brilliant idea, and a great reminder that Reading Festival started out in a Sussex field.

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