Let The Rhythm Take Control: The Rave Revolution
Toward the end of the 1980s the new age traveller movement had been all but suppressed. The end of the decade saw a far more aggressive stance by the authorities, harsher trespass laws, and endless police roadblocks to sites such as Stonehenge. However, a new generation and music scene would proceed to take the countryside…
Anarchy in the 80s: Stonehenge and the battle of the Beanfield
Last time we ended off with the emergence of the clear network of free festival circuits for new age travellers. This golden period incited a greater recognition from the public and press (for better or worse), and a peak number of attendances to free festivals. In the previous article, I discussed the development of Stonehenge…
Stonehenge: rebellion, suppression and acid pranksters
Picking up from where we left off with the discussion of the beginnings of Glastonbury festival; I would like to explore some of the festivals that were occurring alongside circa 72-77. The free festivals we will explore today adopted the spirit of Plume City with a far greater political edge than the likes of Glastonbury.…
The Glastonbury story
By the 1970s the free festival scene had begun to take full flight with several festivals organised in Windsor, Isle of Wight, Stonehenge and Glastonbury. The most recognisable festival to come out of this period is of course, Glastonbury. Glastonbury has not only become a staple in rural festival culture, but in wider British culture.…
New Age Origins: A Sixties Phenomenon
To contextualise to the grass roots of the New Age Traveller movement is a difficult one. Its hard to pin down one singular event that kick started it all because it emerged out of various counter cultural circles and music events (mythical groups, music concerts, free festivals). However, all of these were a by-product of…
Introduction
Introduction: Hi everyone welcome to Rural Counterculture, Politics and Protest. My blog will focus on the development of countercultures within English Rural spaces. In each post I will explore individuals and events that will provide a progressive and interconnecting narrative. The three key individuals are Michael Eavis, Phil Russel and Jim Hindle. What do these…
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Rural Counterculture,Politics and Protest 