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‘Festivalized: Music, Politics, and Alternative Culture’ by Ian Abrahams & Bridget Wishart

March 26, 2016

‘Festivalized: Music, Politics, and Alternative Culture’ by Ian Abrahams & Bridget Wishart

I would suggest that you begin with one of the last pages where authors offer some further listening recommendation to prepare yourself to a proper reading environment.


‘Festivalized’ is a comprehensive view of the alternative culture based in UK with its core in ‘free festival’. It offers a unique history, after all, there aren’t many articles written about it.

Abrahams and Wishart really looked in-depth into the scene and managed to highlight different views upon it. Bridget Wishart herself being in Hawkwind, Hippy Slags, Demented Soats and Spirits Burning, persuaded to indulge into a more personal view of the ‘free festival scene’. I was really surprised by stories shared by musicians, stage organisers, writers, band managers, attendees etc.

‘Festivalized’ is offering a very objective presentation of the ‘free festival scene’ on a very subjective way. People who were there remembering both good and bad times. Demonstrating what was the whole scene about and why it demise after the ‘rave culture’ kicked in.

Musical, social and political fields are well researched and give us a further view into this unique scene. It takes us on a journey from Glastonbury, Windsor Great Park to Stonehenge. There is also a wonderful chapter dedicated to music connoisseurs.

Hawkwind, Magic Mushroom Band, Ozric Tentacles, The Levellers, Here & Now, Magic Muscle, Mandragora, Zounds, Smartpils, Culture Shock, and 2000DS, and notable counterculture icons such as Mick Farren and Penny Rimbaud were big part of the scene.

‘Festivalized’ is exceptionally well documented research about the almost forgotten way of life and its social and cultural impact on today’s society.

Klemen Breznikar


‘Festivalized: Music, Politics, and Alternative Culture’ by Ian Abrahams & Bridget Wishart (Gonzo Media Group, 2016)

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