Jazz, Blues and Beyond:
The Birth of the British Festival
16 July - 25 September 2011

Unseen photographic archive featuring images of legendary artists including the Who, Rolling Stones, Cream and the Yardbirds at the National Jazz and Blues Festival go on display for first time.

Music festivals are today a permanent fixture on the summer calendar for millions of people throughout Britain. In recent years the variety and volume of these has spiralled and they now cater to many different audiences. The roots of this tradition are often traced back to the Beaulieu Jazz Festival in 1959, but it was with National Jazz Festival two years later in which perhaps we really see the beginning of the modern festival. What started as small Jazz orientated event in leafy Richmond, would over time evolve and eventually turn into the huge hard rock festival known today simply as Reading.

The exhibition looks at the pivotal years of this festival between 1961 and 1966 through the lens of amateur photographer and festival insider Teddy Holroyd. These images, which have remained unseen for almost 50 years, document not only the growth and evolution of the festival itself, but also of the entire British music scene during this period. The photographs feature many now legendary artists often at the beginning of their careers and include the Rolling Stones, Cream, the Who, Yardbirds, Animals, Spencer Davis, Chris Barber, Manfred Mann, Georgie Fame and many more. Additionally there are many candid images of the festival site and infrastructure.

The National Jazz Festivals of the early-mid 1960’s began a tradition for outdoor summer music festivals which continues today. They proved a successful formula of showcasing the best in emerging and established talent over a weekend in the great outdoors. The role they played in the development of the Jazz, R & B, Pop and Rock culture in Britain was significant, bringing talent together, exposing them to huge audiences, and providing a platform for Rock music during its infancy. From these humble beginnings, evolved the festival landscape we see today, where each year some 150 events are attended by over 2 million people.

Admission to this exhibition is included in your British Music Experience ticket price.