By Harry Mottram: Some things don’t change. In 1967 – during the Summer of Love as it came to be known – The American Airforce dropped close to a million tons of bombs on Vietnam creating two million refugees in the war. Israel fought a six day war against Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq in which thousands died and worse was to follow as the Biafran war began. But cultural historians record it was the Summer of Love when in San Fransisco in California tens of thousands of young people (and those slightly older from the Beat Generation) embraced the power of love: with flower power.
It was a social phenomenon creating the peace movement, hippies, ‘turn on, tune in and drop out’ alternative lifestyles and a rejection of militarism, consumerism, conservatism, conventionalism and above all the Vietnam War. It quickly spread around the world and was perhaps best encapsulated initially by John Phillips’ hit song San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) sung by Scott McKenzie.
That was only the start as the summer of love gave birth to a whole new West Coast soft rocking sound featuring bands such as The Doors, Crosby, Stills and Nash, James Taylor, Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell, The Byrds, Carly Simon and many more. Long hair, beads, denims, waistcoats, cheesecloth shirts and ponchos became fashionable along with beards and a rejection of some of the conventions of fashion such as office suits and collar and ties. The influence of that era continued well into the 1970s with large outdoor music festivals, New Age thinking and beliefs, environmentalism and cultural trends from Peter Brook’s 1970 ‘hippy’ production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Stratford to the Oscar winning movie of the Woodstock rock festival of the same year. And on a Somerset note the first Glastonbury Festival – known then as The Pilton Pop, Folk and Blues Festival was staged at Worthy Farm in 1970.
One aspect of the era following the Summer of Love was the rise of Laurel Canyon music linked to the suburb of Los Angelos with its rocky mountainous terrain and canyons – beloved by those made wealthy by Hollywood. John Mayall – dubbed the Father of British Blues – released an album called Blues from Laurel Canyon in 1968. Best known for his band The Bluesbreakers which at one time or another featured Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Jack Bruce, John Mayall reflected on his life in Californian through the album. Mayall died on July 22, 2024. He was born in Macclesfield in 1933. On the personal note I remember hitch hiking to Manchester in the mid 1970s to see his band at the Manchester Free Trade Hall.
Laurel Canyon music in general was part of the counter culture that grew out of the flowering of creativity of the late 1960s with bands that included Frank Zappa, Carole King, Canned Heat, The Eagles and later Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt. It’s influence continues today and in Axbridge there is a chance to relive those sounds with The Charity Summer of Peace Concert in Axbridge Town Hall.
In Axbridge on Saturday, August 17th, there is a chance to return to that summer of 1967 when there was a birth of a new youthful optimism for the future when wars would end, and peace would break out. Well… here’s hoping.
The Charity Summer of Peace Concert in Axbridge Town Hall is in aid of two charities that help the victims of wars: Médecins Sans Frontières and Save The Children. It features two West Country rock bands in the 7-piece West Coast soft rockers Sidetracks and the Blues Rock quartet Tide Up from Clevedon.
Cash only, £5 on the door, drinks £3 and music of the 60s and 70s celebrating peace and good vibes. Doors 7pm. Promoted by Axbridge’s Jo Hogg of Sidetracks. Expect the sounds of the sixties and the seventies with a distinct west coast vibe inspired by the Summer of Love.
The lineups:
The Sidetracks Band
Phil Lowe – Bass Guitar and vocals
Paul Wright- Guitar and vocals
Barry Taylor – Guitar and vocals
Cynthia Taylor – Vocals
Jo Hogg- Vocals
Pete Milsom- Guitar and Vocals
Tony Prince- Drums
Tony Hogg- Sound man
Tide Up
Josh Warren Cox – Drums
Martin Horler- Lead Vocals and guitar
Glenn Fairley – Bass guitar
Mike Claridge – Lead Guitar
Médecins Sans Frontières also known as Doctors Without Borders, is a charity that provides humanitarian medical care. It is a non-governmental organisation of French origin known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases. For details of their work or to donate visit https://www.msf.org/
The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, began in the UK in 1919, with the goal of helping improve the lives of children worldwide. The organization helps to raise money to improve children’s lives by creating better educational opportunities, better health care, and improved economic opportunities. For details of their workor to donate visit https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/
The graphic features James Taylor and also Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane
On a personal note I was at art college with Cynthia Taylor who did fashion – this is my claim to fame!
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