Featured artists: Original Homesick
Band / Östan Sol, Västan Måne / Fire / Stockholms Spelmansgille /
Love Explosion / Låt Tredje Örat Lyssna In & Tredje Benet Stampa
Takten / 2000 Spenar / Det Europeiska Missnöjets Grunder / Turid /
Samla Mammas Manna / Grönsakslandet / Solen Skiner / Charlie &
Esdor / Fläsket Brinner / Gudibrallan / Brownsville Jug Band / Södra
Bergens Balalaikor / Old Timey Stringband / NJA-gruppen / Handgjort /
Träd, Gräs Och Stenar
Swedish vocals, English vocals,
instrumental
International relevance: ***
Those festivals are often regarded as
the starting point of the music movement. It's convenient having a
fixed date of course, but as with any historical event, it was the
product of a process, with one thing evolving into something else. So
while the date isn't historically valid, the Gärdet festivals'
importance to the music movement is unquestionable. This was the
first time that several of the soon to be most important bands
presented themselves to a larger audience. Most bands didn't have a
record contact at the time, and some of them would never get one,
such as Det Europeiska Missnöjets Grunder and Låt Tredje Örat
Lyssna In & Tredje Benet Stampa Takten.
With the huge cultural impact of the
festivals, it may be a bit hard to separate the actual music from the
historical importance of the recordings included herein. How does
”Festen på Gärdet” actually sound if the layers of
legend are peeled off and the music is judged solely on its own
terms?
First of all, it's a lot more varied
than one who's never heard it may think. It's not all Träd, Gräs
Och Stenar, Fläsket Brinner and Samla Mammas Manna. For instance,
the album suggests there was a pretty lively American old-timey music
scene in Sweden during this period, here represented by The Original
Homesick Band, Brownsville Jug Band and Old Timey Stringband.
Second of all, it's full of the joy of
playing and pioneering spirit.
Third of all, the sound quality isn't
very enjoyable.
Fourth of all, the music ranges from
the unlistenable to the great. Love Explosion and NJA-gruppen/Fria Proteatern are
crap as usual. Turid is more annoying than usual. Låt Tredje
Örat Lyssna In... sounds like a drunk acoustic Velvet Underground.
Träd, Gräs Och Stenar sound like they always do. Gudibrallan might not be featured with their finest hour but they're still as who-gives-a-shit anarchic as I want them to be. Samla
Mammas Manna's in their infant stage and it's interesting hearing
them this early on. Fläsket Brinner are great but their appearance
(with ”Bosses låt”) unfortunately suffers a fair bit from the
low fidelity. Etc.
So, all in all, the documentary value
is impossible to deny, but the music often leaves a whole lot to be
desired. It sure has its moments, but they are few and far between.
A radio documentary about the Gärdet Festival was broadcast in 1970 with otherwise unavailable performances and is included in "Progglådan". A 30 minute TV documentary was also made and can be seen on Youtube (part one, part two).
A radio documentary about the Gärdet Festival was broadcast in 1970 with otherwise unavailable performances and is included in "Progglådan". A 30 minute TV documentary was also made and can be seen on Youtube (part one, part two).
The album was released in two editions, the first in coloured vinyl with inner sleeves, the second in black vinyl and no innersleeves.
Historisk platta. Jag har naturligtvis första utgåvan med färgade plattor.
ReplyDeleteDe skrapade redan som nya så blev tvungen att skaffa de svarta också!
:-)