Roy Harper - review by : Steve C

Glastonbury Festival 1999

Friday 25th to Sunday 27th June 1999
Worthy Farm, Pilton, nr Glastonbury, Somerset, England
£83

Avalon Main Stage, Saturday 26th June

An old saying: 'Old hippies never die they just fade away' - not true.

Old hippy, probably, faded away, never.

Glastonbury is international and the urge for a little bit of England became overwhelming and a bit of close contact was required and the man was just the man.

It is some years since I last saw Roy and sadly missed him this year at the Sugarmill, however the waiting was well worth it.

Frankly though, Roy was tucked away in a Eurohike 220 also known as the ambitiously titled Avalon tent which however became the Holy Grail for diehard fans both young and old.

Unsurprisingly the tent was overcrowded with a large crowd sitting outside and the man was clearly moved by the size and enthusiasm of an eclectic audience.

We were treated to a well considered set which combined the excellence of more recent music with the vintage classics only disturbed by a bunch of drum beaters who had more energy than manners.

Not wishing to be caught in the past 'I hate the white man' was almost grudgingly played, but yes Roy you are right, no-one will let it go.

His guitar playing is still masterful and it's not often that you want to rock and roll when listening to an acoustic set.

The set reprise featured Nick (whose set the previous day in the acoustic tent had been excellent) who had recently presented Roy with his first grand-child and it was a pleasure to see two generations of fine musicians clearly delighted to be in each others musical and family company.

Thanks Roy we enjoyed the day and don't you grieve about being a one man rock and roll band.