Silverstone Classic Announces Musical Acts
Live music concerts are now firmly established as one of the major attractions at the ‘Rocking and Racing’ Silverstone Classic (26th-28th July) – a three-day festival combining the very best retro racing action with a multitude of family entertainment.
In recent summers, visitors have partied the nights away to much-loved chart-toppers including Status Quo, The Stranglers and UB40. This year, the shows on both Friday and Saturday evenings will be equally outstanding as they will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock festival.
In what is believed to be the biggest Woodstock golden birthday party outside of North America, all seven bands performing at the Classic will boast strong musical links to the notorious festival in upstate New York that totally rewrote rock history.
Fifty years is a long time in rock ‘n’ roll, so it is no surprise that very few of Woodstock’s original 32 acts are still strutting their stuff today.
However, as a founding member of Ten Years After, Leo Lyons was one of those legends who graced the Woodstock stage back in August, 1969. He will be sharing his memories – and TYA’s music with such classics as ‘Spoonful’ and ‘I’m Going Home’ – with those at the Classic when he performs with his latest high-energy blues/rock trio, Hundred Seventy Split.
The Who were another of the great British bands making musical history in front of more than 400,000 fans on Max Yasgur’s fabled farm. Kenney Jones, originally of the Small Faces and Faces fame, joined The Who after the death of the mod band’s original drummer, Keith Moon. He will be at the Classic performing many of The Who’s greatest hits including ‘My Generation’ and ‘Pinball Wizard’ with his band The Jones Gang. This group of individually renowned musicians will top the bill after sunset on Saturday for what promises to be a fitting finale.
Fifty years ago, the honour of bringing the curtain down on Woodstock went to Jimi Hendrix – albeit only taking to the stage at 8:30 on Monday morning after numerous disruptions and rain delays! Now in its 23rd year, Are You Experienced? is widely recognised as Europe’s premier Hendrix tribute band and will be keeping Jimi’s extraordinary vibe alive as a key part of the notable Woodstock revival in July with legendary tunes like ‘Purple Haze’ and ‘Hey Joe’.
Completing the special homage, four more top international tribute bands – Creedence Clearwater Revived, Viva Santana, We Remember Joe Cocker and Patrick Alan’s Everyday People – will refuel the playlists of four more of Woodstock’s finest: swamp rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival (‘Proud Mary’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’), Latin music guitar legend Carlos Santana (‘Evil Ways’, ‘Soul Sacrifice’), gritty singer Joe Cocker OBE (‘With a Little Help From My Friends’, ‘Feelin’ Alright’) and US funk/rock pioneers Sly and the Family Stone (‘I Want to Take You Higher’, ‘Dance To The Music’).
“Woodstock was a seminal moment in festival history, and we are really proud to have put together such an incredible line-up to mark its 50th anniversary at the Classic,” enthused Nick Wigley, Silverstone Classic CEO. “We are particularly honoured to have a true Woodstock veteran in Leo Lyons, and are now really looking forward to sharing his memories as well as rediscovering so many of the great songs that made Woodstock so revered right around the globe.”
