One of the first live music gigs I remember from my youth was the Theakston's Beer Festival at Nostell Priory in 1982, what a great time I had, the weather was good, the beer was good and the music was amazing, the line up included Jethro Tull, Lindisfarne, Dave Swarbrick and Simon Nicol.....
One of the first live music gigs I remember going to was the Theakston's beer festival at Nostel Priory nr Wakefield, it was way back in August 1982, I realy went to see Jethro Tull, it was a 2 day music festival as I remember and the lineup was awsome, as well as Jethro Tull who were promoting their latest album Broadsword, other artists included Lindisfarne, Dave Swarbrick and Simon Nicol, Marillion, The Blues Band, Huey Lewis and the News, Huang Chung, Simon Nichol and Ralph McTell if my memory serves me right. A Fantastic music event.
The sun was shining, the beer was flowing, the live music was excellent and a fantastic time was had.
I didn't take a tent to that festival, I remember myself and a few friends took what were called bivvy bags, which were big orange plastic bags, big enough to get a sleeping bag inside and supposedly meant to keep you dry, ha ha, no such luck, the condensation was ridiculous, and I woke up soaked and a fair way down the field in the morning, no doubt sliding down the field in the night.
Jethro Tull fulfilled my dreams, I thought they were brilliant, I remember them doing Aqualung with Ian Anderson dressed up as the dirty old man, they performed fantastically.
Nostell Priory 82 or Theakston Music Festival, August 28, 1982.
Jethro Tull were the headline act at the Theakston Festival, supported by Marillion, Lindisfarne, The Blues Band, Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol, Michael Chapman, Huang Chung, and others.
Jethro Tull Setlist:
Intro, Something's On The Move, Hunting Girl, Fallen On Hard Times, Broadsword, Pussy Willow, A Song For Jeffrey, Instrumental, Fat Man, Jack-In-The-Green, Clasp/Too Many Too, Watching Me Watching You, Instrumental, Beastie, The Swirling Pit, Weathercock/Fire At Midnight, Seal Driver, Sweet Dream, Too Old To Rock and Roll, A New Day Yesterday, Aqualung, Minstrel In The Gallery, Locomotive Breath/Black Sunday (inst.), Cheerio
The best band I remember that weekend must have been Lindisfarne, I remember the sun shining and almost everybody singing and dancing, they really had the audience in the palm of their hands, and the atmosphere was electric, it was a weekend I will never forget.
Many thanks to all the bands that played that weekend, and everybody who turned up to make it a happening.