UK Rock Festivals page for the 10th National Jazz, Pop, Ballads & Blues Festival

Melody Maker

Chris Charlesworth
August 1970

Yes deserve all the credit that colleague Welch has been showering on them for the past two years. For me they were a highlight of the night. Their rehearsals down in Devon have proved their worth and they emerged as one of the best bands in Britain. Jon Anderson, eagerly tapping a cowbell, encourages the most from his musicians. New guitarist Steve Howe did a lovely acoustic solo with his self penned 'Clap' and the group reached a tremendous climax on 'America'.

Andrew Harris

I was at Plumpton in 1970 and had a really good time, perhaps because it wasn't such a big event as the IOW which followed a few weeks later.

All the practicalities mapped out and there were no births or deaths or mass invasions of police so you could really relax in a peculiarly British type of way. Although many of the bands were third and fourth division at the time there were some excellent sets from bands that went on to be mega (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath etc).

I remember the Groundhogs, Family, Fotheringay and Yes as particularly impressive. Yes played at around 7.30 on the Sunday in chilly but clear weather and people took the wooden chairs from the press area and made a bonfire about 30 yards back from the stage. Jon Andersen was in great voice and the evening turned into one of those glad to be alive experiences.