In the 1960s, many top groups had played in the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton from the Beatles to the Groundhogs, and this is where we pick the story up in the March podcast.

Stephen Robinson was the promoter of the Buxton Pop festivals which ran from 1972-1974 and it was when he noticed such huge numbers of fans turning up to watch the Groundhogs at the Pavilion Gardens that he decided that more space was needed. He placed an advert in the paper asking local farmers if they could host a music festival on their site.

George Mycock of Booth’s Farm responded and, high up on the moors above Buxton, at Axe Edge, an extraordinary musical adventure began. One which prompted the legendary Chuck Berry to say he felt he was breathing pure oxygen! He was certainly right, it can get rather chilly around these parts, helped no doubt by the fact that we are about 1400 feet above sea level.

Nevertheless, many intrepid music lovers and fans of such big names as Steppenwolf, Curved Air, Mott the Hoople and Chuck Berry, who demanded a Rolls Royce to pick him up, flocked to the venue over these years.  Amongst them were the parents of our photographer and team member, Anna, who you can see looking mighty cool at the top of the blog.

We are delighted therefore that Stephen and his wife, Heather, decided to share some exclusive and fascinating memories about this part of Buxton’s past.

This story is so rich that we will be telling more of it in the April podcast when we hope to have unearthed more information